The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-09-18
In Tidy
Lane
TN
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)

~ like II already" exclaimed Alice,
rs her eager city.tlred eyes grasped
the vision OF Tidy lane with Its row OF
small cottages neatly lining the street.
1Isn't 1t good to get sniff of country
sirf"
"Glorious! We both need a change
from city dust. l get so sick of the
Jfiice every day and a cooped-in fiat
every night. hope the cottage Is pos
sible-it will be so disappointing after
coming way out here In Long Island"
Helen Randolf absorbed deeply the
freshness OF the avenue of shady trees
She was tired. frghtfully tired Of the
strain OF her editorial duties on one of
the big magazines.
"Yes, hope so. but the cottage itself
doesn't amount TO much. | can make
anything In the way of a shack com
Portable for us two 80 long as there
nre few walls and roof"
Both girls were eagerly scanning the
small houses in search of No. 8.
Number nine must be the black
sheep that has wandered from the
fold" laughed Alice. 'rhe tidicst part
OF Tidy lane doesn't seem to have amy
number nine. Oh could that darling
one over there possibly be lit"
The advertisement for the small cot
tage In Tidy lane had read SECLUDED
but not Isolated"
Number nine certainly was isolated.
II had rambled of the other houses In
the lane and found for itself seclu-
sion that made the hearts OF the two
tired city girls jump with sheer JOY.
Number nine lay In the heart of a
small grove OF pine trees and had set
tied itself down there for all Che
world like bit OF the landscape that
had been created. not built.
"It's too good to be true" Helen said
as they made their way back to the
city to pack mp and take the first train
they could manage back to Tidy lane.
~ love the way It's gone of by LSself
and nestled In those smelly. healthy
pine trees"
"And I shall have few chickens In
that little coop, and you will come
home tired every evening from the Of
fee and will be waiting for you with
good things to eat" Alice was delight
ed TO the extent Of a child over a big
blue-eyed doll.
81 hope you won't be lonesome all
day. dear. You know IL will be n
change for you from seeing so many
people In the city"
'I couldn't be lonesome II tried In
that cute little cottage and Tidy lane
villagers to study"
SO 1t was that the two fast friends
found themselves happily ensconced
In number nine out In sunny, fragrant
Long Island.
Daily Helen Randolf took the train
20 the city and the editorial chair she
was filling while the editor was away
fighting for Uncle Sam. And each day
Alice Winter fitted more joyfully into
the small cottage with It's quaint sur
roundings. The furnishings had been
bit cold, but they were so no longer.
The garden had been a trifie lacking In
color, but few geraniums and sweet
peas cheered II all up.
The owner of the small cottage had
gone with the American expedltionary
force to France. Alice realized that he
could not object to the few shrubs with
which she had ornamented the garden.
II hope he will come back to his coy
nest" she said by way OF a little
prayer for the soldiers safety.
"You mustn't hurt your back digging
so much" admonlshed Helen often
when some new shrub greeted her upon
her return from the city. you are
not accustomed to that kind Of work"
MY digging" she cried excitedly
the next evening when her pal re-
turned. "has unearthed mystery.
Lcok herer' She held uo a substantial
tin box. II started TO Tut In that hy-
drnngea tfls afternoon and was prob
ing round for soft spot 10 dig in and
finding one I came upon this box"
Buried treasure? suppose II is
some chlld's pirate box. We used to
bury them as children" Nevertheless
the girls were both Interested.
''Chlld nOthingl" exclaimed Alice.
''It's full to the gaff of manuscripts.
Short stories. And look at the note
that was on topl'
Helen took the quite newly typed
note and read It's contents. Farewell
10 fame. Mother raised her boy to be
a soldler-not a genius" The note was
signed phillip Cheyne" and contained
no more Information. The many rejec-
Hon slips from all the New York magn-
ines. however. told all the tale that
.as necessary.
Poor kid" laughed Helen, her eit-
'orial brain busy with the contents of
The stories. She was skimrning them
swiftly with the trained mind OF a
reader. ''Goosey.T she said lovingly
to Alice. Il suppose you hadn't even
looked at these stories"