The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1920-02-06
THE TANGLED WEB
BY LoTTlE w. SIMMONS

after the 17-year-old niece intrusted to
her care-a pretty little miss with
too large appetite for ice cream sodas
and the admiring glances of tall young
soldiers.
When bake-a-pie day rolled around
It fell to Elizabeth to wrap up the ex-
ira half-dozen delicious ones Aunt Bet
ty baked and generously set aside for
the soldiers. Right under the crust OF
the most tempting pie Of all she sur
Yeptitiously tucked Il small strip OF
paper with the words: eff you like this
pie call at % Bowdoin street Saturday
evening for another" Aunt Betty al
ways baked on Saturday and spent the
evening at the Red Cross rooms, leav-
ing Elizabeth alone to keep house.
It was most delicious pie, 80
thought Lieut.. John H, as he
tucked El1zabeth's note inside his
pocket 1t was Saturday evening be-
fore he thought of it again, at just
about the same time that Elizabeth
was fuffing her hair and wondering
if her scheme for a little fun would
bring any results
When the bell rang Elizabeth few to
the door, q sweet little pink-faced Wis
ion in blue. Lieutenant H was
rather taken aback, but Elizabeth was
equal to the occasion. ooh, good even
ing" she trilled. $50 you are the one
that got my note, and you want an
other pie? Well, come right in-I have
one for you-so glad you liked 1t"
John H was by this time thorough
" enjoying the most unusual situation.
In a pretty room with pretty girl,
tying up an extremely tempting-look-
ing pie, all for him-well, the fates
were kind, thought he. II must compI-
ment you on your skill as pie-maker,
Miss -" hesitating to learn her
name. Elizabeth looked blank for
second; then e." she added glib
~. elizabeth r; and now who Is
going to accept this pie" Elizabeth
thrilled q little when she learned his
name and his rank, and quite suddenly
decided that he was very, very good
looking. They chatted pleasantly for
few moments, after which Lieutenant
H very properly took his leave.
ssYou may have another pie next Sat
urday evening-n you care to call for
It." Elizabeth said eoyly atathe door,
which invitation was most heartily
accepted by the tall lieutenant.
The next morning Aunt Betty dis
covered that she was pie short.
"Sakes alive! you didn't eat whole
u ,l~l Eliyohnfh@ ~
she asked. "4Tercy, no! Aunt Betty.
Someone called at the door last night
and I gave one away.
Aunt Betty had Just placed the pie
board on the table when the telephone
rang insistently Elizabeth few to an
swer 1t. "Oh, it's for you," she called.
Lizzie B is sick and they want
you to come right over" Mercy"
exclaimed Aunt Betty, "and my baking
tust begunl Well, l must go, that's
plain. You might make that sponge
cake. Keep the fire, and don't let the
beans burn"
Elizabeth gazed in dismay at Aunt
Betty's figure hurrying down the walk.
That meant no pie for Lieutenant
H that night Oh, If only she
could bake one! Whatever had pos
sessed her to let him believe she could
why hadn't she explained? What
would he think of her? Disconselateiy
she mixed the sponge cake, but was
too wise to attempt the pie. Supper
time came, and no Aunt Betty. she
telephoned instead saying that she
would be home early in the evening.
Elizabeth was in despair. OF course
auntie would come while Lieutenant
H was there! What should she
do9 II was not the radiant Elizabeth
Of the week before who answered
Lieutenant Els ring at the bell,
but very sober little girl la plain
white dress. Hardly waS he seated
before Aunt Betty BUSTED in. Eliza
beth introduced them the best she
could, end Aunt Betty's frown van
ished before the frank smile and cor
dial handshake Of the engaging young
soldier. '1H your niece will make such
delicious pies" he began when the
formalities were over. "Bless my
SOUL" interrupted Aunt Betty, 'did
you bake pies today, Elizabeth You
never made pies before in your life"
Looks on the two faces before her
stopped her. "Oh, Mr.. b Oh,
Aunt Betty" stammered Elizabeth;
then realizing that she must either
laugh or cry she began to laugh which
was the best thing she could do. She
explained everything 70 her listeners
as gracefully as she could, ending with
"I don't think 1 am a natural-born
deeeiver-really still don't know
why fooled you both so. Please for
give me-" John H laughed good
naturally, seeming neither shocked
nor offended, much to EliZabeth's re-
lief. Aunt Betty, too, was kind as OF
course she would be. "You surely did
weave q tangled web,' as the poet
SAYS, Elizabeth" she said with laugh.
"There isn't any pie for Mr. H to-
night, but you might bring on your
sponge cake-I suppose you made oneP
And if he viii come over to dinner
next Sunday there Will be pie to grace
our table no doubt"
Lieut. John H was a frequent
and welcome guest at the p home
after that. 81 wonder which he likes
the best" unused Elizabeth one night,
"Aunt Betty's pies, or me-; but some
thing in his eyes as they met hers
across the supper table convinced her
that he would still come If Aunt Betty
never placed another pie before him:
also that it was high time that she was
learning how to bake pies herself.
copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)
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