Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1920-01-08
THOSE MINCE PIES
ev MARY POWER.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Dorr declares the mince pies led up 10
II. Mrs. Deane slyly hints some credit
is due her since she herself was inn-
rectly responsible for the unlishteo
gas let at the head Of the stairs. MISS
Barbara. however. keeps mum. II nap
pened like this:
Eric had fallen asleep over game
of solitaire. He awakened with START
when the improvised table across his
knees, with the cards atop, tumbleu
uoisily to the floor. He frowned at his
watch which said eight o'clock.
Suddenly Eric shifted eagerly. An
aroma. a delicious honey smell, n'tereo
into the room. 1t was the unmistak-
able odor of mince pies. Craning his
neck. he beheld several succu'ent
brown things on the ledge of the win
dow directly below.
He liked his present quarters I'M
mensely. Mrs. Deane. the landlady.
was rare motherly soul. And there
was Teddyboy across the hall. dear.
lovable kiddie. Teddyboy was seven
brown-eyed and wistful. Yesterday
the child had said:
"Wisht CorpraI Jim'd come home
for the party" Eric's hand had trem'
bled as it stroked the soft, yellow haIr'
Corporal Jim" would never come
home-alas!
Such morbidness! Eric swung
around. Those mince pies had upset
him. He would 90 for stroll.
He found the hall in darkness--an
unusual thing.
A door below opened softly and
someone swiftly assembled the stairs.
Dazedly. Eric drew aside. Immediate
~ there was smothered Shrek and,
with presence Of mind, Eric reached
out
Her surprised cry had betrayed her
sex, while the quivering OF the supple
young body, held close, told him she
was a mere slip of girl. The thump.
humping OF the bundles as they
bounded downward proclaimed pre-
vious shopping expedition. And then
she laughed. little sheepish laugh.
which straightway broke the tension.
"All right, kiddie," he told her. hold
tight I'll light up" The light flick
cred garish'y.
She was dainty creature, to be
sure; sweet and pretty. But kid
die! The mischevous twinkle in her
dark. pansy eyes made him chuckle
inwartlly. Then. with a guilty flush.
he noted the miscellaneous collection
Of eatables adjoining the stairs.
Through It's covering of stout brown
paper the leg Of a plump chicken pro-
truded. Midway below reposed
bunch OF celery. And cranberries
There were other things; clusters Of
grapes oranges. bottle Of olives lay
at his feet. Mechanically. he stopped.
She bestirred herself. They're all
Of them all right. I shall wash them,
Of course; one mustn't be too waste
full. Mrs. Deane Is out" she apOl-
ogized. land l was to light up. But
I've been cooking, and thought you"
she FLUSHED for no apparent reason
-"most of the roomers are away.
was fetching these things up for Ted
dyboy's inspection. We're to have
regular party tomorrow.
I'm glad 1t wasn't my mince pies"
she dimpled up at him.
"Um-m. yes. smelled EN-" he
smacked his lips boyishly.
"Oh, Captain Dorr." irrelevantly,
''Teddyboy told me all about you.
You've room directly over my kitch-
enette. hope l don't disturb YOU"
anxiously.
He hastily treasured her. She
smiled her appreciation. then sudden
ly her face grew grave.
''Teddyboy says you were at S
where our Jim was k-killed." Her
chin fell. "I-we-miss him SOL"
He sensed the inevitable heartache.
"Are you sure you want-the details?"
he asked gently. She nodded bravely.
He tried To tell her.
"And he was there. brave laddie. n
the thickest Of the fray. CALAMITY fight
ing. when" His voice trailed off
huskily. III only we might have ex-
changed places" ne added Bit fierce
ly. "lIe had so much to live for
while IL had nobody who cared.
But escaped unScathed." bitterly.
But" She wondered at the scar
near his temple.
"Oh. that:'-casual like-"Bayonet
thrust" succnctly
"O-O-oh."
They had finished the task now. The
bundles were heaped on the bottom
stair. There was an awkward pause.
Eric found his heart pounding furi.
ously. she looked SO wan and droopy-
like.
He often mentioned Teddyhoy ON.
there. And you-he called you Bah
sic"
A queer, throaty sound issued from
her lips like sob held in check. Then
she faced him bravely.
1--WE just got to keep a stiff upper
lip. for Teddyhoy's sake" she said
And then added something ,h.>