The Glenwood post., 1920-01-10
An Enrapu,red
Sextette
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y GEORGE ELMEa COBB

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"What's this-firer exclaimed Law
yer Ira Tarbell, arising hastily from
his desk and starting for the open
doorway Of his Office. His two cli-
ents, Mark and Paul Elson, brothers,
hastily came to their feet and Joined
him In the hall without. 1t was filed
with smoke and there was an uproar
Of alarmed voices In other rooms and
corridors, but 1t was soon discovered
that the smoke came through an open
window from the rear yard, where Q
lot Of rubbish was being burned up.
Now when Mark and Paul had
arisen from their seats each had left
open on the table his wallet. They
had been consulting their contents
while talking with the lawyer. Re-
turning, each closed a wallet and re-
stored 1t to pocket. The attorney
resumed his wonted dignity and calm.
swell. gentlemen" he said. referring
to a penciled sheet before him. II
think understand the situation. I
am to make over to your sister. Miss
Naomi, the old family homestead and
ten thousand dollars in bonds, to be
held in her own right as q femme
sole"
That's right" nodded Mark Elston,
ruddy-cheeked. bright-eyed as school.
boy.
"And Naomi shall do just what she
wants to with the property and
money" said Mark heartily.
The brothers were under thirty,
their sister Naomi an agreeable spin
ster Of thirty-five. When their parents
died she had taken charge Of their
home and had well filled the bill as
housekeeper and cook. So comfort
ably she looked after her brothers, 20
smoothly did things run on that the
pleasant routine was continued perma.
nently and unconsciously all hands
settled into a rut. Naomi was only
happy when she was doing something
to add to the welfare and comfort Of
her brothers, and they accepted her
kind service As a matter Of course,
although truly appreciative and CRATE
full. Recently Paul had observed to
Marx that he fancied Naomi looked
tired and dull at times. They talked
1t over. Maybe she needed q rest, a
change. Suppose they parceled ont
to her what she was entitled to Of the
estate-made her independent, In
fact1 Certainly that would make her
feel better. Hence the visit to the
lawyers ONCE. and the brothers went
home feeling they had well consum-
mated an act of willing duty.
Naomi broke down and cried like q
child when they told her what they
had done. The way the imaginative
Mark pictured the transition awaiting
heri She was to be promoted from .
serfdom to the lot Of q princess
Naomi was so overcome at their gen.
erosity and thoughtfulness, as she
chose to magnify 1t. that she fed to
her room to have her cry out. Marx
followed her to the hall to console her
and Paul, CHANGING to take out his wal.
let. made q startling discovery.
"why. we've changed wallets at the
lawyers once !" he exclaimed. "This
belongs to Mark. Hello hello hello y
Paul stared and then grinned. In
an apartment of his brothers wallet
he found q time-worn photograph. In
an instant he recognised 1t. S,+
did you everl" he chuckled. "Ber-
tina Drake I" and Just then Mark re-
entered the room holding the other
wallet in his hand, and Paul flushed
like q conscious schoolboy a. be no
ticed revealed within 1t his own pho
tograph of-Wanda Drakei"
"H'mi" observed Mark with 4 dush.
both In ths same boat, eh1 Well, itl
nothing - - Ashamed Of. They were
nice giris, Dertha and Wanda. There
was IL sestAef Wilbur, too. Always
thought - had q sneaking fon1ness
for Naomi. What grand days those
were. back In Lacou. when the brakes
were our next-d0or neighb0rsi Why,
1t must be two years since we all met
and drifted apart"
II don't want money to waste" said
their dDter later In tpe evening. Il
would like to hx up things q httle
around the house, though, and have .
break in the loneliness BY entertaining
some Il our old friends once In q
while."
"Yes, there's the Drakes." reminded
Mark, evading his brothers eyes.
Bertha and Wanda" nodded Paul
in well-assumed generality. "And VIII
bur-" and Naomi flushed, hurriedly re-
ferred to other old acQuaintances and
start was thus made along the rond
Of yesterday.
How did 1t all come about7 When
the old neighborly companionship was
resumed Mark took great credit to
himself for suggesting the visit to the
lawyers Office. which had brought
about such happy suggestion. Paul
drifted back to his old liking for Wan