Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1920-03-24
SURPRISE FOR BOTH
BY EVA II. MARTIN.

times. And when l stop to think OF
what they are doing for US. it makes
me ashamed of myself for calling this
hard Job. But it's the first knitting
l ever did. And mother says, after I
have finished two or three I'll be an
expert. l wonder If ever will; for
when 1 look closely at this sweater /
can see two drop stitches.
"Oh, dear me! guess I'll have to
rip this all out again, and pick them
up, and they are fully four inches
back.
'Say, Mabel, what would you DOR
If it were mine," said her sister, look
ing up for the first time during the
conversation, from the sock she was
about to finish, I'D simply darn that
place. and let it 60 at that. The SOL
der who is lucky enough to get 1t
won't mind little thing like that.
And If he does notice it he will won
der who took the pains to mend 1t so
neatly, and possibly try to learn who
she Is, and what she looks like"
swell, to save him the trouble I'm
going to write my name and address
on slip Of paper and tuck it inside
somewhere"
Better still, put one Of your little
pictures in it, just for fun"
mo. wouldn't like to do that. Some
fellow from around here might get
1t, and think me a fine little goose"
"Oh, 20 on" teased Mabel, ut might
prove romantic, and I'm sure none Of
the boys who know us will ever get
It. But wouldn't it be fun II brother
Bill were to get 1t himsslf7 He Ger
tainly would think you had got to
be some knitter' since he went to
camp"
After much argument the photo
graph was chosen and tucked away in
little corner provided for the pur-
pose, and the sweater, together with
Mabels socks, returned to the local
branch of the American Red Cross,
where it was packed in q box, with
| many other comforts for the boys who
were to remain in q Western camp for
the winter
In due time the consignment reached
camp, and each soldier received a COM
fort kit, in which were many useful
and necessary articles.
One evening a few weeks later as
Bill S. sat writing letters, he was sur
| prised to see his old college chum, Jim
| w., reading a newspaper at the other
end Of the room, as he had heard Jim
was In France months ago.
Hello, there Jim, old man, how are
you? Thought you were chasing the
Huns back to Berlin long ago."
"No, had hoped to be doing that,
but our company has not gone across
yet. We have been transferred here
and I can't say like the change, fol-
1t is cold. think would have frozen
stiff, only for this sweater l got from
the Red Cross-fits like a glove; and
see what found tucked in the corner
Really, you'll think I've gone crazy
when l tell you I'm in love with her
rdream of her, take this little picture
out ten times day and look at it and
wonder If I'll ever have the good luck
to meet her. Why, what's up. Bill
You look as though you recognized
her."
But Bill only answered.: "She's
pretty, and I'm glad you like her
Hope she approves of you when you
meet. l must get ready and finish my
letters. I'm going home on furlough
for eight days, starting tomorrow.
wish you could arrange it and come
along with me. I've little surprise
planned for you."
"What's the surprise? No, you won't
tell me? All right; guess it's some
thing like the pranks you used to put
ever on the old professor. Ha, ha!'
Two days later Bill and his friend
Lieutenant w., arrived at the S. home
and were welcomed by Mrs. s.. who
said the girls were out, but would soor
be back. Just then the doorbell rams
and two bright young ladies rushed In
and almost smothered Bill with en-
braces.
There, there, girls! Hold of 4 min
ute until I present my old chum, jim
W." Then came the surprise. Jim q,
once recognized Rhoda as the girl Of
his dreams and darted some accusins
glances at Bill, who was enjoying thu
joke to perfection.
Say, what did l tell you, Jim! Som,
surprise, eh?"
The girls wanted to know what Bill
meant by the "surprise," and Jim ex
planned it by saying it was some Of
their silly college tricks he was refer
ring to. But when he knew Rhoda
better and had an opportunity tt
speak with her alone, he took from thu
corner Of certain brown sweater
with a neat little mend in it the pic
ture he had shown Bill, and told he,
the whole story, and more, too! Their
was Rhoda surprised also, and very
happy, and she promised Jim She
would continue to knit for the soldiers
but would not put her picture in am
more.
Copyright. 1915 Mcclure Newspap,
| Syndicate.)
| Rubber Preservative.
preparation that may be used fol
preserving rubber may be made by
getting a saturated solution Of tur
pentine in denatured alcohol. The
point Of saturation is known by 4
drop Of undissolved turpentine re
naming In the alcohol. A little more
alcohol is added to dissolve this dror
| and tho solution 10 oo<rro+od Duh