Evening star., 1920-11-28
SHORTY TRAILS A STRAY By ss~.u Ford

I'VE had some old parties stray
into the Physical Culture Studio
too, but I don't remember any
that looked more out of place
there than this stiff-necked old girl
with, the accusin' eyes and the puck
cred lips. My first guess was tina;
shed been samplin' the green ounce
hat the village milliner has tucked
In among the purple grapes decoratin
her bonnet, but as 1 can't see any
tooth marks in it 1 concludes maybe
this is her natural expression.
Anyway, I expect we was both a
little surprised, for ID just strolled
into the front office from the gym
where. I'd bean having kind of a fast
three rounds with hard litter from
the Lambs Club. and my costume
above the belt amt much to speak of
She stands starin' at me for a second
ana don't seem to be able to get ou,
ynything but a gasp.
Excuse me-" says 1, "but the ladies'
sewing circle amt meetin' here to-
day. Or is it the board of foreign
missions you're looking for. ma'aro %
That last seems to unglue her con-
versati--Z works. Don't 'ma'am' me-
young man." says she. II am unmar-
ried-from choice. If 1 may say So
and nv name is Miss Leora Milligan.
am looking for Prof. McCabe"
You are" says I, doin' a little
gaspy stun on my own hook We'll.
In that case you needn't strain your
eyes. That's me-"
"Humph!' says she, still starin'.
Il KNOW" says I. Lots of folks
feel that way about it, too. But I
don't see how it can be helped
L do says she. You might put on
some more clothing"
Anything to oblige the ladies'
says l. Sorry my dress suit amt
Hey. Swiftly! Pass me my coat. will
you? No. don't come in. Slip it
through the door. That's right. Now,
Miss Mulligan.2
, Milligan," she corrects.
"Right" says I. turnin' up my coat
collar and buttonin' it tight. "Is it
some charity you're solicitin for?'
self in chair and takin' a firm grip
on her black satin knittin' bag. 81
was sent here by Mrs. McCabe."
That's funny. too," says ]. "When
I left this mornin' we was on the
ANYTHING about you"
Naturally she did not" says Miss
Mil1igan. for / called her on the
telephone only an hour ago to tell her
that I had arrived. She said that
nephew. Thurlow Milligan."
"Ye-e-es" says l. about how
long has the little fellow been lost? ?"
Ten years this coming Christmas"
'oh," says I. Couldn't have been
-~ry big when he wandered off.
them"
"As big as he'll ever be-" says Miss
Leora. He was twenty-three and
weighed ninety-eight pounds. An un-
why he was called Midge by every
one in, Topsfield.''
"Eh?" saws I. "Tops- -which?'
'Topsfield. Mass says she "And
7 see nothing to grimace over about
that name. 1t is quite a nice town.
young man, and I have lived there
all my life. Thurlow was born there.
too"
"But he didn't stick?" I suggests.
"Thurlow never would stick to any
ming very long" SAYS Miss Milligan.
THAT was why my dear brother used
to get SO out of patience with him.
You see, Thurlow came to us when
he was little fellow of seven. an
brsrg him up as we had been brought
up Our father was a minister of
She gospel. and Stephen served many
Years as deacon of our church"
"I see," says I. (which did you
trv to make ThurIow?"
She admits they didn't get that far.
But they did start Thurlow in at the
bank. where Uncle Steve was vice
president. He didn't last. though.
Not that he tried to get away with
sty of the funds. but he would in
sist on whistling popular tunes and
practicin' jugglin' stunts durin' bank
ing hours. He was just as much of a
fiivver when Uncle Steve got him in
as shipping clerk in the chair factory.
Too frivolous in the head. The only
thing he seemed to want to do was