The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1920-12-02
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BY JUNE L. JOHNSON. |
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Copyright, 1915 by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)

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! Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
Now, mumsey, don't worry! Well
et along all right. Give my love to
'ousin Sue and tell her hope she'll
soon be better. And don't tire yourself
out caring for her. Yes, I'll remem-
Der to feed the cat, and that Bob is
fond of pudding, and that the iceman
comes on Thursday, and-mumsey, do
hurry or you'll miss your train"
With a gay wave Of her hand, Mar
gerry s. watched her mother out OF
sight, and then went into the house.
A whole week of housekeeping by
herself! Margery actually Rugged
herself as she thought. Wouldn't she
prepare the greatest feasts for ia
Their and Bob? She'd make their
mouths water!
Lets see, what time Is 1t noWT'
unused Margery, slipping into a glng'
ham apron that enveloped her from
head to foot. "Quarter to five. lime
to get supper ready. guess III have
potatoes and salmon-and-oh ! isn't II
glorious to be a housekeeper" And
Margery whirIed around the room TO
get rid of some Of her bottled.up de-
| light.
Il was the second day Of Radroro
Ifs furlough. AS he disconsolateiy
wandered about the town he wondered
vloomily what to do with the time on
his hands. Suddenly something nap
pened!
He was starting up a new street,
when out Of the corner house VISION
Ia blue and white, with flying brown
curls, came dashing into his arms, so
! II seemed.
"Oh, Tomw breathed the vision, who
bv this time had taken the shape of a
very pretty, very excited young girl,
do come in and see if you can fix our
kitchen range! The old thing won't
oh II beg your pardon!" And the girl
backed away In great confusion and
establishment.
II say, what's the matter?" ex-
claimed Radford, regaining his breath
and finding out that he liked this
rather extraordinary proceeding than
otherwise.
"Oh, please excuse me-" stammeFed
Margery; II thought you were Tom
R., one Of our nelghbors! He's a
sailor, too, and you look exactly like
him."
I'm sorry disappointed you," re-
turned Radford with an amused smile.
"You seem to be in trouble. Pardon
me, but can't I assist your"
IF you don't mind" dimpled Mar
gerry, II would like you to see If you
could Ax the old thing"
Ten minutes later flushed Radford
with a smudgy face Strengthened up
from over the stove and announced
cheerily to Margery; TITS all light
now; 1t was only clogsed up. You
can use It,"
With a relieved sigh Afargery drop
ped into chair. "ifow can ever
thank your she said. u never could
have fixed 1t myself, and I should
have had to wait until father came
home, or Bob. Oh, don't you want to
wash your face7'--jumping up--"it's
rather dirty"
IT think you said when you came
in that you had no particular place
to co." began Margery. "Would you-"
she gasped at her own boldness, but
bravely fnished-"care to stay-for
supper--with father, Bob and me?"
Egg beaters, spoons. cake tins, sift.
ers and such were very tt1tch In evi-
dence during the next half-hour, while
q very pink-cheeked Margery and Rad.
ford, with an apron on. too, hurried
back and forth, both chatting merrily
as they worked.
Imagine Mr.. SIS and Bob's sur
prise when they came home that eve-
ming to be met at the door by a radi-
ant Margery flourishing an egg heat
er, while behind her loomed tall,
good.looking sailor, with broad grin
on his ruddy face.
Folks" began Margery excitedly,
please meet"
But she never finished, for with one
leap Bob S. reached the side of Rad
ford, and ordinations such as these
issued from the eager lips Of the two
young men:
AGreat Scott! You here7 Why, !
thought Id lost track Of you forever!
How the world"
"Why didn't you tell me you lived
IN this district? I'd been up here
yesterday, first thing! Boy, but It's
good to see familiar face"
With eyes wide open, Margery stared
at the excited two. who were shaking
hands vigorously, and pummeling each
other on the back. Had they gone
crazy? But Radford settled her doubts
b. explaining to her with twinkling