The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-10-07
NANCY'S LAST
TANTRUM
By GEORGE E. COBB

I'm one Of her tantrums, is she3'
"Worse than ever!"
Mild-mannered Harvey Mills rubbed
his head and looked nonplussed. Ned
ThurstOn, boy Of all work about the
Mills home and half nephew OF Mrs.
Nancy Mills, looked excited and eager.
His eyes were swapping, his lips NOV.
ing IN an cratic way.
Il was quite dusk and Ned was
breathless. for he had come on dead
run to the shop from half q mile dis
lance. Harvey Mills had been sleep
ing there for two nights. Practically
he had been driven away from home
when his irrationally whimsical, DOM
ineering, jealous Nancy Mills had de-
veloped one Of her regular spells"
and Harvey had sought refuge and
peace.
''That isn't ALL" proclaimed Ned.
She has been raising a rumpus all
day long. Threatens to get consta-'
BILE and have you dragged home in
handouts. Says she'll sue you for
desertion. Say, Mr.. Mills, I'm truly
sorry for you. She Is my relative, but
the way she treats you Is scandalous:"
"Poor Nancy, I suppose it's natural
for her and she can't help It," sighed
her indulgent husband. eyes, I'll go
back home, but it's just to begin the
same old misery all over again."
you're foolish" advised New,
glow of wisdom upon his young face.
"I've been thinking it all over, and
scare and lesson. She's not the
worst ever. She's awful good to me,
and, know, thinks there's nobody in
the world like you, when she isn't
stirred up with that stubborn temper
Of hers. You're peaceful, quiet
man, Mr.. Mills, and she imposes on
you, and you let her. Now then, you
follow the advice Of young fellow
who likes you and you'll be glad. See
If you aren't"
''What you driving at, Ned?" project
ed his puzzled employer.
"Well, Aunt Nancy is in the trouble
of her life"
"Why-"
eyes, sir, I'm speaking the truth.
She's rampaged to the limit, and you've
got her where you can let her stay
and cool off that hot temper, that's
sure. Just this has happened: Aunt
Nancy went into the little ice house
sunk in the back yard. You know it's
got heavy door with big double
lock. Usually we prop the door open
when we go In. She didn't this time.
She left the key in the lock and slam
went the door, and shut her in.
..Why, Ned, she'll half freeze! Why
didn't yon let her out at once?"
Because I got an idea. It's your
chance. I didn't let on I was in hear
ing when I found out about it. just
sneaked around the ice house. There's
a ventilatOr slot at the rear. l edged
close to the wall. I could hear her
scolding like a mad hen. She raved
about some one else fixing that lock
purposely to shut her in"
1--WE must get the poor thing out
at once, Ned" spoke Harvey So
licitously.
"You listen to me, please, Mr.. Mills,
and you'll thank me later. I've thought
it all out. "See that" and Ned drew
an old-fashioned pistol from his
pocket
"Why, what are you doing with
that?" challenged the startled Harvey
Il brought it from the house. And
that will do for poison, and Ned pro-
duced bottle filled with dark COZ
ored liquid.
He set both the articles on a bench
In the middle Of the shop. Then he
hunted around until he found a piece
of rope. He nOosed one end and tied
the other to low rafter overhead.
Harvey viewed all these operations in
a maze Of wonder.
"Whisper, now" said Ned mysteri-
ously, a grin Of satisfaction on his
face, and gradually as he outlined his
plan enlightenment inspired Harvey.
He seated himself near the table, he
posed forlornly.
III Nancy suspects any play acting
she'll be madden than ever" he OBJ
served uneasily.
"You leave 1t to me-" chirruped Ned.
and sped from the shop.
When he got back to the house he
stationed himself near to the Ice.
house, and began shouting out the
name Of his aunt vociferously. From
the direction Of the ventilator there
finally foated out muffled call.
SIS that you, Ned2 I'm shut in.
Quick let me out. oh. N.Y." she shiv-
cred as Ned opened the door. Tn
nearly frozen to death. Let me get in
the house and start fire.
''Say, don't waste any time on that"
gasped Ned in alarming accents,
catching her arm and heading in the
direction Of the shop. II missed you
and told Mr.. Mills. And how was he
to know, but you'd broken his heart
by leaving him. And he's desperate:
YES, sir, desperate. And II you want to
save him, run like whitehead, for
when I last saw him he was sitting In