The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-03-05
NEIGHBORS
IN NEED
Ga<0
BY SAIDEE Z. BALLOON

~ H'i 'AtltNNiNe race. NHfSelN D0le
hent her ear in the direction of the
room adjoining her own. From ohNcrva.
ton and audible demonstration She
knew that it held four young men. The
partition was thin and she could east.
~ catch sounds beyond normal.
one of the group started a mourn.
fnl tune on a flute. There was a whiz-
ling noise, evidently made by a pillow
vigorously flung. A lodging body
grazed the wall. An easel or a chair
was upset. A scramble and a scufla
cnsued.
THAT horse-play will do, fclloWs!'
sang out a mellow, pleasing voice
which Margery loved to hear, and
which She knew from what the land
lady had told her belonged TO Ncvil
Barry. "thc leader Of that turbulent,
happy quartcttc," as Mrs. Parton had
put it. Poor fellows! Fin thinking
they are o. the ragged edge Of moth
ing. having lost their positions. Jolly
enough, though, and honest, for they've
paid me all UP, but | think went with
out regular meals to do It,"
I'm going down TO the old office. to
see If there's any chance Of the resur-
rectiOn of our. dismal failure, the
Weekly Chit Chat" went on that same
engaging voice. "Thoy were to sell the
wreck of the layout at auction today.
end it may bring enough 70 settle up
the debts and leave US a dividend. If
ii does, YOU shah eat tonight"
Nevil Barry had disclosed enough to
advise Mar@ery Of the circumstances
surrounding bimself and his friends.
Ii appeared that he had become ambi-
tiouS rs the editor Of 4 country paper.
and had managed to get together suli
Client to start one in the city. His
three friends had literary ability.
and they got out four issues Of a Very
creditable sheet. Then Barry's capital
gave out, and the aUdaciouS Quartette
found themselves on the verge of bank
ruptcy.
Margery knew Of all this and pitied
these eXiicS of lOrtuue.
Now she smiled indulgontly 1T the
echo of some caper or bit OF badinage
from the trio in the next apartment,
and rather enjoyed her silent com.
partnership with them. She recognized
from their conversation that they were
clean, clever young fellows, expert.
enced a true sisterly sympathy in their
ups and downs, and amid her lOneli.
ness somewhat imbibed their spirit of
bohcmianism as an attractive phase
Of life. 1t WAS two hours later when
she heard Barry return from his mis-
sion. A turbulent babbIe arose from
his cOnfereeS.
no ~sustenance! :" cried one. "Where's
the promised milk and honey, the sue
culpnt roast, the tOOthSOme deSSert?"
"rhey're coming, all of them" de-
clared Barry. For q week we've had
nothing but promise Of work. I've got
something better-prOspects. Fellows.
there is no dividend from the sale of
our former princely possessions, but
the assets of our princely venture were
sold at auction for a mere p%ittance
TO q rich iunkman, so rich, indeed. that
when | went to see him he considered
investing ten thousand dollars in Chit
Chat revived as a mere bagatelle."
you mean you've found an angel,
q backer?'
".Just that; q humble old money
grubber willing to shine as a patron Of
struggling literature. Next Monday
,,nV,inr oil fnI1p nf ne a 20 tn antar nm
on a salary and half interest basis
with this ambitious Croesus."
Cheered comment and eXuberance
greeted the welcome announcement.
Amid a merry, excited babble, the
tones of Barry arose once more In di-
rection and counsel.
'The landlady is paid up, so we
haven't that on u minds" he OBJ
served. "All we have to worry about
is the food. If we can stick it out I'M.
til Monday. we are made men. My
watch is about the only thing left that
is pawhable. Ho, then, for u Illus
trious uncle!"
Margery acted on an uncomfortable
impulse. She went to the door as that
of the next room opened. She faced
Nevil Barry as he neared her.
wait" she said, flushed and ex.
cited. 81 am your neXt-room neigh
Dor"
Barry raised his hat with the grace
of a finished courtier.
81 have been an eavesdropper uncon'
sciOusly," she went on. The watch
don't! And getting through until
Monday? I'll help you. | have q little
money ahead. And a ~two-plate gas
stove. And if you will be content with
my cooking why not have breakfast
and supper with me?"
Nevll Barry stared at the lonely girl
as If an angel had abruptly crossed his
path.
"It's wonderful" he said simply
"You can't mean ii J"
81 do" smiled Margery. Like your
selves, this is my first city experiment.
The landlady is your friend. Let me