Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-08-05
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A SCRAP Of PAPER
BY EsTELLE M. TiDD.


ing:
That you, Nell? Say, did you no
tice a little folded piece of paper on
the hail floor after l left? Didn't?
Well, will you look, please; and say,
Nell, if you find it, don't look at it,
please, do you hear? It's a little bit
private. I'll hold the line. Hurry
back"
The paper was quickly found and
Nell rushed back to inform her hus-
band of her success.
Good! don't want to lose that"
was the reply. PUT it in the little
drawer in my desk, and you won't
look at it, will you, Nell? Promise"
lawfully private, it seems to me, but
you needn't worry, l won't look at
your precious paper. Good-by."
She sat for a moment, regarding the
bit of paper with hostile eyes.
"Pretty fussy to call it d folded
piece of paper" she unused indignant
ly. Looks to me like a note-a regu-
lar note"
Presently there rushed in upon her
Julia D., her best and frankest
friend.
Have you heard the latest?" she
demanded. Sue B is here-came
Tuesday; she's going to stay a month.
She's looking magnificent. Funny she
hasn't visited in town since your en-
gagement to Harley was announced
owe two years ago. She used to be
crazy about him. They made the most
stunning pair-everybody turned to
look. l WONDER she paused abrupt
ly, then ratified on: "Say, Nell, /
wouldn't dare to marry a handsome
man-you never can tell-Goodness,
Nesi, don't ever wear that shade Of
blue again. You look five years older
in it,"
Julia had just whirled out when the
telephone rang again. Harley's sister
Lou wanted Nell's new recipe for egg
less cake, and after hearing it she con-
tributed her share to the mornings
budget.
Whose car were you out in last
night at Pinetree Heights? After you
had whizzed by, breaking every speed
law ever made, l realized that n Of
the men vas Harley. 1t was so near
dark l couldn't recognize anyone else,
but I suppose you were along. You
certainly had a reckless person at the
Wheel"
'I-I1l tell you all about it later,
Lou. IL think there's something
burning on the stove. Good-by.'
She hung up the receiver. Out at
Pinetree Heights last night, and he
had told her it was a business en-
gagement that had kept him until 1880.
He had been unusually h~igh-spirited
during the evening, and then alternate
ly absorbed in thought.
What could it mean? Miserably she
went about her work. She thought in
cessantly of that arch-charmer. Sue
B., and the mysterious note, and
though she felt a wholesome distaste
in doing so, still she kept wondering
whether Sue B and the note did or
did not belong together.
mo, 1 won't look at it," she assured
herself. 81 said I wouldn't, and
WON'T WON'T"
But before she had flashed speak
ing her hand reached straight to the
drawer, opened it and drew out the
paper.
"All the. rest of the day." she
choked, 1--WE got to live with this aw'
full note"
Springing up, she crumpled it i'll her
hand.
81 know what I'll do. I'll burn uE
the horrid thing. Harley shan't have
it-nobody shall have it, and If it's
burned up l can't read it"
Lighting a match, she knelt before
the crate. She had just thrown down
the farming scrap when the trout dool
banged and her husband entered the
room, going s~,aight to the desE: in the
corner.
Building a fire. Nell? Say, where's
that paper l 'phoned about?" His voice
was edged with excitement. "That's
important"
'sYes. of course-very important'-ts
you. oh, / know all about It,"
''What'd you look at it for? By
George, you said you wouldn't. / iikt
that!"
ST didn't look at It'll" she famed q
had some degree Of honor, but i've
burned the horrible thing, and / didn't
have to read it to find out a few things
joy riding way out to Pinetree
Heights last night, for instance-and'
"What!' broke in Harley. "Yol
burned that paper-you silly-and lit
tie you know what I was out to Pine
tree Heights for. That peachy little
bungalow out there, you know, Nell
that we r both crazy about. I've
rented it, with a chance to buy Il
later, perhaps. We can have a garden
and chickens and help out on u bit
I was out there again this afternoon
looking the place W. and have come
back now to take you there. And, lis
ten here. I've just bought another LIB
erty bond, my biggest yet, for you thif
time, and the horrible thing you just
saw At to burn up was the receipt fol