The Jasper news., 1920-12-09
cNAPTER v


.
Early Birds
At sunrise Clinton was wakened By
the dazzling rays that streamed IN at
his open window.
He hastened to where he had left
his clothes. They were arranged In
a different manner from that In which
he left them-they had an odd look
the suit was not his own. Though not
unlike IN color. the pattern and tex
ture were dIsstmilar. On the dresser
lay all the articles that had been In
his suit except the handkerchief.
Fresh linen and underwear were laid
out In the place Of what he had worn.
His shoes set where he had left them,
but they had been carefully polished.
II was easy to divine that while he
slept someone had come into the room
through the rear door or the passage
that led to the. bathroom.
Accustomed to hotels, he glanced
along the walls In search Of q bell
push button. On the side near the
rear was a round contrivance. He
went over and recognized Il as the
Tnouthpiece OF an oid-fashioned speak.
ing tube. He stopped to It and called
irritably: -Heilo. hello. Ii this the
kitchenf Hello"
Eyes. yes. I'm here, Mr.. wilI," came
back the voice of old Tillie. my but
It does sound natural to hear you gin.
ming me up"
.It's my Clothes" broke In Clinton.
II want my suit"
"SultT' was the astonished reply.
"Why, laid out the very best every
day one you left"
"No, no. mean my own suit; the
one wore last evening""
"Thatf But you can't have 1t unttl
get the pants pressed and the coat
cleaned. There's a grease spot most
as big as"
Clinton slammed down the cover Of
the mouthpiece and returned to glower
at the changellng suit. But he did
not long remain inactive. Up through
the open window tioated clear, sweet
hail: "O.ho-ol O-hO-o. laEybones |!
Aren't you coming DOWN.
He leaped into the fresh costume
and dashed to the bathroom without
stopping to examine the at of the gar
ments. That he was able to get into
them at all was sufficient to satisfy
him for the time being. With hair
half brushed he hurried out into tho
hall. fastening his tie.
"You are2 she Incredulously Ques-
toned. well, II you mean it,"
"How could help It when you
chilled mel" he asked.
"But ! know how much you like to
lie abed. II II wasn't for these dirty
old gloves I'd give you a big hug
for it.%
He looked quickly aside spd replied
ip tone Of brotherly banter: Like
the Mikado, you make the punishment
fit the crime"
"Meanlcw she pouted. "You wouldn't
say that II Ellen offered TO hug YOU"
"How do you knOwf Anyway, I
mean precisely" He stopped short
and pointed at the spots on her big
apron where she had knelt in the damp
soil. you've been working hard"
"The early bird has been catching
the worm. Those nasty cut
wormsi" she complained. ~ catch
them and give them TO Teddy Jones
for his fishing. Poor thingsl It's too
bad they nave to be such a nuisance.
Come and see the roses"
To avoid bruising the flowers that
dropped or thrust out over the path
on either side he had to walk behind
her. She danced ahead of him. rap
turously calling his attention to her
especial favorites among the blossoms.
He agreed with all her praises, EVIL
IDENTIFY willing to accept her judgment,
since he never shifted his gaze away
from her dainty head and graceful.
girllsh form. She had on u crisp Ging.
ham dress. and her abundant hair
hung down her straight little back In
a thick braid. There was excuse for
even a brother TO consider her ad0r-
able, particularly brother who could
not realize that she was his sister.
She glanced about and caught his
rapt expression. "Oh, VIII, what IL
Itf" she asked. -You look $3.50
as II you've been moonstrucki"
81 am trying to compose a poem"
he said. How Is thlsr
The Princess Of Posies.
Amidst her bright roses.
Alasl me aupposes
Her brother to bel"