Pueblo chieftain., 1921-10-09
Benny the Book Agent
PARKER BUTLER
of is the famous "Phio Gubb' and
Bunker Stories.
Downright. Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate)

the porch Then he leaned his thumb
against the button and waited. The
door opened. A colored maid stood IN
| the doorway. She took one look at
Benny.
GROSSLY and the door banged in Bennys
face again. He shifted his sample copy
of Aunt James Cook Book" to rest
ing place under the other arm, looked
up and down the street carelessly'
and walked down the steps,
House number three! No m>s>sr, there
were several thousand houses in West
cote.
In the fourth house, as Benny stood
on Mrs. Hillyer's porch glancing up
and down the street, Mrs. Whlough-
by jackson walked nervously from hef
parlor into her living room where
niece Eleanor arranging
liable to suit her own ideas
as to how a tea table should should
ladies of the Thursday Afternoon
Club chatted and tried to FIJI in the
minutes that were beginning 10 De
irksome. For an hour or more they
had been trying to pretend that they
did not mind the delay. while Mrs.
Willoughby Jackson became more
and more nervous.
Eleanor" said Mrs Jackson, do
you suppose that man is coming
"I don't know aunt" said her
niece II have told you before that
Reginald Barr is too replete with
artistic temperament to suit me.
You certainly can't expect an artistic
temperament to mind little things IKE
being on time
II suppose allowance does have to
be made for that" said her aunt
nervously. But it is most annoying.
If | had prepared anything else 10
entertain the ladies, but your mother
wrote so positively that he would be
poems. She said he could easily fill
the afternoon"
"oh, he'd fill It." said Eleanor;
He'll read as long as anyone will
let him. He'll read as long as ne
can keep one of his audience in
a agony You have to turn out the
lights to stop him. And then he'll
recite from memory
Eleanor, To speak so of such a
distinguished man. one of the rev
producedi" She glanced toward the
parlor with annoyance. But I don't
see why he doesn't come. II is so
unpleasant to keep repeating eH-
cuses''
"sDon't fret" said Eleanor. IT he
thinks he can get half dozen
women to gurgle over him he'll come
! II he has to creep
Mrs. jackson returned to the par
lar with her sweetest smile. :,
purred. Dear Eleanor assures me
| he will let no obstacle keep him
away II you would like few hands
| of auction until he comes?
| Mrs, jackson was not as sure as
| her words indicated. She took from
| the waist of her gown the letter
| Fleanor's mother had written her.
| There were parts that did not have
| to do with the arrival of Reginald
| Barr. although they had to do with
| the wealthy society poet himseir.
| Elcanor's mother referred TO the poet
as "the sweet poet and our dear
poet" and darling Reginald"
'T am quite. quite decided that
dear Eleanor shall marry our dear
poet" she wrote. ''in spite of her
| foolish fancy for Jack Hollins. Dar-
| ling Reginald is quite wealthy as
we'll as famous man. but Eleanor
| is so stubborn. OF course / shall
not insist until I know your senti-
mcnts. your word must be final for
have such faith In your judgment:
dear sister. ] think your Idea OF
having the sweet poet come to you
and read his dear poems THURSDAY
is admirable. lie has promised to be
with Won at three and he knows how
much depends on It. so he Will not
fail you"
Mrs. Jackson. having for sthc tenth
time confirmed her understanding that
: O'Clock was tho hour written. re-
placed tho letter In her bosom. That
her sister had written that the de-
cision of Eleanor's aunt would be final
did not initiate Mrs. Jackson's pride;
she know that. rs the wealthy mem
on whom Eleanor's future depended In