The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-11-03

rehearsals, this one was never to be
played for an audience. Adults are un-
dependable. Thirteen attempts to ex-
ercise great philanthropy, and every
grown person in sight, with the pos
sible exception of Great-uncle Joseph,
goes into wholly unanticipated fits OF
horror. Cause and effect have no re-
iation: Fate operates without reason
able sequence-like monkey.
And while Florence, thus pensively
disturbed, sat beside fat Uncle Joseph
during their long, long drive, relatives
of hers were indeed going into fits; at
least, SO Florence would have de-
scribed their gestures and incoheren-
cies Of comment. And straight into such
a fitful scene did the luckless Herbert
walk when driven home, after the
movies. by thoughts Of food. ct about
six that evening. Henry Rooter had
strongly advised him against return
ing.
1t may reasonably be felt that it
required no particular gift Of prophecy
to hazard the prediction that in all
probability a most unpleasant form Of
inquisition awaited Herbert on his re-
turn to his home. And Henry Rooter
had the wisdom (and experience) Of
thirteen.
you better not" he said, wisely.
Honest. you better not, Herbertp
swell. we got apple dumplings for
dinner" Herbert said, his tone show
Ing the strain OF mental uncertainty.
ELIZA told me this morning we were
goin' to have 'em. kind Of hate to
go, but guess 1 better, Henry"
You won't see any apple dump
lings," Henry predicted.
"well. I believe better try it.
Henry"
"You better come home with me.
My father and mother'll be perfectly
willing to have you"
II know that" said Herbert. 'But
i guess better go home and try 1t.
anyhow, Henry. didn't have any
thing to do with what's In the Oriole.
It's every last word ole Florence's do
Ing. haven't got any more right to
be picked on for that than child"
"Yes." Henry admitted. But II you
go and tell 'em so, l bet she'd get even
with you some way that would prob
ably get me In trouble. too, before we
got through with the job. 1 wouldn't
tell 'em II l was you, Herbert!"
''Well, i wasn't intending to-" Her.
bert responded gloomlly; and the
thought of each, unknown to the other.
was the same, consisting of n symbolic
likeness of WaIlie Torbin at his
worst. II ought to tell on Florence |;
by rights l ought" said Herbert; "but
I've decided l won't. There's no tellin'
could do anything to me. particularly
-
"Nor me, either" his friend inter-
posed burriedly. ''I don't worry about
anything like that. Still, II was you
wouldn't tell. She's only girl, we
got to remember"
"Yes," said Herbert. That's the
way l look at 1t, Henry; and the way
I look at 1t is just simply this: long
as she's girl, why, simply let her go.
You can't tell what she'd do, and so
what's the use to go and tell on u
girl?"
THAT'S the way look at it," Henry
agreed. whats the use? If 1 was
in your place, I'd act just the same
way you do"
"Well," said Herbert. 81 guess
better go on home, Henry. It's q
good while after dark"
you're maxim big mistake |"
Henry ROoter called after him. "You
won't see any apple dumplings, I bet
a hundred dollars! You better come
on home with me-"
And Herbert no more than half
opened his front door before he per-
ceived that his friends advice had
been excellent. So clearly Herbert
perceived this, that he impulsively de-
cided not to open the door any far
ther, but ON the contrary to close 1t,
and retire; and he would have done
so, had not his mother reached forth
and detained him. She was, In fact,
just inside that door, in the hall with
one of his great-aunts, one of his
aunts, two aunts-by-marriage, and an
elderly unmarried cousin, who were
all just on the point of leaving. How
ever, they changed their minds and
decided to remain, now that Herbert
was among them.
1t really seemed that to many per-
sons who were gathered there, appar-
emily in important consultation. his
M