Evening star., 1921-11-27

smoke failed to go up the chimney as
it should?'
at went everywhere but up" says
Tower. ut pufred out. belched out,
room in the house was full Of it and we
were almost chOked. We opened all the
doors and windows and it rolled out into
the evening air in great blue clouds. or
course. kind neighbors saw it and rung
in fire alarm. Perhaps you know how
these suburban fire fighters are. AM
bilious chaps. I tried to argue with the
local chief when ne came bursting in
our front door with the nozzle Of a
chemical hose. We had quite lively
little scrimmage.. He won. You can
still see some Of the chemical stains
en- the things and rugs. But he doused
our fire. all right.
81 should have quit at that. didn't.
though. Jane insists that l was stub
born about it, Perhaps. But l still
wouldn't smoke. Maybe the chimney
hadn't thoroughly dried out. or should
have started with q small blaze. Well,
| tried again. with a handful of kim
ding. More smoke: But We didn't dare
open the windows. We choked and stood
it. l pushed the fire clear to the back.
That didn't help. Neither did building
1t in one corner. The smoke just curled
around and billowed out at us. So
called up the contractor and told him
duOut IL. ne sent dfCunQ tne
mason. who built the chimney. Pic
turesque chap. Tony. Cheerful. too.
Perhaps he'd helped lay UP brick walls
! in Italy before he came over here. But
not many. I'm sure. Anyway. this was
Tony's first fireplace. He said as much.
built several ffreplaces since then and
all that had been tried up to date had
acted the same way. They'd smoked
"Da damfiue. Data troub:" says Tony.
II fesx him for you. queek"
II. GO to it, Well. he's been at it
nearly week now. See the mortar that
has been ground into our oak floor?
That was trapped in by Tony and his
helper while they were ripping the
He's accomplished that much. But up
stairs in our bedroom the havoc is still
going on. Come have a Look
80 We all trailed UP to the next floor.
HUH says Barry. Looks like
house. in Scissors that had been through
1t wasn't a bad description. Such
a pretty bedroom it must have been,
too. before that great hole had been
torn in the chimney.
And meanwhile" says Mr.. Tower.
"just because Tony's enthusiasm for
removed part Of the furnace fiue as
well, so we can have neither steam
heat nor the fireplace to warm US up.
He discovered that little mistake yes
So you find us in tae kitchen, hoy0r
ing around the electric range. Eut
really. when it comes to warming you.
it's a poor substitute for the old
fashioned wood stove"
But do show US all your cleo
trical appliances" I urged.
urERTAINLY." says Mrs. Tower.
Those are still intact. That is,
all but the electric dish washer.
Hilda managed to do something to
that the other day which put it out
of commission, but the electrician will
fix it up as soon as we can induce
him to come around. Anyway, here
it is"
Then we made tour and inspected
the other labor saving machines.
They all looked shiny and new and
efficient. But Mrs. Tower admitted
that Hi1da was afraid to use the
vacuum cleaner since she'd had
slight shock from a poor connection.
And it came out that Hilda wasn't
quite successful In handling the
electric range. either. Some things
she burned to crisp. and other
tnlnSS Hne COUlQn SeGIn 10 COOK NlOTo
than half through.
shes stupid, that's ALL" says Mrs.
Tower. "And then Paul tried to tell
her how the various things work-and
shows her wrong"
"Oh. naturally, it's my fault" says
Mr.. Tower.
They were having quite hot little
spat about it when Barry crashed in
with a suggestion Of his own. ''rll
tell you, folks" says he. We've
picked poor time to camp down on
you for supper. 1t wasn't exactly our
fault and I'm sure it wasn't yours,
either. So let's all pile into my car
and drive over to Primrose Heath Inn
for a real good shore dinner. My
treat"
mot at ALL" says Tower. This is
my blow, you know"
Barry, and after more or less talk
they compromised at that.
- TITS just maddening to think that
we can't entertain you in our own
home" says Mrs. Tower, "but would
like to get some place where can
thaw myself out. Perhaps 1t will be
good for Paurs disposition, too.
Come along, everybody. Let's CO."
But as we were streaming out Mr..
Tower remembers that he'll need an
lextra early breakfast in the morning
and suggests that q note to that effect
be left in Hilda's room so that she'll
get it If she comes in and goes to bed
before they get back. We waited