Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-12-02
HOW MANY LUMPS7
BY PAULINE BARRETT.

heavy suitcase ana SWOle 9OA''
his breath.
"Such a beastly train service ne
muttered, for he had arrived az 20"
ham some three hours late-thls De
ing his first trip home from college 10
see his mother since she had gwen up
the big house and elected to ' III u
hotel until Max had finished schoo''
The scarcity of help, she a Written
Max. lad driven her to this step.
'Well, there's no one to meet me-
that's certain," decided the young man.
Brown as an Indian from weeks Oh
outdoor practice with the team II
would have been hard to recognize IN
this very ~bedraggled looking young
man the son of the fashionable Mrs.
Harding, who lived in the hotel at the
top of the hill.
Scowling fercely, he dragged MS
heavy suitcase up the path that leo
to the house, only to be met at the
veranda steps by a pompous-looKlhg
turnkey. who effectively barred MS
further progress.
Cant come up this way, fellah'
said the pompou one. "All trades
men and peddlers"-with a signincant
look at the heavy case-"must go round
the back way" And he waved MAX
grandly away.
Maybe l can sneak In through the
kitchen and get washed up before l
greet my fastidious mother" ne
thought to himself. IF she ever saw
me looking like this-hellol Whew-
ew-ew," and he whistled softly, for a
young and remarkably pretty girl, all
mufied up In a great woolly SCARF,
stood directly in front of the kitchen
door hanging up dish towels, thus once
more effectuaIly checking his progress
Him! Probably the assistant cook"
thought he to himself. well. e r
goes.
Have you a moment to spareT ne
asked. removing his hat and speaking
In his most engaging manner.
81 have not" replied the young wom-
an promptly, scarcely glancing up from
her work.
Not much enthusiasm here" he
decided. Then, May l show you som
of my wares?" with an expressive
glance toward the suitcase.
you may not" answered the "as-
sistant cook" as promptly as before.
swell, do you mind if 1 sit down on
the steps a minute?' he haZarded for
his third venture. I'm rather out of
BREATH
81 do not" again responded the fair
ady of the kitchen, taking him in with
one a~ll-appraising glance.
SO Max sat down on the lowest step
and, leaning his head back against the
house. closed his eyes.
"Poor fellow" thought the girl, her
sympathies aroused at last, h u
be tired. I'm afraid 1 was too sharp
with him."
She was back in a moment with a
cup of steaming liquid and, tapping the
young man on the shoulder, she offered
it to him
Here, drink this" she said.
With many thanks, he beat a hasty
retreat around to the front of the
house once more.
This time his mother was on the
veranda, and she greeted him affection
ately. Then he went up to his room.
He descended about an hour later,
looking very different in his dinner
clothes, and his mothers pride shone
in her eyes as she met him.
"And, Max" she said, there's the
loveliest girl here. I want you to meet
her."
Nov, mother" he demonstrated.
"But, Max, dear, this one is different
yes she really is" she insisted, as he
smiled u~nbelievingly. All! there's the
bell for dinner now"
"Well, no sign Of your divinity yet,
mother" said Max when they were
well started on their meal. Perhaps"
-hopefully-"she's changed her mind"
mo, | see her coming now" said
Mrs. Harding, and straight to their
table came the lady of his afternoons
adventure.
He had a moment to recover from
the shock of recognizing her before she
reached them, but not so the girl, and,
lifting her eyes to acknowledge the in
PRODUCTION, the color flooded into her
face and her eyes asked innumerable
questions as she recalled the events of
the afternoon. But Anne Cabot was
nothing if not self-possessed, and very
soon her usual calm manner returned.
did you know that Katie, the cook,
left this afternoon" she asked, look
ing at Mrs. Harding.
Gracious, no" gasped that lady.
who got the supper?"
II did," said the girl quietly. You
see, Mr.. Gates, who WINS the hotel,
has known me since l was a little girl.
and when he asked me to help him u
I couldn't bear to refuse him. Besides,
1t was a good chance for me to test
out my college training"
well it certainly was fine Of you,
my DEAR" said the elder woman, at the