Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-10-14
Polly Acts as
Cupid
BY FREDERICK CLARKE
70. 1921. Western Newspaper Union.)

W. ASSAt "SSNNAh NNhSpaPtA AASA
Frank" said Uncle viii, suppress
ing a groan of pain as he shifted his
equity leg upon the sofa and sat up to
greet his nephew, "come here, you
scoundrel. How old are youg"
"Twenty-four, sir" answered his
nephew respectfully.
"Twenty-four! And l was engaged
three times before l was twenty-four.
Confound you, sir, why the deuce
won't you ask Dorothy to marry your"
Because l don't love her, my dear
uncle" answered the young a
"Lovel Love! What has that got
to do with it2" exclaimed the old man
irascibly. How can you help loving
every girl at your age? Confound you,
Frank. sometimes l think you are as
coldblooded as Ephraim yer there"
Ephraim, hearing his name spoken,
stirred in his cage.
"But Dorothy doesn't like me at
ALL" said Frank Leasing. "Be a little
reasonable, uncle"
"Tm not goilig to argue with you,
sir" shouted the old man. "But I'm
not going to see the Eastdale property
divided. 1t cost me thirty years of
work to get that piece of land to-
gether, and If you don't get married
Tll-Pll leave 1t to the Home Of De-
cayed Parrots that I'm contemplating
establishing"
"Ha! ha !" croaked the parrot.
SERVES him right! Serves him right
Confound your ifnpudence !"
Frank, put a cover over that bird,
that's a good fellow" said his uncle
pettishly. And Ephraim, thus sup
pressed, subsidized into silence.
Frank Leasing was the orphaned
child of a cousin of William Jennings,
and the kind-hearted old merchant
had made himself responsible for his
up-bringing. That he should marry
his daughter Dorothy had been his
earnest wish, and of late he had be-
gun to express it forcibly. But be-
tween the young people a feeling of
COtloll Qllll Adu Ill SCh With "oc AoP
idly broadening into active dislike.
Frank Leasing, during the course of
a business trip nut of town, felt the
loss of his cousin profoundly. 1t was
with happy anticipations, therefore,
that he rang the doorbell of his uncle's
house on his return, after on absence
of a couple of weeks.
Hello, Frank, come in !" cried his
uncle, shaking him by the hand. Con
found you, sir, I've missed you more
than l should like you to know"
"How's Dorothy, uncleT' asked his
nephew.
The old man locked at him with pa.
thetic eagerness.
"She's WE'LL" he grumbled. "But
Frankie led him into the little
room which had been fitted up as his
cousins boddoir -'you'd better try
your fortune again. Now listen to me
and don't be a fool. Do you see
Ephraim In that corner?"
"Why, yes, unNle."
swell, he lives here now"
"What? Dorotay's been making
friends with ErhraimF" asked the
young man incredulOusly.
When he was LEFT alone Frank lifted
the V from tire cage and regarded
the parrot intentl9. 1t stood watching
him, its head on one side, its claw
poised, its beak half open. And Their
from its throat Proceeded a most re
markable sentence, and one which
Frank Leasing hal never heard 1t say
before.
"Oh Polly" it croaked, "can't yor
tell Frank"
$50 on" shouted the young man
''Tell Frank what
Frank Leasing turned away in dis
gust and flung the cover W. the cage
"Oh Polly, cant you tell Frank that
do really lows himT" the parrot
squawked in shri!l protest.
Frank Leasing turned as a light foot.
fall sounded in The hall. He STROBE
toward the door. Dorothy came in
stopped, looked 1T him, and suddenly
found herself in his arms.
Dorothy, can you-can't you?
Frank began, thsn stopped, for there
was no need to say anything more
In fact five whole minutes had passed
before a heavy, equity footstep neal
them suddenly recalled them to the
conscience of exttrnalS.
They sprang epart, looking at the
old gentleman guiltily-and then Doro
thy perceived Ephraim's cage.
"Why, uncle, wi atever made you put
Ephraim in my rcom?' she asked.
"Only a within, my DEAR" responded