The Washington times., 1921-05-03
A had planned. Father An
~ drew arrived at my apart
ment ahead of Neal.

A had planned. Father An
~ drew arrived at my apart
ment ahead of Neal.
THE boy isn't here yet. Is he?"
he asked after he'd given me a
hearty bear-hug. "For once in my
life / kinda dread seeing my Neal.
This is going to be harder to tell
him than twas that time I sus-
picioned him of being a Stacker"
1T isn't going TO be easy" l con-
coded, making dear Father Andrew
comfy on the big couch in the liv-
Ing room that wasn't mine any
longer. II do hope Phoebe keeps
him lingering at her side until we
get 1t all planned and rehearsed."
Reckon the best thing Is just to
hand him the truth in a quick dose
he can gulp down. We can count
on my Neal to stand up like a man
and take his medicine. You think
so, don't you, Babbsie?" he added
eagerly.
your son isn't going to whim-
per-" I affirmed proudly. Meals
only q boy in years. but I've seen
glimpses of the man he's going to
be-and that man is your son-and
my mothers"
Funny how you know just the
word to say to an old man on the
verge OF blind staggers, or what
ever you call blue funk around
here, Babbse. 1 don't believe
you're just flattering. either" be-
gan Father Andrew cheerily.
Then he caught himself up short
and examined the bungalow apron
I'd put over my suit. After a min
ute he looked from me through the
door to the dining room, which he
was facing. On the liable were
lying my knives and forks and
spoons. together with the big black
book I'd brought for my inventory.
Father Andrew rose, walked out
to the dining room and stood for a
minute drumming his fingers on
the table. Then he came back and.
putting his hand under my chin,
tipped my face to endure the scru-
tiny OF his clear eyes.
Looks like some one was taking
stock OF goods on hand" he re-
marked.
PRAISE FROM ANDREW.
-That's what I'm doing" con-
fessed.
appears to me that when q girl
does that it's because she's going
to turn the stock over to some ono
else. Have you rented this place,
Babbsie?" asked Father Andrew
gently.
yes. dear" I murmured.
as II because you-don't expect
to live here for a while-because
you think Jim won't be getting
back for a right smart timer"
Don't ask me-" / cried. Then
realizing the unfairness of the
answer. 1 added. 81 feel as IL /
ought to take advantage of this
chance to make a lot of money.
dear. You know what rents are
this year. And furnished apart
ments bring enormous sums. Car
lotta Sturges made a good bargain
for me. And there is my father
Il know interrupted Father
Andrew. his face working strange
ly as he spoke. you dear, dear
child II you aren't the bravest,
sweetest girl ever. fine woman
mother, / don't know enough to
come in out of the rain. Hullo,
there's the bell. That1l be Neal"
Want to open the door, dear,
while i rip Off this tell-tale apron
and slam the doors to the dining
room shut, so Neal won't be hav-
ing his mind on me when he needs
all his forces to meet his own
problem" / replied. SEEKING on this
pretext to secure for Father An
drew the few minutes alone with
Neal on which l felt even I had
no right to intrude.
But just as I was slipping out of
my apron / realized that what I'd
mistaken for thoughtfulness might
have been sub-conscious desire
to sidestep the ugly telling of the
tale of Dad Lee. So, like the King
OF France, who marched up a hill
and then marched down again.
trotted back to join my two dears.
Thought you were going to
leave IL to me, Sis. to break the
news Of your renting your apart
ment!" cried Neal. with enough re-