The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1921-11-18
a Real
thanksgiving
byFrederid Hart
aG7NRm

g. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Il don't see why he didn't write ~
said Mrs. Halden pettishly. "Of
course I'm glad he's coming home for
might have given me longer notice.
But that's just like BOb--always drop
ping in like a tornado, with no more
than telegram the day before he
comes-and how I'm to get his room
ready, simply don't see! Lhave the
dinner to attend to, and goodness
knows it's hard TO get things these days
without making preparations for an
other guest. If he'd only written
All he had to do was to sit down IA
week ago and write"
"NOw, mother, don't get all wor-
ried," pretty Barbara Halden slipped
an arm around her mothers ample
waist. Il know you've a thousand
things to do, and Bob's coming makes
1t harder-but you just go ahead and
manage the dinner. I'll fix his room
and everything"
"Bless your heart, dear, run along
and get ii ready. I'm always gald to
see Bob" Her speech was cut short
by the abrupt exit of her daughter,
who danced off up the stairs. followed
by her mothers call. BE sure and
put out the smoking table! You
know how Bob likes his piper
"All right, mother dear-I will
And Barbara sped TO the little room
under the caves that had been sacred
to Bob Holiday since the time, two
years ago, when he had first come
to their town to practice law and had
taken up his residence under Mrs.
Halden's hOspitable roof which he
declared almost offered comforts
enough to make him forget that he
ever rad had any other home.
Since that summer, when he had
saved Mrs. Halden's little savings and
her home from the clutches of grasp
ing syndicate of real estate sharks
he had been like son To the good
woman. She had let him do very
! much as he pleased around the house
and had even limited at his paying nc
board, but Bob had insisted Oh giving
her what he termed a ridicuIously in
adequate sum each month.
When success brought him fame and
fortune he had refused to take up 9th
er lodgings. claiming that he enjoyed
the home cooking and the home aSsO
Citations of the little brown house near
the edge of the town more than he
could ever like the garish splendors
OF hotel or tire loneliness of bach
elor apartments.
For the past two months he had
been travelling In the West on bic
railroad case. His sudden wire. re-
ceived the day before Thanksgiving
had been the first apprisal of his re-
turn that Mrs. Halden had had.
Now as she busily arranged her
kitchen i'm preparation for the manu-
featuring of a dinner that should sur
pass all her former efforts In thai
line. she blessed the chance tina
brought her boy" as she called Bob
home AT the holiday season. while sh,
Outwardly feisned great irritation a
his unceremOniOus announcement o.
] his return.
Meanwhile, up in ,BOb's room, Bar
bara was busily putting things
| straight. spreading clean linen on TN,
bed. arranging the cover on the dress
err seeing that the smoking table Wa:
supplied with matches and trays fOl
BOb's ever-present pipe, and general!
| making things fresh and sweet for th'
reception OF her hero. For Barbara
Bob was good deal Of a hero, though
she would hardly have confessed ii
even To herself.
She attacked the dresser last OF all
intending TO take out OF the drawer.
any odds and ends that might be il
them and leave space for shirts. col
iars and other articles OF masculine
| apparel.
The big lower drawers were empty
and beyond a quick glance In scared
IL truant dust she did nothing e
them; but one OF the small top draw