The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-10-27
kopyrieht 1921 by TIE Bell Syndicate Inc.

Have you seen Wal1ie TOrbin to-
day?"
Herbert swallowed. "Why, what
makes-what makes you ask me that.
Henry?" he asked.
"Oh, nothin'." Henry still kept his
eyes upon his gloofnily scuffing toe
Il just wondered, because didn't
happen to see him in school this after
noon when I happened to look in the
door of the Eight-A when it was open.
! didn't want to know on account of
anything particular. just happened
to say that because 1 didn't have any
thing else to think about just then, so
/ just happened to think about him,
the way you do when you haven't got
anything much on your mind, and
might get to thinkin' about you can't
tell what. That's all the way 1t was;
I just happened to kind of wonder II
he was around anywhere, maybe"
Henry's tone was obviously, even
elaborately, sincere; and Herbert was
reassured. "Well, I didn't see him."
he responded. Maybe he's sick"
mo. he isn't" his friend said.
FLORENCE said she saw him chasin'
his dog down the street about noon"
At this Herberts uneasiness was
uncomfortably renewed. "Florence
did? Where'd you see Florence?"
Mr.. Rooter swallowed. "a little
while ago." he said. and again swal-
lowed. "On the way home from
school,"
'Took-look here!" Herbert was
durried to the point Of panic. "Henry
did Florence-did she go and tell
you-did she tell you-?"
81 didn't hardly notice what she
was talkin' about" Henry said. dog
gedly. "She didn't have anything to
say that I'd ever care two cents about.
She came up behind me and walked
along with me a ways, but 1 got too
many things on my mind to hardly
pay the least attention to anything
she ever talks about. She's n girl
what think about her the less people
pay any 'tention to what she says the
better off they are"
'That's the way with me, Henry"
his partner assured him earnestly. II
never pay any notice to what she
says. The way 1 figure it out about
her, Henry, everybody'd be good
deal better off If nobody ever paid
the least notice to anything she says.
I never even notice what she says,
myself"
IT don't either" said Henry. "All
I think about is what my father and
mother say. because I'm not goin' to
have their advice all the rest O. my
life, after they're dead. If they want
me to be polite, why. I'll do it and
that's all there is about It."
"It's the same way with me, Henry.
II she comes fiappin' around here
blattin' and blubbin' how she's goin' to
have somep'm to do with our news
paper, why. the only reason I'd ever
let her would be because my family
say 1 ought to show more politeness
to her than up to now. I wouldn't
do 1t in any other account. Henry"
Neither, would I. That's just the
same way look at 1t. If ever begin
to treat her any better. she's got my
father and mother to thank, not me.
That's the only reason I'd be willing
to say we better leave the plank down
and let her in. II she comes around
here like she's liable to-"
"Well." said Herbert. "T'm willing.
l don't want to get In trouble with the
family"
And they mounted the stairs to
their editorial, reportorial, and print
ing rooms; and began to work in a
manner not only preoccupied but ap-
prehensive. Now and then they would
give each other furtive glance, and
then seem to reflect upon their fathers
and mothers wishes and the troublous
state of the times. Florence did not
keep them waiting long, however.
She might have been easier to bear
had her manner of arrival been less
assured. She romped up the stairs;
came skipping across the old floor,
swinging her hat by ribbon, flung
open the gate in the sacred railing,
and flounced into the principal chair,
lmmodestly placing her feet on the
table in front of that chair. Addi-
tionally, such was her riotous liveli-
ness, she affected to light and smoke
the stub of lead pencil. well,
men," she said heartily in voice as
sumed to be that of tall, powerful
mani don't want to see any lOafin'
around here, men. l expect to have
pretty good newspaper this week
yes, sir. pretty good newspaper
and / guess you men got to jump
around pretty brisk to do everything
think of. or else maybe guess I'll
have to turn you off and get some new
ones thatll be more obedient. 1 don't
want to haf to do that. men,"
The hlaclimailed partners made no
reply, on account OF an inability that
was perfect for the moment.
Florence made 1t clear to them that
henceforth she was sole editor Of the
Nnrth End Daily OriOle. (She said