South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-04

I Weakened early the next Worn.a=
ir the unfamiliar best bedroom OF
The farmhouse where we had Sc
cured temporary quarters for my
father. DlcGv and me. WONDERING
what had set my mental alarm
clock
IT i have anything especially on
mv mind I have the lucky faculty Of
being able % wakeu ~ exactly the
time , planned The night before, and
had charged my memory upon re-
firing. after our moonlight drive o.
She beach and the old Dacey farm
stead that I wished 90 arise early
enough 20 do-what'
For q tantalizing minute or two I
could recall no reason for early
rising Then the remembrance oi
the scheme Dicky had proposed the
night before flashed over me, and ]
knew what 30 wa that I must do. Be
fore Mother Graham should awaken
7 must warn Lillian Marion and the
TIGERS 90 drop no hint that j had
ever heard OF the Dacey farm. For
even though in nay hear of hearts
I resented Diclcy's scheme 81 leading
his mother go discover the place. and
o. pan 90 buy &c. yet 7 knew that IL
was the only possible way out Of
the dilemma forced upon US by the
combination Of the housing situa-
ton and my mothcr-in-law's general
cranklness.
IN Plenty OF Time.
dressed quickly and n0iseiessly,
pinned a note on Dickys pillow 20
Jet him know where I had gone, and
that I would shortly return, and then
slipped out of the house without see
ing any one. Smoke from the Chim-
ney told me that the mistress Of the
house was already astr but I did
not want 20 encounter her for
wished mo- delay.
Fearing that the sound Of the mo-
tor might awaken Mother Graham
left the car I'm the barn where I had
put &c the night before. and walked
swiftly down the road for the half
mile that led 20 the TIGER farm. The
fog. which is so frequent "a morning
visitor 20 the east end OF the island,
was just rolling back under the at
tack Of the first rays 90 the SUM-
leaving every bit Of vegetation
dampIy gIistculng shifted the
fresh air with the zest which always
attends any walk of mine i'm the
early morning. To is my favorite
time Of all the day.
From the TIGER chimney. also
came a graceful spiral Of smoke
and from the TIGER kitchen door, as
approached &c. came a most appC-
tizing odor OF coffee and frying
home-cured ham. That Mrs TIGER
Was serving her own family with
breakfast. getting them out of the
way before preparing the later and
more elaborate one for us. ] surmis-
ed. Ny guess was confirmed when ]
reached the kitchen door. for San
Ticer AMI Jerry, i'm their shirt
sleeves. but scrubbed until theii
faces were red with the soap and
rub6ing. were sitting at the table
valiant trcncher-men, indeed. fas
diminishing by huge onslauEhts q
stack of pancakes
clear out"
I am afraid a dietitian would moi
have approved this menu for
warm spring morning, but confess
that after my motor trip of the night
before, my sound sleep with win
dows vide open. and my brisk morn
inE walk j cuvied Mrs. TIGERS men
folk their hearty breakfast. As
appeared in the doorway Mrs. Ticor
with a little cVcIaumation, dropped
her pancake turner.
We'll declare. Mis- Graham
she said. you save me start. il
ther anything The natter"
''Not a thing" responded cheer
ily. except that 7 want YOU all O
keep "a secret for me-
It was amusing 10 see the rouu,
eyes that Sam TIGER and Jerry turn
cd on me. Both the farmer and ni
son have chld-like minds, and ar
neither as quick nor as poised q
Mrs. Tice-.
"a secrctI' Sam TIGER echoed.
Haven't YOU got any ears o." hl
wife snapped. That's what hi.
Graham said Come right In, Mis-
Graham. and sit down az you ca
fn6 a chair ft 20 sit in." She nicke
some imaginary dust from q speCk
less chair as she pushed 20 forward
And just tell us what YOU want"
"Tou ought 20 know you can
trust a woman 20 keep a secret.
sam TIGER cacsled. "But I'm "a mas
ter hand don't ever tell robod
nothing. I'm just Ike "a crave.
be"
Don't pay any attention 20 hin
Mis- Graham" his wife begget
Hes always putting his foot in ht
mouth every time he opens IT, Wha
was 10 YOU wanted US not 20 tell Q"
Her tone and manner eliminate
her husband from the discussion a
completely as ~ he had been a pa
OF rubbish which her broom Ia
just swept up. But that SeE Tlce
knew it for good-natured banter
though with "a touch of hrmncss be