Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-08-27

vanished She caught voices ont
| to rearward--in two minutes he was
back. smiling down NJ her TO say:
1--WE are going to--the house over
yonder-to make sure Of my guests
Lettice stepped in front of him,
spread her skirt, stamped her foot.
and said shoe. ShoO-o." energctical-
Is, waving him back. but he only
laughed and walked outside, waiting
for her. however. upon the lowest
step A. She joined him She began to
run. saying brcathleSsly: "labs Is
blowing arrival-rd know our horn
among million. must be there
when they come"
A family of degree clambcred down
from the big touring car-Madam
Hale, a hud,ile of grandchildren of as
sorted sizes. and their nurse the pat
tern of family retainer. Babs In
khaki, at the wheel. called plaintively:
shelter and food. Lead us to them"
'Ths way" Graham answered.
shaking hands right and left. In
compnctly-with Lettice shepherding
behind it was no trick to have them
seated at luncheon five minutes later.
all talking at once. exclaiming joyous
~ over the wonderful hill country.
Formal presentations were unthought
of-how was he to know that Babs,
who was only less adorable than Let
tlce, was officially Miss Barbara Sell
lers. his housemate's sometime
iiancce?
Joe Built stopped dead ut sight or
the feeding family. rubbed his eyes,
muttcrcd, Am ! seeing things! then
tried TO slip away. In vain-he was
captured ingloriously, dragged back.
and made to understand that Old
George expected every man To do his
duty. Worse still. room was made for
him at Barbara's elbow, but Lettice
opposite helped out in her role of
comic relief. Their cross-fire of jests
made Graham fairly murderous, but
he was saved from breaking out By
Madam'S artless catechism, which
ranged from the water and milk sup
ply To town politics. the minister's
age. and Judge lIamblins pedigree.
What with talk and eating the lin
gering locksmith finally surprised
them. IL said: II dead lambs tail,
he excused himself naively To Let
tice. as all hands trooped across the
rond. Graham, on the other hand.
wished he had fingered longcr-it
would have given further chance to
add supper To luncheon. Only he
n inned dcrIsion of Joe. struggling
along glum and sour, between the
twin grandsons. right behind Babs,
who gave baby Eileen her undivided
attention. Lettice was excuse enough
for anything, Graham decided-still.
after all ones rawlings against the in
constant fair. he had no business to
be thus swiftly coEsoled. II served
him quite right that in the procession
10 the observation-disclosures. true
enough the key was found, hung to a
nail inside-hc WAS struck with
Babs, and the two Jagged So far be-
hind IT, was plainly Intentional.
Followed much merry moving and
Encouragement Of cases. boxes. jars.
barrels. even jugs. In the rejuvcnated
pantry and kitchen. l.ettlce ordered
unerrngly. and was implicitly obeyed
With the last thing in place she drew
u long. happy breath, saying 10 Ora
ham: I'm so grateful tony absent
mind IL had remembered properly
none of this would have happened.
We might have wasted half the sum
mer getting to KaoV our neighbors-'
81 mean to trusi you with another
key" Graham began Significantly. She
flashed away from him, flushing beau
tIfully. Smiling. he followed her 10
the sagging garden gate. II had been
opened recently. Inside under honey
suckleS in full flower they saw Joe
and Babs. with locked hands aud eyes
OF ecstasy. WHY do believe he's
the man." Letiice hreathed rather than
said.
"And know she's the woman"
Graham supplemented. They have
found the key they loSt-thc key to
happiness"