The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1922-06-23
Johnnie Green-Match-M Maker.
CHAPTER VII

Johnnie Green-Match Maker. j.,
Johnnie Green gave an upward jerk
to the frying-pan and caught the Zap
jack as it descended. 49,
"Fust and last call for breakfast in
the dining-cyar. Come and get it, old
timer" he sang out to Clay.
That young man emerged from his
bedroom glowing. He was n or two
shades Of tan lighter than when he
had reached the city, but the paint Of
Arizona's untempered sun still distin-
guished him from the native-born, if
there are any such amopg the inhabi-
tants Of upper New York.
You're one %sure-enough cook" be
drawled to his satellite. BEST flap
jacks ever made in this town..
The Runt beamed all over. If he
had really been a puppy he would
have wagged his tail. Since he couldn't
DO that he took it ont iq %grinning. Any
word Of pra::ss from Clay made the
world a sunshiny n for hini. ~
The two men were backing it. The,
had a little apartment, in the Bronx
and Johnnie looked after il for his
friend. One Of Johnnie's vices-ac-
cording to the standard of the B-!D-a-
Box boyS-was that he was as neat
as an old maid. He liked to hang
around a meSS-wagon and cook dough-
nuts and pies. His talent came In
handy now, for Clay was no house
keeper.
After the breakfast things were
cleared away Johnnie Jared forth to a
certain house adjoining Riverside
drive, where he earned ten dollars d
week as outdoors nan His business
was to do odd jobs about the place.
He cut and watered the lawn. He
made small repairs. Beatrice had a
rose garden, and under her direction
he dug, watered and fertilized.
Incidentally, the snub-nosed little
puncher with the unfinished features
adored his young mistress in the
dumb, uncritical fashion a %schoolbOy
does a Ty Cobb or an Eddie Collins.
In his heart he had hopes that Clay
would fall in love with and marry her.
But her actions worried him. Some
times he wondered if she really under
stood what a catch Clay was.
He tried to tell her his notions on
the subject the morning Clay praised
his f1apjacks.
She was among the rose-bushes,
gloved and hated, clipping American
Beauties for the dining room, a dainty
but very self-reliant little personality.
Miss Beatrice, | been thinkin' about
you and Clay" he told her, leaning on
his spade.
"What have you been thinking about
us?" the girl asked, shipping off a big
rose.
"How you're the best-lOokin' couple
that a man would see anywheres."
Into her clear cheeks the cOlor
flowed. IF / thought nonsense like
that / wouldn't say it," she said quiet
ly. "We're not a couple. He's q a
I'm q woman. l like him and want to
stay friends with him if you'll let me"
"Sure. i know that, but" Johnnie
CROPPED helplessly to try to explain
what he had meant. "Clay he likes
you a heap" he finished inadequately.
The eyes Of the girl began to dance.
There was no use taking Offense at
this simple soul. Does he? I'm sure
I'm gratiied," she murmured, busy
with her scissors among the roses.
"Yep. / never knowed Clay to look
at a girl before. He sure thinks a heap
Of you"
She gave a queer little bubbling
laugh. You're fiattering me-"
Honest, / amt" Johnnie whispered
q secret across the rose bushes. "Say,
If you work i. right I believe you can
get hip.."
Ti.v n sl.arklef. Here was a new
s!aui Oh matrimonial d~esirability.
Cie.rly the view of the little cow
pun,lier was that Clay had only to
crock his fingers to summon any girl
in tie world that he desired.
what would you advise me to dor
she dimpled.
"Sho! dunno" He shyly un-
burdened himself of the warning he
had been leading up to. But I'd
tie q can to that dude fellow that hangs
around-the BrOmfield gly. O. course
! know he amt one, two, three with
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