New Britain herald., 1922-01-14

eidenf to puncture his eoek-sureness
 Now the accident had happened
 ana any mntterings of my conscienc,
 were qnieted by the practical certaint,
 that the truck drivers aid would b.
 available, With canniness born o,
 long experience of marital disputes,
 turned away from the disabled car. | Are They Hnrt?" 'l'll only be in the way" l re.
 marked with elaborate casnalness, "se III Just stroll over 10 the other car.i
 You're wise woman" Dicky's
 tone was acrid, Relieve me, I'm in
 no mood for sany feminine common,
 or supervision. A
 lost no time in acting upon the
 permission, for I was anxious to help
 Lillian In whatever scheme she had
 for taking care Of the peaches which
 Dicky had insisted upon having dumped into the bottom Of my car. As ] reached the other car l found her kneeling over into the tonneau. !, her hands firmly holding one of the sacks which she had secured from the fTmer's wife. Marion, kneeling on the back seat, was picking up peaches from the floor and putting them into the sacks, while Junior, perched be- side her, was also helping--in his own estimation, and in Marion's, to judge from the enthusiastic admira- ton she gave him.
 Get in here beside me quick, and take another sack" Lillian said when she saw me. You can hold with one hand and fill with the other until they get too heavy. When they're filled know l can pack them and the suit cases in the bottom of the tonneau so they won't crush any more. ] could get all the peaches in one sack, but 1t would be too heavy for Us to man. age easily"
 Where are the suitcases?" I asked, as I climbed in beside her and began to work feverishly.
 Tn that little gully down there" She inclined her head toward the side of the road. T watched Dicky care fully 80 I know he didn't see me put them out there.'
 Are they hurt? Of course, they were on top of the peaches instead of the seat"
 Madgc Is Apprehcnsive.
 Correct, she smiled. But there hasn't been much damage done so far. The sacks kept the peaches from the suitcases very well, although, of course, the juice came through little. But l wiped them off, tossed the worst bruised peaches-there were only few Of them-into the ravine, and I think the others won't be | spoiled at all But do want to get | them all fixed before Dicky gets over here. Whats he doing now?"
 I put my head out of the side of the car, took a quick survey of the scene behind me, and treasured Lil- Han instantly.
 Everything serene,' I said smiling in my own relief "The truck driver evidently has succumbed to Dicky's and is at work upon the tire"
 Well hurry like mad, neverthe- less" she answered, flor those com mercial drivers are quick and exper- fenced workers"
 We accordingly hurried to such pur- pose that before the tire was changed the peaches had been securely sacked, and the suitcases and bags wedged in 50 tightly with them that there was no possibility of their jarring. With canny forethought, we left upon the top of the pile the case which con- tained the things Dicky would need for the night.
 There 7" Lillian exclaimed when we had finished. "rhey can't possibly get bruised or spoil anything now if hey aren't disturbed. Let's hope nothing more happens"
 fervently echoed her wish, and 'ound it granted, for the rest of our ourney was as commonplace and un- sventful as our ordinary drives to the post office. Dicky either did not see ( ,r deliberately ignored the change we , lad made in the packing of the beach, [ $, and we arrived at the Connecticut j illage at which we had intended to a pend the night without mishap. 0 The next morning we left the med- V ocre but fairly comfortable hotel and [ lurried down the Connecticut coast I f the Sound to New London. We \ cached there just in time to get the f fternoon boat, and after most de- ghtful ride over the Soung to Sag | larbor, we began the final lap of our S ourney to the farm. = As we neared it. tired and hungry, 'ith Junior and Marion asleep against lillian, I regretted that l had not in- sted upon Dickys telegraphing the our of our arrival.
 What sort of welcome would we aceive? ! asked myself this question ith little shiver of apprehension at le prospect of dealing with the prob-