Evening star., 1922-09-10

I those things to their friends and
telling how they picked 'em up in 9
quaint old inn up in New Hampshire
So feel that I've hung UP another
kind act"
In fact, I've been having . bully
time. just jollying along these
strangers who drop in on us. = We
have had family parties, and bridal
couples, and one stodgy old pair who
conflded to me that they didn't care
much for touring, but were taking
this trip because Mimi needed the
outing. Mimi, I discovered. was q
wheezy little Pomeranian that had
been petted longer than any dog
ought to live. But I fed Mimi or
fried chicken livers, dosed the old
lady with bicarbonate Of soda after
! she'd eaten too much dinner, and
| sent them of next morning smiling
and clipper. with both Of 'em calling
| me Trilby May, and promising to stop
again on their way back
"SEE" 1 asked 1nez. Has any
sunshine society got anything
on us? That old couple had all the
earmarks of pair of chronic
grouches when they first drifted in
here, and they were all set to be
scrappy and miserable. But a few
kind words and a little thoughtful
attention to their whims changed
everything. They liked it lot. and
it will brighten up their whole trip.
Most people are like that, too. They
may look hard-boiled from the out
side. but the worst of 'em can be
softened up II you go at 'em the right
way. And it isn't such a poor pas
time, either. Is it, now?"
Il dunno" says Inez. Il bet you
get stung sometime"
When I do" says I. Il want you
to tell me about it,
was getting.
And then here the other afternoon.
about $50. just as We were sitting
down to family supper, this big gray
touring car snorted up and a raspy
horn was blown impatiently several
times.
Huh" says IneZ. peering through
the front window. Three. four five!
And all big fat ones. They don't look
nice. either"
They seldom do to you, Inez.'
says /.
But these" she insists. "are cross
lookin'. And that big man with the
cigar on one side his mouth acts like
he owned the earth"
Maybe he does" says l. But I've
handled that kind before. You call
Dunk and have Uncle Nels put some
more logs on the living room fire
while l so out and give 'em the
friendly greeting"
l was working up my most winning
smile. too. as 1 opened the front door,
but after one good look at the new
arrivals l saw that I'd tackled a real
job. For they were not real nice
lockers. No. There was too rugged
and the eyebrows were too jutty and
bristly. A go-getter. who'd started
from long ways back. was my guess.
He knew he'd got there though. and he
didn't want you to overlook the fact.
Evidently this was father
A ND mother was good running
mate. A high-chested. wide-built
old girl who had at least three chins
and some odd but undecorative pouches
at her mouth corners. 1 noted a hard
glitter in her narrowset eyes. The
two girls were rather high-colored
young husks. not SO bad to look at
but with sort of peevish mouths
Then there was sonny boy. staring
sulkily from one of the let-down
seats in the tonneau. 1t was quite
plain that sonny was not wholly
pleased about something. Anyway, he
was giving our revised farmhouse the
critical glare. Even as I stepped to-
ward the car he mumbled something
Say. who asked you to butt in?
was all the response he got out OF
father.
And then I sidled up. sprung my
crooked smile. and asked: We'll
what can we do for your
You runnin' this joint?" de.
manded father.
Trying to-" says !. will you all
come in and have a look?"
IL 10 Tue iOohiH says he. =" Hd'
about dinner"
Ready almost as soon as you are.
says 1. THAT is, if you care for fried
chicken. country style
"H-m-m." he snorts. I've heard
that bunk before. Listens good. but
generally it chews tough
IF ours is that kind" says L
"there'll be no charge. But rlease
let me show you the living room
What 1 want to see are the beds.
says he. Looks like a rundown ole
shack. and I'm taking no chances"
II wouldn't" says I.
DY this time I was almost pink In
d the ears, but I took a firm grir
on my temper and towed him in. And
generally, you know, that blazing log
fire, and the wax candles on the old
tables, knocks 'em for a goal Not
this one, though. He squinted around
casual. and made some kind of noise
in his throat.
NO steam heat. eh?" he grunted.
1--WE haven't started the furnace
yet" says 1. We like the open fires
better"
NO electric lights. either" he goes
on.
"Oh yes" saws "The bedrooms