The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-20
BY MCNON HALE.
, DI IuVlNSJN INaIE==@C------ ' A ILLUSTRATED BY ENOCH WILLIAMS "a

rived so late for dinner that Mrs. Elberton had come impatiently to the front porch. She met them with exultant shining eyes.
 q haze a mighty big surprise for you bov," she informed Bob. Then, fairly thrilling with her secret, she led the way upstairs where she had furnished three lovely rooms for the architects exclusive use.
 For Comfort.
 You see," she explained, i've are so old we need the comfort of you whenever you will come to us. We want to hear you moving around puttering about now and then whist ling. We want you to be really at home One of these rooms you can use for an office. You have a side entrance all to yourself. The others you can utilize as a sitting room and a bed room.
 Ut was Mir. Elberton's idea at first, but l am so jealous of it that I'm going to claim half the honor myself"
 Bob was thoroughly overcome with their attitude of mind revealed to him. It made him unable to be glib of speech.
 What little dream place it was and what an actual comfort 1t would be--how kind the thought.
 "But look here" he hesitated. 1T feel like the camel which, being per mitted to thrust a head into the house, finally got bold and crowded himself all the way in. I don't feel I have the right
 The elderly Elberton snorted nightly.
 eRight!" he shouted. If it hadn't been for you. wild horses couldn't have dragged us here. Now we're hapy and set--but we want you"
 Bob caught the pleading in Mrs, Elberton's eyes and cast aside every hesitation.
 Christmas For Him.
 Well, must admit I want to stick around worse than you could possi- bly, want me. It s so wonderful of Christmas. The only trouble is I'm afraid you'll have hard time ever getting rid of me.
 Bob, please don't talk like that. We never will want to. Now that5s ended"
 And with one hand on Bob's arm and the other on her husbands. Mrs Elberton pulled the two down to dinner
 It was that cozy, peaceful retreat which was of so much comfort to Bob during the next few months.
 For the turbulence of his mind some quiet harbor. For at home he could rarely be a moment to him. self. His mother followed him about garrulous insisting on relating to E him all the news of the neighbor- hood and enJoyahly gossipng about the life and experiences of widow and her child Bob had hired to stay with her because of her weakened condition.
 Still Bob was scrupulously careful not to neglect his mother. nor at any time to be careless of her comfort Almost every day he brought or sent her surprising little delights in the way of gifts and frequently wen, through Hours of actual shopping for her. There was no one else, she said. who could buy for her and long accustomed to it. Bob realized this was true. Ut fretted her to have the wrong things.
 A Dresden Lady. Furthermore, Bob thus had oppor. tunity to acquire really beautiful clothing and comforting luxuries hi. heart had so much desired for hei through those bitterly hard. frs years. Thus. he really made of hel a little Dresden lady. Daintily frai through illness, this character suited her best; and under the influencs of her pretty clothes, she had really caught the spirit and attitude of thu role Bob was delighted that. as tn; years crept by. she was really be, coming more beautiful. There was only one thing that narred the effect--an expression oi intense trouble that often flashe, across her face and smouldered dec] in her eyes. Times, she would becom, suddenly quiet. and Bob felt he studying him with intense sadness sometimes with a attitude almost O fear. Then, again, she fell to sighs. I Bob set 1t all down to illneso O perhaps to mothers fear that som | day he might lose all his moneys thing she had mentioned troublousr,