Evening star., 1922-01-25
THE WASTEFULNEss OF SUSAN
SUE.
Blaisdells' car purred along
the turnpike to the suburbs

SUE.
|THE Blaisdells' car purred along
the turnpike to the suburbs
far more rapidly than the law
permits. Briggs, at his wheel.
was as excited as the four persons
he was driving for because he had
been told that the Lindsays' little
house In Rosedale was burning.
Merriam Lindsay, good little sport
that she was. did not cry. She snug
gled against Johns shoulder, clinging
clasped in Nan Blaisdelrs steadying
fingers. Merriam. usually q chatter
box. was silent with excitement, but
John talked volubly.
Thorne Blaisdell, white-haired and
calm. asked:
1nsured?"
mot enough" Merry's tones were
rueful. Down In the bottom Of her
heart the poor child felt that the
burning Of the house was just
ing she had spent morbidly belittling
her own possessions because she was
envious Of Leila Graham's much more
pretentious home.
Long before they reached Rosedale
they could see flames leapins against
"Dariingest" John babbled. don't
get excited! It's all my darned fault!
xo9 xo9 wanted a,Sate, to 20 homo all evening!
street the almost SGnoss sRddea Tnen
suddenly they all drew breaths of
relief, for they realised that it was
the house next door to their own
and their own garage that were ac-
y eusy ba'ns IL ne suax but that % the ,taeca asra
house was still silhouetted against
the brilliant sky. Plumes Of water
feathered from the hose had pro-
tected 1t from the flames. And when
the pompous suburban chief had let
In the porch almost dancing with Joy.
Murky with smoke, sloppy with wa
ter. but quite untouched by the
flames. their darling, ugly little cot
tage and all their household treas
"S sympathetic neishbors trooped
through. the woman whose house had
been destroyed wept on Merriam's
shoulder. while Thorne and Nan
Blaisdell phoned for a watchman to
tho t. eornns the bsops Il. It erowd %ad
oozed away. and Thorne. speaking
with authority. put hand on Mer-
'come along. you're going to our
house fo1 some tmc ham and eggs .oe ane
bedsi This has been enough for one
night. You can come back to mop
Up tomorrow. Everythine IL all right.
You've been 2 trump. Merriam
was Thorne who had wrapped . coat
around her. Thorne who had made
John dnd overshoes. Thorne who had
kept her steady through the hours ct
confusion. TIN ready. and John 10
Anxk
out 81 the kitchen"
"Cinch," Thorne laughed, Il was
Susan Sues boss night onto twenty
years before Nan wished her on you"
He strode toward the kitchen.
eseeriiy ray 0i 1T s. all IL oSer era and W. we know
you didn't mean to burn them up and
that the worst is yet to come, but stop
moaning. Get your duds on. We're
going to go over to our house and
you can tell everybody there all about
Susan Sue. dfty-eight, usually un-
emotional. was sitting on . kitchen
stool. apron over her face. weeping
Darling Susan" Merriam lneir
recklessly on the wet. muddy door:
It's .. Il, right 1aSt Yonrs or. e. Sa.1 right s1s s1e
old dear ana saved the house and
we're proud Of you! So please do stop
crying and come on! The Blaisdells
arc waiting! It's after o'clocki
We must get in bed or we'll all be
down sick! Look. Susan Sue" she
pulled tho apron away from Susan's
head. 'ft's my house and I'm not cry
ing! You're the only one around
who's acting schoolgirly! Nobody
else Is making such fuss as you are"
Indignation blased in susan's tear
washed eyes. She rose in her just
wrath. Il
"sure. know nobody else 10 cry
ing" she walled. TITS nothing to
them gallivanting 1remen! It's their
job and they like It! It's nothing to
them snooping neighbors! They were
glad Of a chance to shove in! It's
nothing to you, Mr.. Blaisdell. begging
your pardon. you're always a.making
fun Of everything that happens and
saying It's all in a lifetime that stu
pid way you do that almost drives
sometimes. And it's nothing to Miss
Merry and Mr.. Lindsay. They had
nothing to worry about! But oh! OH!
OIL" tears burst forth anew. Il
seuA Ju0 - kicklnS nayaelf asonnA