The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-06-02

'.Er-one Of the men"
Through mistake
very careless''
THANK you"
"Thank YOU
Then two doors shut crispiy. Behind
one the major wiped his brow. ''By
love --by love n he exclaimed family.
Behind the other, Miss Barton sank
palpitatingly into chair.
"0h, Ii was awful--awful r she
gnsped Aunt Emma. he--he had
mine! Then she fell on her knees be-
fore the suitcase and fearfuliy pressed
the spring. "OhI'' she cried, with pink
checks, and shut the bag with a snap.
Getting settled was not long mat
ter III the south side. Miss Barton and
her aunt, Mrs. Todd, made quick work
Of 1t. Across the hall IL was different.
The little mother" could not come for
week yet. and The major spent much
OF this time In shifting his new furnl-
fure about from corner TO corner.
There was something else, too, which
interfered not little with the writing
Of his Results OF the Spanish War"
upon which he was supposed to be
JUST now hard at work the major
went shopping; he went shopping for
a white enamel workbasket barred
with gold.
As the major took all his meals out
during those seven days, he passed
very frequently up and down the stair
way. Sometimes he met his neighbor
of number three.
II was on the sixth day that Miss
Barton, on going out for loaf Of
bread, found the major sitting on the
top step OF the stairway. lie arose at
once as she approached, but when she
came back ten minutes later he was
again sitting on the top step.
For ten minutes Miss Barton moved
restlessly about her rooms, then she
once more put on her hat and coat and
went out Into the hall,
AZ before, the major sprang to his
| feet and retreated toward his own
door. but Miss Barton did not seem to
notice. In the little store around tile
corner she bought a paper Of pins
which she In no Wise needed, and bent
hurried steps homeward. AT the top
of tile stairs she turned squarely
around and faced the man skulking by
| the door Of number four.
lis there anything wrong? Are you
In troublef Can | do something for
| yeu?s she asked with precipitation
that limited ut courage fast oozing
out AZ her tlngertips.
"Thank YOU no--er--that Is, have
been careless enough 70 leave my Keys
inside. am waiting for the Janitur--
and ludder."
.'Oh, but the ianitor Went to Brook
Ign tllls forenoon, He told me he
wouldn't he buck until five O'Clock. Y
sald Miss Burton, pityngly,
For ten minutes more Miss Barton
moved restlessly about her pleasant
rooms; then she knocked ut her aunt's
bedroom door.
Aunt emma. Aunt Emmals she
called you'll JUST have to come into
the parlor, He next door. Is locked
out, and I've just got to ask him In
until he can get ladder
"Mhatm demsnded Aunt Emma, sit.
ting bolt upright on the he'd, where
she was trying TO get n nap "Whatr'
Some minutes later, Mrs. Todd,
sleepy and unwilling. sat In the par
lor's easiest chair trying TO knit: the
major. flushed and III at ease, sat In
the bay window pretending TO read
and Miss Barton, plnk-cheeked anu
dIsnltied, sat by her worEbasket try.
ing to look nnconcerned
For time there was silence. The
major, having been distinctly Invited
In TO read. felt In duty bound TO keep
the paper raised before his face; but
his eyes, more mutinous than his
hands, left the paper and explored the
territory within their range.
4 There's something here something
that | haven't got" he mused; ther
his eyes fell on the workbasket. Down
Went the paper, and up Went his chin
determinedly.
Miss Barton, could you---would yor
tell me where you got the basketT
he asked abruptly.
The tndy'S neck. cheek, and brow
burned searlet--it was the basket tina
had been truant with the suitcase
Suddenly the major, too, turned fierce
II red. The next instant something .
the courage that WAS his In hattl
flashed from his eye.
Il asked, he Went on with langI
that surprised himself, so easy was Il
because I've hunted for week for
basket like that 10 give 10 mother.
want white-eaamel. standing work
basket, barred with gold. he finishes
uneonscsoasly failing into the .ormul
! which he had that week presented t
no hess than ten New YORK clerks.
But ! didn't BUY Il. laughed Mis-
: Barton in her turn; moi that wa.
! II was an ugly little cane basket {
: no particular shade when bought i
enameled il myself and checked
/ OF with gold paint
j 1t was easier after that. I'll
. / mo i.,y- lost hiS f3,tSn ana Mise pa~tn