Evening star., 1922-10-29


"what are YOU talking about, any
way?' clustered Ephraim weakly
But the girl had whisked away. Ole
Bull McAndrus mopped his forehead
painstakingly. It was bound to 5ol
her at first, no told himself. "Bu'
wait till she sits around with thai
yap for . couple Of days with moth
ing to do but watch him twiddle his
thumbs. Then she'll begin to get the
point"
Ephraim played eighteen holes oi
golf that morning with a stoutly un.
troubled mind. It pleased him to note
that the course was crowded. Al
noon he found Anne waiting for him
smiling. at the last green.
Ephraim beamed. where's youi
splendid admirer?' he asked her with
4 flick Of an eyelid. Has he actually
found something to do with his valu.
able timer
Anne shook her head and returned
the wink. II don't know. daddums
He seems to have disappeared"
Couldn't stand the strain. guess
said Ephraim. and he started toward
the golf house with his arm about his
daughters shoulders.
Through . blissful afternoon
Ephraim summed himself happily upon
the broad verandas Of the Longleai
Hotel. Let the guests buzx! Ii
wouldn't hurt 'em-gave 'em some
thing to think about, in fact. And
what IL the hotel did lose a few!
The results were worth 1t, at almost
any price. That long. tall drink OF
water had disappeared-and Anne
bless her heart. was disturbed not a
whit. Good job. Ephraim!
When 1t came time to dress for din
ner Old Bull McAndrus sought out the
red-haired manager. Everything all
right, Fred?"
"Yes, Mr.. McAndrus. A million
question. But we expected that. And
six couples have checked out-sort Of
sneaked up to me privately and asked
for their money back. But we ex-
pected that. too. Yes. everything's
all right, I guess. There's only one
thing" He paused uncertainty.
What do you mean. one thing?"
well, Just can't put my finger on
1t, Mr.. McAndrus. Since about
o'clock there's been An awful lot Of
whispering and snickering-you know.
in corners"
Let 'em snicker." said Ephrain1
whole what do you want
ON to do-weep?'
ALL next day Ephraim congratu-
"A lated himself. Anne played nine
holes Of golf with him in the morn
ing and went motoring with him over
the one good road of Pinden county
in the afternoon. She was perfectly
happy. too: sang to herself and chat
tered like a sparrow. Good girl, Anne
was-and q true McAndrus. Said she
hadn't heard a word from that clothes
horse since the day before.
Well. If that yap was really gone
and out Of the way, Ephraim reflected
that he might as we'll give orders to
have things fixed back to normal
again. It would take not more than
couple Of days. Twenty of the
horses were at Pinehurst and could
be brought back overnight. Three or
four OF the tennis courts could be
made ready in twenty-four hours, and
all the ballroom needed was the re-
moval OF scaffolds and cleaning up.
The carpenters had been instructed
to make q mess, but not to wreck
anything. And-oh, yes. the tearoona!
That could be opened almost any
time. Ephraim nodded sagely to him.
self. Tomorrow morning he would
give the orders. But Ephraim never
did.
At o'clock the next morning there
sounded q peremptory rapping upon
his door. Ephraim reused himself
irritably. shuffled out of bed and pres
emily answered the summons.
What's the big idea. Fred?" he de-
manded Of the red-haired young man
who presented himself.
We'll, don't know exactly-bu;
read this" He handed his superior a
sheet of letter paper.
Ephraim scowled at 1t. "On &C.
count OF what seem to be necessary
improvements in the character Of our
service" 1t read. I'VE will be unable
to make deliveries Of milk. cream
butter and eggs for a short period Of
time. The Indulgence Of our patrons
is requested during this trying period
In case Of illness, certified to by a
reputable local physician. special de-
liveries Will be made in small guam
titles only. It 10 the earnest hope
af No a haf
will cooperate with us in this sus
pension of service in view OF the con.
templated improvements" The no.
tice was signed THE Pinden Cream.
cry Company, Inc"
Ephraim read 1t twice. Bunk" he
scoffed.
mo bunk" said the red-haired
young man. There Wasn't any oe!v.
cry this morning. The man brought
this instead. That isn't all. either"
Huh"
''The meat people and Banning. the
market-garden man, sent in exactly
the same noticcs-same wording
almost identically. Not a piece OF
meat. not a fresh vegetable and not 8
bit of creamery stuff. Looks like 8
hold-up to me. Mr.. McAndrus. AL
worded just the same. you see. Ru'
what are we going to do? Can't feet
the guests without any food
Ephraim pondered. How much
canned stun on hand, Fred"'
1.-TWO or three days worth. But
holy smoke"
Feed 1t to EN-" Ephraim directe
I'll fx thus up. Be downs airs it
twenty minutes" He shook his head
"Blankmailw he nuttered as he begar
to dress.
tffno fnv hfva ~ o.