Arizona republican., 1922-04-23

(, down. can't be bothering with it
while Blanche is in the house"
She poured the syrup into a big
kettle. set it upon the stove. II guess
| I'm out of the habit Of reading in the
morning" she thought. 'Tll save it
until this afternoon and sew instead.
The sewin' machine was merrily
humming when the telephone bell in
| terrupted.
It was Mrs. Leeds, Annice's best
friend and neighbor. Il saw Wilson
and the boys go away" she said.
| Come over and have lunch with
me. You won't be able to eat a mouth
| full if you sit down alone"
Now that's very kind of you, Fam
nv" Annice answered. "and I'd come
in a minute, only you see I'm going
to have quiet day. Wilson's cousin,
Blanche, is coming tomorrow. and
there are a dozen little odds and
ends | want to attend to which | can
do better when I'm alone IN the
house.
Il see" laughed Mrs. Leeds. "Well,
I'll do what can to help your quiet
day. Annice Goodbye"
"There! I've wasted ten good min-
utes talking to her." Annice SAID.
! Next time the telephone bell rings
i 4 L =
either. I don't like the way my quiet
day has started in"
lust then she heard a strange
sound from the kitchen. She remem-
bered the boiling syrup and ran AS
she reached the door the cataclysfn
took place. The syrup suddenly gatn-
cred its forces and fairly EXPLODED
into a. geyser of brown froth, which
shot out of the kettle, poured over
the stove. ran along the floor ana
sweetened everything within ITS
reach.
Annice snatched the kettle from
the stove and swung it into the SINK,
not moment too soon to save con-
flagration. AS it was the syrup upon
the stove began to burn and I'LL the
house with a thick black smoke. she
opened the door and the smoke
poured out into the spring morning
Half suffocated, she tried to scrape
the burning crust off the stove, sud
denly aware that the top OF one foot
was beginning to pain her. The boil
ing fluid had stopped upon her IN
step, which the low pump left un-
protected.
She was obliged to leave every
thing and attend to her foot, and
she removed the stocking and pro-
ceeed to apply soothing bandage.
Nov this is just about the worst
thing that could have happened" she
moaned, as she looked about her. 1T
will take all of dozen pals of water
and no end of elbow grease TO clean
up
Hobbling on her burnt foot, An
nice got her mop and began upon the
sticky floor She was busy at her
task when she head a knock at the
door.
what now?" she thought as she
opened it. Then she started back
with a gasp. For there stood Blanche
Copeland done up in the latest mo-
toring togs and almost as astonished
as she was.
How do you do, Annice?" Blanche
painted. as she kissed her. II poked
and poked at your doorbell, but l
found it did not ring. so l came
round here. knew you We're at home
because I asked little boy and he
told me. But what in the world are
you doing here?"
.sThe maple syrup boiled over"
Annice answered, trying to keep con-
troll of herself. Don't try to come
in-T mean-oh, there you've stock
fasti"
Blanche had. She had stepped
squarely into puddle Of syrup which
had CONCEALED with the sickness OF
glue.
Good heavens. Isn't there an
island anywhere in this flood?" she
exclaimed. And then she began to
laugh. and cough. until she saw the
bandaged instep. "Oh. you burned
your foot!" she said. What pity!
You give that mop here and let me
clean up this mess myself.
'sYou!" Annice said.
"You don't believe can?" Blanche
flung back her coat, tucked up her
veil, and seized the mop. Annice tried
to get it away from her, and they had
a merry squabble. See here, An
nice,' Blanche said. isn't there some
one you can get to do this for you
while you and I so junketing? for
got to tell you that I've been out at
Darien visiting May Colt, and she
brought me along in her car-that's
how came a day earlier. We thought
maybe we could steal you for the day
and run UP to the city for a bit of