Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-05-19

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The Runt Was coatless and in His
Stockinged-Fe
q doleful ditty on a mOuth-Organ.
Caught so Unexpectedly, he blushed a
beautiful brick red to his neck.
"Heat some water, Johnnie, and
make a good stiff toddy. Miss Kitty
has been out In the rain"
He lit the gas-log and from his bed
room brought towels, a bathrobe, pa
jamas, a sweater and wooden slippers.
On a lounge before the fire he dumped
the clothes he had gathered. He drew
up the easiest armchair in the room.
"Tm goin' to the kitchen to jack up
Johnnie so he won't lay down on his
Job" he told her cheerily. "You take
yOre time and get into these dry
clothes. Well not disturb you till you
knock"
When her timid knock anne her host
brought In a steaming cup. you drink
this. It'll warm you good"
What is it?" she asked shyly.
Medicine" he smiled. Doctors or
ders."
While she slipped the tod6y Johnnie
brought from the kitchen a tray upon
which were tea, fried potatoes, ham,
eggs, and buttered toast.
The girl ate r%avenously. 1t was an
easy guess that she had not before
tasted food that day.
Clay kept up a flow of talk, mostly
about Johnnie's culinary triumphs.
Meanwhile he made up a bed on the
couch.
Once she looked up at him, her
throat swollen with emotion. You're
good"
"Sho! We been needin' a lit sister
to brace up our manners for US. It's
lucky for us l found you. Now l ex-
pect you're tired and sleepy. We fixed
up yore bed in here because it's warm
er. You'll be able to make out with it
all right. The springs are good"
Clay left her with a cheerful smile.
Turn out the light before you go to
bed, Miss Colorado. Sleep tight. And
don't you worry. You're back with
old home folks again now, you know"
Tired out from tramping the streets
without food and drowsy from the
toddy she had taken, Kitty fell into
deep sleep undisturbed by troubled
dreams.
The cattleman knew he had found
| hor I'm tho pi0ly nf timp Che had fold
him that she had no money, no room
in which to sleep, no prospect of work,
Everything she had except the clothes
IN her back had been pawned to buy
food and lodgings. But she was young
and resilient. When she got back
home to the country where she be
longed, time would obliterate from her
mind the experiences of which she had
been the victim.
1t was past midday when Kitty
woke. She found her clothes dry. After
she dressed she opened the door that
led to the kitchen. Johnnie began tC
hustle about in preparation for hel
breakfast.
please don't trouble. I'll eat what
you've got cooked" she begged.
Its no trouble, ma'am. If the's 8
thing on earth l enjoy dom it's sure
cookin'. Do you like yore aigs sunny
side up or turned?"
Either way. Whichever you like
Mr.. Green"
While she ate he waited on her so
~licitously. Inside, he was a river o.
tears for her, but with it went a goot
deal of awe. Even now, wan-eyed ant
hollow-cheeked, she was attractive
In Johnnie's lonesome life he ha(
never before felt so close to a girl a:
he did to this one.
Il don't like to be so much bother
to you" she said. Maybe l can e
away this afternoon"
mo, ma'am, we won't have that a
TALL" broke in the range-rider ii
alarm. "We're plumb tickled to havs
you here. Clay, he feels thatawa!
too"
Il could keep house for you while
stay" she suggested timidly. II know
how 10 cook-and the place does neet
cleaning"
"Sure it does. Say, wha's the matte
with you bein' Clay's sister, jes' go
in last night on the train? Tha's tn,
story Wen put up to the landlord i
you'll gimme the word.'
Johnnie told the story of the searcl
for her, with special emphasis on tn
night Clay broke into three houses II