Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1922-05-11
TO LET-AN
APARTMENT
Being the Somewhat Complicated Love Story of Man
and Maid, With Love Running True to Type
By ELEANOR PORTER
Author Of Pollyanna," Just David" Etc

OS6 poAoVA"
Excuse me-"
"Er-one Of the men"
Through mistake"
"Very careless"
"Thank YOU"
"Thank you"
Then two doors shut crisply. Behind
one the major wiped his brow. by
Jove by Jove y he exclaimed family.
Behind the other, Miss Barton sank
palpitatingly into chair.
ooh, it was awful-awfull |" she
gasped. Aunt Emma, he-he had
mine!, Then she fell on her knees be-
fore the suitcase and fearfully pressed
the spring. "Oh!" she cried, with pink
cheeks, and shut the bag with snap.
Getting settled was not long mat
ter In the south side. Miss Barton and
her aunt, Mrs. Todd, made quick work
Of 1t. Across the hall 1t was different.
The "little mother could not come for
a week yet, and the major spent much
of this time in shifting his new furni-
ture 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. r
AS the major took ali his meals out
during those seven days, he passed
very frequently, ap and down the stair
way Sometimes he met his neighbor
of number three.
1t 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. He 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
went out into the hall.
AS 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 the
corner she bought paper of pins
which she in no wise needed, and bent
hurried steps homeward. At the top
of the stairs she turned squarely
around and faced the man skulking by
the door of number four.
us there anything wrong? Are you
in trouble? Can do something for
you?" she asked with a precipitation
that limited at courage fast oozing
out at her fingertips.
"Thank you, nO-er-that Is, have
been careless enough to leave my keys
inside. I am waiting for the janitor-
and ladder"
"Oh, but the janitor went to Brook
Ign this forenoon. He told me he
wouldn't be back until five O'clock"
said Miss Barton, pityingly.
For ten minutes more Miss Barton
moved restlessly about her pleasant
rooms then she knocked at her aunt's
bedroom door.
"Aunt Emma, Aunt Emma !" 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 a ladder"
"What!" demanded Aunt Emma, sit
ting bolt upright on the bed, where
she was trying to get nap. "What!"
Some minutes later, Mrs. Todd,
sleepy and unwilling, sat In the par
lor's easiest chair trying to knit; the
major, flushed and Ill at ease, sat in
the bay window pretending to read;
and Miss Barton, pink-cheeked and
dignified, sat by her workbasket try.
Ing to look unconcerned.
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.
There's something here something
that I haven't got" he. unused; then
his eyes fell on the workbasket. Down
went the paper, aAd up went his chin
determinedly.
- Miss Barton, could you-would you
Tell me Where you got the basketT'
he asked abruptly.
The lady's neck, cheek, and brow
burned scarlet-it was the basket that
had been truant with the suitcase
Suddenly the major, too, turned fierce
~ red. The next instant something OF
the courage that was his In battle
flashed from his eye. .j5 81,
II asked" he went on with q laugh
that surprised himself, 50 easy, was It,
because I've hunted for week for Z
basket like that to give to mother. j
want a white-enamel, standing work.
basket, barred with gold,' he finished
unconsciously falling into the formula
which he had that week presented ia
no less than ten New York clerks.
"But I didn't buy It," laughed Miss
Barton in her turn; mot that way
It was an ugly little cane basket Of
no particular shade when bought 1t
I enameled It myself and checked i,
OF with gold paint. .!
.GiIt was easier after that. TIL,
major lost his 5husn. and Miss Barton