The Adair County news., 1922-02-28
COFINUED FROMiPAGE 2

lived In lar worse anu OhCe put III
some degree of order and cleanliness
It might prove fairly Comfortable in
deed. She surveyed the scene, as re-
vealed by the yellow flame OF the
lamp, her heart beating faster. This
was TO be her home. She had come
here as mistress. 1t mattered not so
much what it was now, but what she
should make of it. Her slender form
Strengthened with new determination.
There was yet another door, and she
looked out through it into a small
iean-to, the lamp held high over her
head. This was evidently the kitchen,
containing, as it did, small cook
stove, a sort of roughly built closet,
and sink, the latter stacked with I'M
washed dishes. An armful of split
Heod lay on the floor, and half slab
OF bacon hung to a nail.
Olga gave vent to another laugh
but this time there was no hint of hys-
terra in it, She had found herself.
Dressed still in the long duster, she
set down the lamp on a small table,
and dropping upon her knees, swiftly
kinGled q fire in the stove. AS the
wood began to crackle cheerfully, she
searched the closet for materials, re
jsicing TO discover some dishes yet
unused, together with remnants of
food sufficient for her purpose. There
was sugar, condensed milk, few
knarly potatoes, small sack of flour,
and a half can of coffee. She dumped
these out on the table, and began hum
ming a tune, as she added the slab of
bacon to these treasures. She was too
busy by now to give apOther thought
20 the dirt and disorder about her.
Shelby was kept outside cOnsidera
bly, longer than he had anticipated.
The buckskin, in spite of sixty-mile
Journey, retained viciOusnesS enough
to kick the lantern out of the Kids
hand and smash it into smithereens,
thus compelling the two to work in
darkness. Macklin, unacquainted with
the surroundings, was Of little use,
and most of the work had to be done
by Shelby in person. When it was all
over with both men were sweating
-prnfusely, tired and angry, the Kid
-cRrSfng everything from the creation
of the world. Shelby, suddenly re-
membering the girl left alone in the
house all this time, lost the last grip
on his temper.
shut upp' he barked savagely.
SPVe had just enough of that. What
said you expect anyway-a reception
committee an a banquet? Come on
In. now; we'll hustle up some grub.
Here, you might as well tote few Of
hose things along with you"
Beth men loaded up with packages
from the blackboard, the Kid still
swearing under his breath, but Shelby
Kriunly silent. He was remembering
what that interior looked like, and
wondering how she was taking such
home coming. He could not but con-
xrast the dirt and disorder to which
he had brought her with the immacu-
hate cleanliness of the shack where
she lived in Ponca. The memory
made him half afraid to go in and
face her eyes. He lifted the latch
hesftatingly, the bundles on the other
arm piled to his chin, and stepped
across the threshold. Then he stopped
suddenly, with his mouth wide open,
1hs Kid pushing in behind him, even
more heavily laden. She stood in the
ni6dle of the floor, with cheeks
IlaShed, and eyes smiling.
~YOu boys can pile that stuff on the
table," she announced brightly. "Tve
seraped those papers up in one corner.
Sc there's plenty of room. Never mind
abOat bringing the rest in now; sup
Per's ready"
Shelby put his bundles down with
ant a word. his eyes quick to perceive
che chairs cleared of their debris. the
HOor swept, the ashes back in the
stove. He could hardly comprehend
THE miracle.
She led the way gayly, leaving her
broom in corner, and carrying the
samp. The lean-to kitchen had been
1ranSfgured, and actually presented a
homelike appearance The dirty CiShps
gere showed out OF sight, the floor
swept, the fire in the stove hlazed
eheerfully, and the table was covered
Eith the essentials of a truly appetiz-
=mg meal. She set the lamp down i'm
2he center, fully rewarded 10y the eX-
preston on the faces of the two.
HYOu boys wash up there in the
sink" she commanded; fuse that piece
Of sacking for a towel; it was all /
could find. Then we'll get busy"
If Shelby was TO live "a thousand
years he would never lose memory of
chat meal. The grateful warmth of
che stove, the neatness of the table,
she good fellowship with which she
served, all coupled with the yOpder-
ful surprise, left upon him an i'm
preston never afterward to be blOtted
Sut, She talked about what she was
going to do; about what he had pur-
chased in town; about anything which
came into her mind that she could
manufacture conversation from. He