New Britain herald., 1923-07-14
Katherine's Joking Suggestion Abotl
 Enlistinr Katie's Aid

EnjistinE hatteS Aid
 Katherine and I. with nerves ting. ling, watched the woman from across the road scuttle toward the house tc ''ask her man" If their daughter could come to help ns clean our house. The . suspicion that there was more to hei sudden departure than the necessity of asking her husband consent to the girls employment, was strong upon both of us.
 afihe's bound we shan't come near her house, that's plain" Katherine said, as the woman disappeared around the corner of the house. T wonder if she'll let the girl come to work"
 You mean, If her husband will" !" amended
 T accept the correction" she re- turned with a smile
 T think he will" I said thoughtful ly. They're pretty shrewd, and they probably will see that to keep her at home would strengthen our suspicious of something wrong. if we have any"
 "Welll Have we?" Katherine's tone was challenge.
 What do you think?" countered.
 Its worthy of Katie's movie im- agination," she said slowly, but I believe that escaped bootlegger just entered that house."
 T don't know why it's so wild a notion" I returned. They're of the same race, and those people always stand by each other in any trouble.
 "Ma-mee Coom 0fer"
 fought we to notify the troopers 9"
 "Oh. suppose so." said wearily for I felt that had had my share of dealing with crimes and criminals in the work had completed with Lil- Han but a few months before. But. I reflected, there was no obligation upon me save the reporting of my sus- picions.
 If the people were innocent, no harm would be done by the search, and if they were harboring a danger ous criminal. they deserved punish ment.
 Well r Katherine endeavored to comfort me. You won't have to wor- ry about it for few hours, any, way. There's nobody to notify, Is { LuCItt unLll lllt ltOopFES anu llIc IF- doubtable Ticers come back again?"
 No" I returned, relieved at the re- prieve from responsibility, and then we waited in silence until the woman we had seen came out of the house and ran toward us
 "Ma -mee coon ofer right away" she said, and, without further cere- nnony, whisked back to the house.
 That isn't just according to Hoyle,' Katherine observed thought fully as we walked back home. "She never asked what you would pay her"
 Katherine Is Amused
 "She didn't need to-" I replied with a wry smile. Her people have this end of the island in labor grip which is perfect thing of it's kind, When any one of them gets through with a piece of work he says, Tree collar" or Five dollar" or whatever sum happens to strike his fancy, and there is a finality about the words which leaves you nothing to do but to hand over the money"
 t'No tickee. no shirtee, eh?" Kath- crime quoted.
 Exactly :" I answered.
 We had reached our own steps, and Katherine put low voiced query:
 Are you going to tell Mother Ora ham what we thought we saw?'
 Not having any desire to install a miniature psychopathic ward in the house, shall restrain myself" I an swered. Mother Graham would be capable of going over single handed and routing out the fugitive. But I shall give Jim warning to look out for possible flight through our wood lot, and another to keep the knowl- edge from Katie.
 "Why don't you turn Katie loose to ferret out the bootlegger?" Rather inc laughed "I'd love nothing better than to trail along in her wake as an observer She's such an inyeterate movie fan that she imagines herself a different heroine or lady de-tek-a- tive every week"
 Did I ever tell you about the time Katie decided to practise for the movies and made herself up according to the directions she found in book, and the rouge wouldn't come off until Lillian used pound or two of lard 1 and cold cream?" NO !" Katherines voice was filled | with gleefu appreciation. and then she chuckled.