New Britain herald., 1923-05-15
What Mrs, nnrkee Asked aisdge ta
 Da About Leila and Alfrad


 Nas conscious of distinct fsel-
 lns Of irritation against little Mrs
 Durkss when she assumed that
 would take niekg's evening clothes
 with me on mN thTeerdsy trip home
 for fear they might he s,alen in ms
 absence,
 She had taken the same uRFeasoR- ing pTeindiee against our Rfishhers
 in the Eesr apartment which nieks
 had svinesd, and while I, myself, shared much af their aversion, l was Nsry sure that whatever the moral or civic code of our neighhors, our peF- sonal belongings would he perfectly safe with them.
 If accepted Mrs, Durkee's view, | would he compelled 10 take home not only Diekv's evening clothes, hut seVr eral other valuable articles belonging 10 him, l had no room in my own suitcase or has, because Of having ta take home so many Of my own things 10 be mended or cleaned, would have 10 take Dieky's suitcase in sddi. ton to my own luggage, The pros, peet urged me 10 negative,
 I'm sure they'll he perfectly safe" l said, Besides. l never can take two suiteases and a bag from your house to tho farm. You know. I'll have to change ears twice. going that way. and there arc no porters on those local trains. + were going directly from the Pennsylvania sta- ton it would be different
 "Dicky isn't going out 10 the farm before he comes back. and fl he does he won't need these things. will he 2" Mrs. Durkee asked.
 No. he's coming directly back here answered.
 Madgc Reassurcs Mrs. Durkee
 Well, then" with distinct triumph in her voice. you won't need 10 take Dicky's suitcase to the farm at all. You can leave it at our house. and Ali can bring 1t in when Dicky comes back. I tell you it's tempting Provi- dence to leave clothes like those around. Even If those people in the'I back are all right, how many times do you hear Of sneak thieves getting in flats on one pretence or another and cleaning them out?"
 Again I heard Mrs. Marks earnest warning against admitting any stranger into the apartment. and my newspaper reading supplied any mum Der of arguments bolstering Mrs. Dur kee's case. I think she saw mo way ering. for she seized Dicky's suitcase from the corner. opened if brislSly and put it down beside mine on the bed.
 Now, she said capably, you go ahead and pack your own things. and I'll attend to Dicky's. Goodness knows. ought to know how. I've pecked Alfred's clothes often enough. But I'm certainly out of practice. now. for Leila doesn't seem to like me to do a thing for Alfred. She looks aft CT him as if he were a baby. She's a great deal more capable than IT, thought she would be, but I don't know, I do miss doing things for my boy"
 "Things Aren't Just Right"
 Her voice held decided tremolo, and hastened to banisf 1t with a lit I le laugh
 Wait while" I advised practical ,- y. 'Leilas still bride, as far as . sentiment goes. As the months and , years roll on, you'll find she'll be glad to share Airs socks and buttons with you again. That's something [ bout which Mother Graham and I ,eyer quarrel. Pm only too glad to lave her attend to Dicky's mending." { "Oh. you :" Her F'luffiness scoffed Z T suppose you and .e:la look at things from the same l tandpoint, don't you? Remember, oure one of tho Twentieth Century | romen, while Leiia---well, she's carly She thinks the sun rises . nd sets on Airs head"
 And wouldn't you be furious if { he didnt?" I teased. c T suppose l would." she admitted n -ith little laugh. ''But, honestly. S fadge, if he is my own boy, I'm fraid she's too wrapped up in him F ,r her own happiness You know t he best Of men get tired of cake and g cream all the time. and want q b jet with more of kick in it. That's nc reason I want you to come out. [; think you may he able to put flea
 Leila's ear. Things aren't just ght between her and Ali and I'm