The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-09-20


I'm sure 1 don't know. ya,uah,as
spose. Your wife brought II in for
me to keep while she was gone"
me red Of swift anger surged into
ms face. "Gussie brought it inl
Wnat In HI d she do that forY
Mrs. Penfield smiled. T don't
know. For safety, was all she said
ana OF course burglar would he
rather low in his mind fore he'd trv
this place"
His anger mounted steadily. b,az,ny
now In his prominent eyes. "D-nl
She makes me sick, always getting
the Jumping jimmiesi I'll see that
she doesn't bother you any more
Mrs. Penfield."
"Oh, 'tisn't that count It n bother
MIR. Bosley; but, land, there amt any
great protection here"
And, great Scott, you carry this"
he turned the box over in his hands
-these rings-or whatever 'tis-
round with you when you 90 any.
whereY'
NO, haint never done that before,
but going out of The Custard Gun al.
together And even so, what IL |
lost itr'
Il should sayi" His words cut the
air with violence. Believe me, I'll fix
this"
Jerry Winston, whose merry eyes
had sharpened with alert interest,
broke in with careful drawl. "Aint
you a bit hard on nerves. Bosley ?
Likely your wifes had dream OF
something"
This lightened version seemed to
restore Frank Bosley's composure.
Likely" he agreed sllbly. Been
reading the newspapers, l presume.
Got her mind full of robberies, and
thinks she's going to be the next in
line"
Jerry Winston nodded. worst
thing in the world for nerves." he said
sadly. "Women need lighter food'n
that"
Mrs. Penfield started for the kitchen.
Frank Bosley's voice followed her.
"Pll be ambling along, Winston.
See you again in day or two"
Mrs. Penfield. emptying the baked
beans into the saucepan, shook his
head. Wouldn't that beat your she
murmured. .
She put the saucepan on the stove
and went to the back door. Lettie's
game was in full swing. There we're
now ten scraps Of humanity, because
Thad had been annexed to the party
as a family courtesy and was travel.
ing deadhead through Its joys. Each
one of the ten had been assigned the
part of a creature of feathers or fur
and was practicing the new charac'
ter with vociferous spirit. Timmy
Catterbox, as Gray Squirrel, was eat
ing an imaginary nut with increasing
grace, to the accompaniment of ap-
propriate noises; his little sister, as
Hen, was strutting and cackling In a
way that would have been illuminat,
ing to unframed poultry. Rabbit was
represented; also Cat and Dog and
Mouse and several others-all small,
as Lettie had promised; all active. as
one might expect.
Mrs. Penfield, satisfied by her mo
ment Of supervision, went back to her
supper preparations and the ironing
which further utilized the supper fire
Uncle Jerry tramped through the
living-roon and paused on his way
through the kitchen. Mrs. Penheld
was far from understanding why be
had come into her home. 1t had
seemed natural enough at first, but
the supposition that he wanted to
participate in the home life of his
own kindred was being rapidly dissi'
pated. He had fitted up the loft with
a few pieces of plain furniture ana
had constructed reasonable sort OF
stepladder that made 1t easily acces-
sjbIe: but Mrs. Penfield was beginning
IN wonder why he had taken the
trouble. He rarely had meal al
Number At; there were days at time
when The Custard Cup never saw MN
at all.
Nevertheless, when he came breez.
fly back, bringing some Offering Oh o,
food which he ostentatiously claimed
IN have secured at tremendous bar
go,n trimming with stories OF the
Eregon woods that delighted the chii-
dren, full of rough but Jolly kindness IN. ness
then Mrs. Penfield appreciated MIN
without reserve, But there were were
other times-times when reticence
was uppermost. about his absences, nc, Is,
his business. his companions. inen @
she was puzzled and disturbed even
piqued. .or,, az didn't
know you had a safety vault 10. ,ne .ne
neirhbors. That's bout the last 'ns
I'd expect you to start
She said nothing. a,uo,s /.
"Mrs. Bosley must have tne nusu.s, sre,,