The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-05-18
CHAPTER xv.-contInued.

~*Ht>A~t ~ hCA WOfh- Onllt JCil
frowned heavily.
Lettie, <linging to the role o
hostess, smiled genially. you TOOL
awful int'rusted In each other CUES
you"
Tettie. didn't i tell you"
1t was Uncle Jerry's voice-a severe
voice, too. but Lettie scarcely listened
She stepped In front of Prudence.
Miss Hapgood," she said confden
tally. "ain't It funny thing, the way
your cheeks get all colored up when
you talk to Uncle Jerry7 Pennies
don't. Sometimes she talks to him a
long time, and she don't ever"
"Oh," gasped Prudence In pitiable
confusion, ITS only because-because
he was telling about" Fer delicate
hands fiuttered In distress.
"'ShawI Don't get so nervous" ad-
vised Lettie briskly. "Ain't nothing
to make you nervous. Just make
yourself to home"
She was very sure of the correct
ness Of this phrase. 1t being much
thought of In The Custard Cup, and
she was therefore hugely astonished
when she felt a firm hand on her
shoulder, a hand with compelling
force that switched her about and
marched her toward the kitchen.
To think of you, talking to lady
that wayl" spluttered Uncle Jerry.
You'd better stay In the kitchen till
you learn manners"
MY landy goodness !" gasped Let
tie. nursing her thin shoulder and
gaxins wrathfully at the closed door
into the living-room. "Pd like to know |
being extra pleasant, tool Well, by
1iminyi" she snapped. "I'll bet can
feed lady II he don't think can
talk to one"
Crink came In with the corn, and |
Lettis prodded the fire till the top of
the stove was hot Gradually she for
rot her rebufr In watching the corn in
the pepper.
"F1l Caesar" she remarked, casting
Z reflective eye on the small, eager
dog, who was gazing at her with vi
brating hope, you mays well get
out I don't scurcely b'lieve you'll
get q bit of this here corn-less you
divide the old maids with Bonnie Ger
aldine- Crink, take this pepper and
I'll get the dishes. What say let's
I'll bet Penxie'd like to have us use
them little glass dishes that come with
The cowpons. It's gotta be somep'n
mail. cause land knows there won't
10 Teller get many kernels"
She passed the pepper to Crink and
ragged stool In front of the apple
,ox cupboard beside the stove. The
lass dishes. being very choice, were
n one Of the upper boxes. behind the
pices. Lettie began moving the
pice boxes to another shelf.
"Oh--oh - she shrieked 81 dropped
ne. Pick 1t up. quick Obi Quick p
But neither child could be quicker
han the spice box had been. 1t had
allen on the stove When II struck.
be cover few OF. A liberal quantity
cayenne pepper spread over the
OF stove, and instantly a spiral of
lack smoke arose, like diabolic in
snss. An acrid odor filled the :,
Itchen; a singing permeation as
lIlsd nostrils and threats.
"Oh, amt that the darndest- Oh! Il
urderi Helpi Helpl Come Come ii
ongl Quick OH"
I'll Caesar coughed madly. Ieaped e,
to the air; then dashed into the
,en- Orink dropped the pepper, h,
'illing the precious corn over the q,
owe and floor. Coughing and sneez- CT
&. he and Lettie made frantic dabs W
the stove with spoons and shovel. tn
ying to remove the pepper. but their ge
'orts only spread 1t more thoroughly. di
It'll every breath they drew In biting sd
e. II
Uncle Jerry and Prudence fright to
ed by the uproar. burst into the Of
tchen. and with lightning response W,
the all-pervading stimulus, Joined CO
the general sneezing. At the same
,ment Mrs. Penfield came flying Or
rough the house and swooped down
on her distracted family with ener- bu
tic command OK
Get out Of the house, everybody" ms
, cried. tel
ihStch btA dhb ioiWdIu anu | nc
nsferred the hot griddles to the SEE
] OF the stove. Mrs. Penfeld jus
ltched a towel. wet 1t under the
Icet, and held II to her nose while pr,
deadened the fire and opened the wa
ldows. on,
The tortured family and the tor
cd guest fed to the back yard, Pei
ting the red-hot misery that chung kis
their Threats. breathing In great IN,
aths Of the cool air that soothed 'bo
iniamed at the same time. of
o Penzie." walled Lettie, dancing got
ut In agony, "I--honest to good hay
=, was-was trying to entertain his
s Hap" She sneezed. go
lists all right" choked the tina
St Il was never more-more- is I
heezei" Y
Dcle Jerry coughed violently. "It's tim
ooming-schweeze !" c