The Glenwood post., 1923-06-28

ically and turned 1t about as If bewil-
dered. what is it7' There was no
doubling his surprise.
I'm sure don't know. valuables,
s'pose. Your wife brought 1t in for
me to keep while she was gone"
The red Of swift anger surged into
his face. "Gussie brought it in!
What in hi d she do that forY'
Mrs. Penfield smiled. 81 don't
know. For safety, was all she said.
And Of course a burglar would be
rather low in his mind fore he'd try
this place"
his anger mounted steadily, blazing
now In his prominent eyes. 'D-n!
She makes me sick, always getting
the jumping jimmies! I'll see that
she doesn't bother you any more,
Mrs. Penfield."
"Oh. 'tisnt that l count it bother,
Mr. 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 It's
round with you when you go any
whereY'
mo, hain't never done that before,
but going out of The Custard Cup al
together And even so, what If
lost it?''
"I should sayr His words cut the
air with violence "Believe me- Til fix
this"
Jerry Winston, whose merry eyes
had sharpened with alert interest,
broke in with a careful drawl. "Ain't
you bit hard on nerves. Bosley?
Likely your wife's had dream or
something
This lightened version seemed to
restore Frank Rosley's composure
Likely" he agreed gllbly. Been
reading the newspapers, I 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. 'sWomen need lighter food'n
that"
Mrs. Penfield started for the kitchen
Frank Bosley's voice followed her.
"rll 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 you?' she
murmured.
She put the saucepan on the stove
and went to the back door. Lettie's
game was in full swing. There were
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 llluminat.
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
which further utilized the supper fire.
! Uncle Jerry tramped through the
living-room and paused on his way
through the kitchen. Mrs. Penfield
was far from understanding why he
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 dissl.
pated. He had fitted up the loft with
a few pieces of plain furniture and
had constructed reasonable sort Of
stepladder that made 1t easily acces.
sible; but Mrs. Penfield was beginning
to wonder why he had taken the
trouble. He rarely had meal at
Number Al; there were days at time
when The Custard Cup never saw him
at all.
Nevertheless when he came breez-
lily back, bringing some offering Of
food which he ostentatiously claimed
to have secured at tremendous bar
gain, brimmlng with stories of the
oregon woods that delighted the chill
dren, full Of rough but jolly kindness
then Mrs. Penfield appreciated him
without reserve. But there were
other times-times when retcence
was uppermost, about his absences.
his business. his companions. Then
she was puzzled and disturbed. even
p'qued.
"Well, Car'llne." he began, II didn't
know you had snfety vault for the
neighbors. That's bout the last thing
I'd expect you to start"
She said nothing.
Mrs. Bosley must have the fdgets,"
! he continued; und as his tone grew