The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1926-11-20
The House That
Larry Built

BY JANE OSBORN

And now it was nearly the first OF Sep
TENDER and she felt somehow as II she
hadn't had quite such a satisfactory
vacation as she had hoped.
Now she stood in Larry Blair's ga
rage while a mechanic crept under her
trim little car to see just why it was
that the engine had begun to pound
SO hard that she had stopped here for
help. An idle-looking young man
waiting for his car was talking to the
six-foot, gray-eyed man in overalls
whom the others referred to as boss"
Mice house you're building next
door," observed the waiting young
man. whats your idea?"
Polly's eyes suddenly met those Of
the gray-eyed young man. He smiled
In a most friendly manner and Polly
smiled back. II don't know just what
/ shall do" said he. IF my GRIN
have me, then I'll marry and settle
down. But IL my girl won't have me,
then III sell it."
asked herr" queried the other.
mot in so many words" returned
Larry, the boss, "but-oh, she won't
want me, so / won't need the house.
What do you want to offer me for itf"
The idling one made no offer and
the subject Of conversation was
changed. Just then the mechanic got
out from under Polly's car and told her
he thought everything was all right
and she could pay the boss. She
started to pay Larry.
''Wait," said Larry, handing back
the money. Maybe I'd better try that
car myself" Larry was in the car
and had driven it a few feet out Of
the garage when 1t stopped and ap-
peared to jump. With difficulty Larry
backed it into the garage. There's
something special that car needs" he
said "It won't cost any more-but
1t needs a new part"
Polly was distressed. "Dear me-"
she said, I'm ten miles away from
home"
Ell happens that am going along
that way" said Larry. Maybe you'd
let me drive you home"
So 1t was that Polly drove ten miles
over the highway with Larry. Larry
never spent so much time on ten miles
before In his life. He apologiZed, say
ing that there was something the mat
ter with his car. 81 don't mind in the
least" said Polly. Il have been en-
jOying the scenery"
$50 have l." said the bold Larry,
looking into Polly's pretty face.
The next morning Larry brought
back Polly's car.
How are you going to get backT'
Polly answered and Larry told her
that he'd stand on the highway and
get a lift from some truck or other.
That is why she felt 1T was her real
duty TO take Larry back again to his
garage.
"The scenery is even more beautiful
to look at today than 1t was yester-
day." said Larry Then said Polly
1T will be very convenient for you,
living there right beside your garage.
The house is nearly done-you'n soon
be moving in, l suppose"
THAT depends on the girl" said
Larry wistfully.
I'm sure you and she ought to be
very happy" sighed Polly. THAT is
to say-the house looks so convenient,
and I'm sure 1t would be very nice liv-
ing SO near ones place Of business. ]
cannot imagine a girl changing her
mind after she had once given you her
word, or at least made you think she'd
marry you You see I overheard what
you were telling that man In the ga
rage yesterday"
lis that sot' exclaimed Larry.
swell, I oughtn't to be so careless
about how l tell secrets" They had
reached the garage and Larry could
think Of no excuse to detain the little
school teacher. But the teacher de-
tanned herself.
''You don't mind my looking through
the house." she asked. I'm so fond
OF new houses"
Larry insisted on accompanying her.
"It is a neat little place, isn't it7" he
said, looking down at Polly as they
stood In the middle Of the perfectly
equipped little kitchen. but I'm not
going to let the girl I marry wear her
self out working. I'm going TO keep
a cook for her"
"If she really loved you she wouldn't
mind cooking for you.' said Polly.
IF she didn't really love mel9 re-
peated Larry. looking sadly about
slow wish knew
'Why don't you ask herr" ventured
Polly. and then the realization that
this big man. Larry, was trying to
make love to her came rushing upon
her. She didn't have time to think IL
all out-whether 1t would be possible
for her-welI-bred school teacher-to
marry a man who begrimed his hands
with the grease Of automobiles. But
when Larry went toward her with
pleading. outstretcbed arms she met
him half way.
''But, Larry" she said, looking up
TO him as he held her, II don't like
to feel that I've taken some other
girls place"
~You don't suppose there ever was
any other GIRL accused Larry. 81
Iilzed-lIked you iot-frst time
saw you. was building this house
for specuIation-but when I saw you
standing there and the question came
up. felt possessed to say what did
and ron know there wasn't anything
more the matter with your car. Just
said there was TO get an excuse TO