The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-03-14
CHAPTER "

dream OF beautiful woman named
Johnston pursuing him, accom-
panied BY gigantic dogs, all an
swering to the name OF Peter.
Ned again surprised Claude BY
rising early and cheerfully setting
out for Pulsifer's farm. However.
William Penn Pulsifer and his son
Penny had decided to work for
awhile, nearby. Because of this.
Elite felt that she must supply
them with hot dinner. and 80
could not come to the White house
until one o'clock.
Ned agreed 10 come again at
one o'clock II Miss Johnston still
wanted her. and took his way to
the White house. 1t promised to
be on amusing day, he thought. as
he knocked at the kitchen door.
BLUE Eyes," with flaming cheeks.
opened the door. This had been
a terrible morning Of starting open
fires. lighting kitchen range, and
trying to find things in strange
kitchen In q strange house.
Ned proceeded to explain Mrs.
Pulsifer's absence.
Mary listened, murmured her
thanks. and praised Mr.. Dabbs for
his kindness In sending help. She
would be glad to see Mrs. Pulsifer
that afternoon.
"What will you do now?" Ned
asked, anxiously looking at the pile
of dishes on the table before her.
"Let me help you"
Mary opened her mouth to an
initiate this pushing young person,
but at that moment the telephone
bell rang, and with \ little nod IT
dismissal. she hurried to answer It.
Ned looked idly about him. Then
the great idea came to him. He
grinned, snatched up q Bingham
kitchen apron from the back Of
chair and tied It across his chest.
He turned the hot water on pan
full Of dishes and reached for the
dish mop. He knew that camp.
motor boat and army experiences
would stand him in good stead now.
He would show this girl what an
excellent Job he could do. He
commenced to wash dishes In a
slow. orderly fashion.
At the telephone, Mary was talk.
ing to Mr.. Dabbs. She had closed
the door. No sound from. the
kitchen reached her. Yes. she told
him. she was Miss Johnston. and
his nephew had gone. She was ever
SO much obliged. II Mrs. Puls,fer
could come ut noon, 1t would be a
great help.
Mary left the telephone With
shining eyes. How kind these coun-
try people were. Imagine a grocer
taking al that trouble In the city!
She must tell mother It would
amuse her. II the headache was not
too bad. With little run she took
the stairs. three steps at a time.
aud softly opened, the door Of the
great front bedroom.
| 1t was lovely room. darkened
now. beautifully arranged and fur
nished. Nothing in It was as beau
tiful as the woman who was lying
upon the bed, staring at the cell
Ing. She looked scarcely older
than Mary herself. Tumbled masses
OF red hair spread over the pillow.
She turned her face quickly from
AIerv
, Mother, I'm going TO bring you
less you feel like coming down."
II don't want anything. Don't
trouble" came In a soft murmur
from the bed.
''Oh, mother, don't take 1t so hard
I'm getting on famously and the
country people here are wonderful.
What do you thinkl The grocer
the one with q funny little short
name-Dabbs-that's It. IL sending
a woman to cook and clean for us
this afternoon. By tomorrow we'll
have not only a clean house. but
probably 4 nav batch of maids and
cook from the city. Then sou
can be properly fed"
Her mother raised herself on
one elbow. staring at her daughter
with level. unblinking brown eyes.
Seen face to face she appeared old.
er than Mary, but one would hard.
" have classified them as mother
and daughter. Sisters would have
been q reasonable guess.
"Mary, what did you say the
xrocer's name WASP"
"Dabbs," repeated Mary. Sunny
name."
"Isn't this place called Glove,
HollOw?"
"Yes. mother. but the groce,
comes from Peace Valley. There
are no shops in Clover Hollow"
Mary's mother sank back on hei
pillows and muttered something
that sounded like: "Oh. MY soul
The last straw
Mary looked puzzled and a littl,
frightened. This was the first tim.
in her life that she had known he
strong capable mother to give wa,
\ to her nerves. -
> "Mother. can't you tell me what
j wrong?'
: "No. I can't just now Mary-girl
It's little financial bother, an
) until understand It better. myself
can't talk about It. Run alOn
like a good child. My head vii
soon be all right again." Then tn
head was lifted and the eyes fixe
Z. upon her daughter. "Oh. do tax
- that ugly apron on"
. 1--WE been 10 busy I forgot II,
Mary was more hurt than apollo
getic. To tidy a biz house Tx
q this. and make something to ca
= was quite IN achievement, for an
E girl. and especially one unaccu
toned to doing It,, She had locke
a. for praise.
N 1T makes you look" her mot
y er gave an odd. hysterical gisgle-
e ut makes you look-like I. grocer
[e daughter. For heavens sake, tai
It off,"
'r Mary went n 'dorhstairs m o :