The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-03-16
Alabaster
Lamps
By Margaret Turnbun
THE STORY

THE STORY
CHAPTER With strange
whom he introduces MS his nephew.
Ned Carter, Claude Melnotte Dabbs
returns from New York to his gen
eral grocery at Peace Valley, ia.
To "Aunt Llddy," his housekecper,
he explains that Carter is chance
acaua intance, veteran Of the World
war. whom he had met and taken a
liking to.
CHAPTER TI.--Carter tells Aunt
Lyddy he has broken with his
family and his sweetheart because
Of his resentment of their ultra
pacific tendencies. With Dabbs Ned
visits Cloper Hollow. abiding place
Of a collection Of good naturcd
cranksI' according to the grocer.
They almost run over dog be-
longing to a girl whom Carter ap-
parently recognizes. Ned delivers
grocery order and in his absence
the girl, Dorothy Selden, reveals
that she knows him to be Ned
Carter Rangcley, son of Loren
Rangcley, New York banker.
CHAPTER III. = Next day Ned
commences work as a "grocer's
boy. At residence. the White
House." he delivers an order marked
Johnston There he meets girl
are alone in the house, the servants
having left them because Of the
loneliness" He promises to try to
procure household help. Arrange
ment is faadc for cook to go to the
JOhn StOuS'
II was then that Dorothy Selden,
4 little piqued because she had no
one to play with for the time be-
Ing. saw them. Dorothy recognized
Mary. She had stopped at the
Mannheim place, yesterday, and
been introduced. Of course. Miss
Johnston might have known Ned.
in the old days. but Dorothy did
not think so. Moreover. Miss Johns
ton was riding IN the rear VI the
car. like a passenger. What 81
splendid idea! II the grocer hired
out his car. Dorothy would engage
1t. She would pretend her own had
broken down. and rag Ned to her
hearts content.
This thought put her In such ex-
cellent hmmor that she determined
to call on Mrs. Johnston while the
daughter was not Mt home.
Mary had been gone about five
minutes when Mrs. Johnston awoke
and read thu note. She yawne.l,
rose. put on \ most becoming house
Sc n.y. AND went .!.~ dc .:s TO The ~.
telephone fixedly. She placed her
! hand on the receiver. drew back.
pulled letter out Of the desk
drawer and read 1t. frewninY
It was q short. businesslike let
ter. stating that the directors Of n
certain company had decided to
pass over the half-yearly dividend
on the preferred and common
stock. owing to adverse financial
conditions. It seemed all very sim
pie and plausible AZ they worded
1t. but 1t puckered the beautiful
Mrs. Johnston's br0ws.
She drew the telephone nearer
and called a New York number. 1t
was the bank president who an
swered.
Her pleasantly wOrded sentence
was 40 pleasantly but decidedly
answered. After that the president
evidently sought for. further con-
versation with Mrs. Johnston. who
murmured that Of course they
would love to see him. any Friday
to Monday. II he would telephone,
his train would be met.
When she rang OF, Mrs. Johns
ton sprang to her feet and began
walking up and down. thinking.
Dorothy came up the driveway.
With her hand on the bell. Miss
Selden paused. What, exactly. was
she going to do in this house? Dor
0thy decided that 1t would depend
on Mrs. Johnston.
There was something about
. first glimpse of Mrs. Johnston that
took ones breath away. She looked
like q goddess come to earth. hut
on second look, she smiled, she was
very human, indeed. Dorothy was
ut first a little daxxled and awed.
When Mrs. Johnston saw 1t was a
girl, and probably some one who
wanted to make friends with Mary.
she became % friendly that D0ro-
thy followed her into the library.
completely under the woman's
spell.
$50 sorry. Miss selden." the
smooth voice was saying. that my
daughter II out. and out buying
groceries. too. I've telepb9ned for
servants, and the agency promises
| - t<Nev hpnf N
we're quite on. our owl. Isn't II
a nuisance?",
"COme home with me-" urged
Dorothy impulsively. Mrs. Mann.
helm will be delighted to put YOU
up until you get help" +
..That's wonderfully sweet Ot
you, but I've no intention Of max
lng my entrance on the scene III
the role Of food pest. Mary and
get along splendidly by ourselves
and today We have Mrs.-Mrs
Pulsifer with ~"
"Oh! You have one of them In
the house,"
Them questioned Mrs. Johns
ton.
'-Ins PEACE valleyers. On
they're noted for their honesty
Wouldn't touch z thing. hut men
tally we md them 70 unrespon
sive."
Dear me! They seem nice, well
meaning, honest people My daugh
ter II enthusiastic about them
Finds them wonderfully kind anl
helpful-especially the grocer"
II Dorothy Selden had not beer
shrinking 20 hard about the impress
sion she was making on Mrs. Johns
tOn.- she might hGve noticed tina,
the sleepy brown eyes were keen