The Bozeman courier., 1927-01-14
published by special arrangement witt
the Chicago Tribune Syndicate).

published by special arrangement with
the Chicago TrIbune Syndicate).
THE Christmas cookies in the plate
on the sideboard smelt as if they
- were still warm. Ashta verified
the smell with her fingers. They
were. Moreover they were of the sort
that is far, far better warm than cold,
not just ordinary ginger cookies, but
breathing of every kind of spice there
is; sticky with fruit, too, and crumbly
with nuts. Later they would be frost
ed. Very nice, but they would be cold
then If they were ever to
be eaten warm, this was the crucial
moment. A cOOky is warm but once.
himself to warm cookies of any the
No Uncle King-known commonly as the
king-always regally helped himself to
warm cookies of any kind wherever he
found them, and Ashta was on the way to
his shop. Would it not, therefore, be mere
courtesy to take him a few Of these? In
that way, moreover, the ethics Of the trans
action would be up to him.
| This point decided, 1t seemed well to
eat one in order to make sure they were
as good as they seemed, but she did this
rather hastily, keeping not only an atten-
/ tive ear toward the kitchen, but also an eye
upon the top shelf Of the china cupboard.
Two fairies lived on the top of that cup
board.
OF course, they were merely a couple OF
the Kings numerous frauds-figmeHts OF
his interminable nonsense-yet she could
never rid herself Of a haunted feeling about
that shadOwed upper shelf, especially in
moments like the present. According to the
King, they were two old women. AShta
thought she would not have minded II he
had represented them winged and pink anC
shining, but no, he would have it that they
were Just two old women, keeping house
up there among the dishes, sweeping of
the shelves with their bit Of a broom, hi
ding in the sugar bowl when any one
except himself looked that way.
"Jally says" the King would say, cock
ing his head knowingly upward, the prize
on their oatmeal" Or Jolly says she knew
a girl once who stuck her underltp Ou
so far that a bumblebee came along anC
sat on it," Or "Jally says they had SAINTS
Claus to tea last evening and he said tina
Ashta's stockings were getting so long h
didn't see how he could fit anything int
em this year evcept switches and barbe
pole candy"
Ashta had said boldly, "There isn't an,
more Santa Claus than there is Jally o
Jolly, so there now, mister!
But now, in the uneasy silence of tn
dining room, she was not so skepttcal
she had made. out. Her eyes round an
troubled behind their heavy trimmed spec
ItacleS, renamed IlXeQ upon LhG Shell WulA
she finished off the cOOky. She knew tn
tiny shocked faces watched under the edg
of the sugar bowl cover; almost she hear
mOusey meddlesOme squeak
"COOky thief! And on the day befor
Yet except for this airy espionage, sh
seemed secure enough, for in the kitche
the busy sound Of an egg heater con
bined with the noisy clatter of the rang
- door and of things being put In ana take
0F no above
mother and Aunt Ella were talking wit
). earnestly raised voices.
II first new felt hat in five years 10
a can draw your own conclusions.
= Ashta licked her fingers, listening. Wh'
d would pictures Of conclusions look Ill
y when they were drawn? Was 1t the hlng
s new hat that was the first in five years
+, However, if one spends too much time OV,
nuzzles of adult conversation there wi
~ never be leisure for anything else. SIN
~ the cookies were not for herself but Il
7 the King, it might be as well TO take Inr
is while she was about it. Then, II ne cnOs
in he could give her back one and vet ha
8. two for himself. Or he might care for on
lg one In that case she would nave Two
- 90 Veil have TO call. We can't get o
of it. King wouldn't like 1t II we dlon
OF She doesn't look a day older; that sort
se woman keeps her youth indefinitely; ,
70 has to. Ten years-thats nOLnlng 10 u Ihe y
at You and 1, fussing around houses all 0
lives We know what the yea
. mean. Ten years-and such a lot Of love
girls he might have married dozen tin
IL ''Therev' thought Ashta, much pleas
~ "and I thought they only had to 90
'n' once I'm glad I know" She listened m'
"Would You put in three eggs? Th
are such big fellows two would really
full enough Still-Christmas. I'll put IN
To- third Don't tell me she didn't understa
az. he was building that house for her
was his first and he loved it like eve
:. thing Always running to ask her now
tn make every single thing about IL,
~ leaving it vacant all these years. smut
~ il up tight as soon as she went. Now 81
= back. Well, We'll see. He's been going 0
cks But he began that last summer. d.
you you remember Alice Allen was pl9nhln y
lge. sunken garden for it? They were breaB
you ground for it when the early winter c:
Olo. along. l saw one Of her drawings 1
. %iTi is an artist. By the v
speaking of Alice, have you noticed
rom "Botherr' said Aunt Ella. I've ,,,G go
rris speck of yolk in this meringue. III
make the whole darn thing into Gust
-ON WHY is it you can't beat them II you
,6o in even the tiniest smitch OF yOlkF II
- reasonable. Don't you think those coo
Ought to be doner? No, / guess they IL
-%S;;oo+ n Emily. better put them all in S
op1o Mace than that sidebOard. First thing
80 know King will be coming in and sN
CS the plate as bare as my hand. we
Mo some of them left for Ashtas stocking
. Ashta fled. -,
The King was planning a board. Asht
-ToTr -So&v her red woody sweater, ranged up DC
n,s the carDenter's bench and balanced G
5SpPo, in the path of the plane. He removed
engulfed it, but there was quesIlO
zoo critical squint in the eye ne turned
fifth. awhat did Jally and Jolly say while
hand