New Britain herald., 1927-05-31
What makes you think that ?"

What makes you MINK tn3t
why. we'll live with you. {
course" he said confidently. ian
you'll have company all the tim
I'm away. Then when I come bac
I'll 90 right into the office"
ooh. you're going to work in C.
office. are your
"Of course. I'm going to carr
on Dads work Just az soon as
can. thought you always mean
me to do that. thought that wa
the reason you didn't sell out hi
business. Oh. Mum! wouldn't Da
have liked Natlee?"
Anne Tracy, remembering he
husbands liking for any pretty girl
answered with more emphasis thai
she had spoken before: He surel,
would. son."
Phil. quick to notice something
different in his mothers voice ant
thinking its quality was due to hel
admiration of Malice Jones' beaut,
rather than her recollection OF hel
husbands admiration OF all young
girls, came ever and put his arm.
about her.
Mother. you are a queen. I told
Natlee not to worry, you would
come through. You'll 60 and see OLD
Jones. won't you?"
why should 90 to see Mr.
Jones, Phil?"
"Oh. forgot: I thought I had
told you. Well, guess it was a
little late to take a girl home, but
there was no need Of her fathers
tearing his shirt about 1t, was
there, Mum? You're not doing it, ]
notice.
I'm the first place, Nat had 10
night key. Don't you think It's a
shame for a girl old enough to be
engaged to have to let the whole
family know every time she comes
in?"
1T is very probable, Phil, that
Mr.. Jones and his daughter have
different opinions on the subject Of
how old girl should be when she
becomes engaged"
"Oh, expect so, but what he
thinks doesn't make any difference,
you know. He probably wants her
10 be an old maid.
We'll. when We got almost to
Mats house she told me about the
night key business and ! saw she
was awfully frightened. I told her
not to worry-we would probably
find kitchen window unlocked and
I would get in and open the door
for her.
I'VE secuted around the plance,
and sure enough. We did find an
open window. Nat wouldn't let me
go in alone. She said If her father
heard me he would take me for
burglar and probably shoot me.
Honest, Mumsy. I didn't tell her,
but l didn't like the idea Of get
ting plugged bit. so I didn't make
any very great objections to her
coming along
When I got the window up she
wanted me to put her in and go
away. but I couldn't do that, you
know.
Il crowded through first and
pulled her after me.
I'VE had gotten up the basement
stairs and were doing fine, IN fact,
l was lust ready to open the front
door, when a voice beloved from
the upper staircase: who's there?'
"'Only me. father said Nat, In
the littlest voice I ever heard her
use.
How'd you get in What do
YOU mean by staying ont all hours
OF the night? You go right up to
bed. young lady. and I'll settle with
you in the morning
"'Phil let me in the kitchen win
dow, Dad. and I'll come up as soon
as let him out
phil. Do you mean Phil Tracy?
Is he there with you?'
Il tell you I was scared, Mother.
but l really couldn't help laughing
When I saw beneath his cotton shirt
the long, lean. hairy shanks of Mr..
Jones start down the stairs.
Hurry. Phil. If Dad catches you
I'm afraid he'll kill you. He's crazy
mad
xviii he hurt you. Matt. whis-
percd as l fumblcd with the door
latch.
"'No, no" she almost shrieked.
Mr.. Jones stumbled OH the last
step and that gave me time to get
the door open. He almost caught
me, though, and as fairly slipped
out Of his hands he said: Get the
hell out of here and don't you let
me see your face around here
again. you young whirper snapper
He was so mad. Mother. that for
once he forgot his religion"
Here Phillip stopped and looked
as though he expected his mother
to say something. but for the life
Of her she couldn't do It. Her mind
couldn't follow the boys story. She
had only taken in the awful news
that he had told her so blithcly.
So he was going to marry Malice
Jones and bring her into this house
erations of Tracys had been born
and from which three had been
buried.
1t was ridiculous II 1t had not
been tragic.
Suddenly she found her son was
speaking. II have been awfulIy
selfish and kept you up until it Is
almost daylight. Co to bed now and
we'll talk this out in the morning.
Good night" he said, kissing her.
"Oh. Phil" she said, kissing him.
Don't marry any one until after
college,"
That's what Natlee said, but
persuaded her that 1t would be bet
ter for all Of us If you had her here
while ] was away. for you would be
very lonely without me. Mother.