Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-01-20
THEIR
FOUR-ROOM
BUNGALOW
10 by D. J. Walsh.)

X Though winds which still held
the tang of winter counteracted
the effects of a brilliant midafternoon
SUM- the small park was full of people
children in gocarts and perambula-
tors, old, weary and ailinS folks VINO
needed an airing, group OF women
discussing something with great en-
thusiasm. Sue glanced at them all
indifferently, impressed by the fact
that as usual she recognized NOBODY,
then turning her back she stared into
a larch tree near her.
home. There had been one at the
southeast corner of the old gray house.
Her father had planted 1t. At night
she could hear it talking outside her
window. 1t had seemed to tell her
wonderful secrets of life and happl-
ness. Then suddenly her father died,
the old gray house was sold to pay
the debts and she and her mother
came to the city, where there was a
promise of work for both of them.
And now her mother was gone and
she was alone. Worse than that, she
had lost her job. 1t wasn't much of
a job, but such as It was 1t sufiiced to
feed and shelter and clothe her ana
allow her to lay aside bit for emer-
gency's sake. She didn't know where
to look for another such job. And so
as she stared at the friendly larch
tree she cried softly, wiplng the tears
off her cheeks with furtive dabs of
her handkerchief. She couldn't have
done that, of course, If she had used
either powder or rouge. AS matter
of fact she left her complexion alone,
1t was fine, clear, pale, but suited to
her gray eyes with their long black
lashes and arrowy black brows to her
smooth brown hair. Her clothes were
Just what you would expect girl of
her kind to wear-a plain, dark coat
and hat chosen for serviceability and
warmth and sensible, low-heeled
shoes, sturdy protection from damp
sidewalks.
Something passed under the larch
tree, whirled along by chill gust, and
landed In her lap. A piece of paper
with marks upon It, She looked down
at 1t, arresting its course by laying
her hand upon 1t. And suddenly she
felt a thrill of interest. It was only
the back of an old envelope, but 1t
bore small, well-conceived plan for
a bungalow. A four-rOom bungalow
with everything carefully designated
save the place for the kitchen sink
But almost anybody except a woman
would have left that out.
Sue, brooding over the plan, visual
lied the bungalow complete, with
rose vines on the tiny porch, a larch
tree maybe to swing over 1t. A four
room bungalow! 1t was what she and
her mother had always talked Of hav-
ing when their ship came in. Alas,
the ship has gone the way Of so many
other hopes and dreams.
81 beg your pardon !" Sue looked
up, startled. A young man stood be-
fore her; he was dark, grave, earnest
She, who had worked In place
where there were many men as wefl
as women, knew something about
faces. She recognized instantly that
this mans face was out OF the or
binary In quality Of expression. 81
beg your pardon" he said again, but
I see the wind brought you a bit OF
paper that belongs to me-"
Sue held out the paper. On the
other side Of the envelope was writ
ten name in woman's clear hand.
"Mr Rupert Holley," with the ad-
dress. Rupert Holley Why, he was
the man Louise Wright was always
talking about-her brothers friend.
There couldn't be two Rupert Hol-
leys.
TITS all right" she said, except for
one thing"
"What is thatT He was interested.
"The kitchen sink. You haven't al
lowed for It. And It ought to go I'M
der the window somewhere. A wOm-
an naturally would want light when
she washes dishes or cleans vege-
tables"
81 see. Would you mind showing
me" He sat down beside her with
her permission and they settled the
matter OF the kitchen sink
1t was now time for Sue to go home.
She arose. He walked with her as
far as the entrance. There they part
ed She never expected to see him
again.
But she thought of him. He had
made a strong impression. 1t was
odd. She did not care for men, was
a bit afraid Of them, In fact, but he
seemed 50 candid and decent, so trust
worthy. She wished she dared ask
Louise Wright about him, but upon
the one occasion when Louise came
to see her his name was not men
toned between them. She, however,
had reasoned II all out. The bunga-
low was for the woman who had writ
ten his name on that enyelOpe--a
woman's envelope, a woman's hand
writing.
"But he would never have known
about the kitchen sink but for me-"
she thought with sigh.
Two weeks later Sue found another
Job. It wasn't quite so much Of II
Job as the first, but it would do. Only
she would have to change her room
In order to be nearer. She hunted her
new room palnstaklngly. 1t was small
but newly furnished, with good win
dow and she could get breakfast and
dinner, all very reasonable. Besides.
she saw that she was going TO like
Al AInrnn hnr nnau Inndlnlu And