Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-05-25
THE PRINT
OF A BABY'S
HAND
5.s-o's'o-s-O-s-C's.O<>~[>O.s.O.s.O.
20 by d. J. walsh.)

N HuSDduu shOulueTt otdleu Ut
IN the advertisement to which he
had called her attention. For
once the dull pages Of the Weekly
Tattler held for her an item of sur. I
passing significance.
The Bangs house was for sale The
wonderful house which Ruth had ad-
mired so long. 1t happened most OPP
portunely, too, for the lease was up
jim month on the Mason apartment
and they had been planning to buy
rather than rent again.
Here's your chance" King Mason
said, grinning up into his wlfe's
young, flushed face. "Pve heard moth
ing but the Bangs house since we
moved into this nelghborhood. OF
course, II they want more for 1t than
/ am prepared to pay, it's out of the
question"
Call her up" Ruth suggested
eagerly. IF we wait a moment some
body will snap 1t up. 1t may be even
too late now. Lots of people have
seen that advertisement besides us,
dear"
King went to the telephone. Pres
emily he turned from 1t with graft
fed look.
Mrs. Bangs wants US to come over
now and look at the house." he said
1t was eight o'clock of a wild March
evening, but they had not far to 60
Ten minutes later they were ringing
the doorbell of the attractive house
in which Ruth already felt thrilling
sense of proprietorship.
Mrs. Bangs admitted them. She was
elderly and fat with great, wistful
blue eyes, Although Ruth had met
her several times socially she had
never been In the house. All she knew
about 1t was what she had heard Mrs
Bangs say-Mrs. Bangs was always
praising her house-and what she had
seen of the exterior as she walked
past daily on her way to market.
The parlor to which the young peo-
pie were led was dimly lit by pink
shaded light. Evidently Mrs Bangs
was fond of that beguiling tint Ruth,
sinking Into a pink brocade chair,
thought the effect unusual, although
she could see In the mirror opposite
that rosy tint glorified her face, CIV
ing her the flowerllke prettiness she
had always craved. She settled back
complacently and let King and Mrs.
Bangs do their talking Mrs. Bangs
explained that she was leaving town
because her husbands new position
70 EalO
where he was employed. She hated
to leave her dear home, but she had
heard they wanted to buy and she
would rather they had the place than
anybody else. She was sure Mrs.
Mason would take care of IT, Here
she faltered a little, but rallying cOu
rageOusly that party was coming to
see 1t In the morning who would be
sure to take 1t If they didn't. Wouldn't
they like TO look around bit? They
would of course, and were shown the
dining room and the guestrOOm up
stairs, both dlmly lighted with col.
ored shades She was sorry not to
let them see more OF the house but,
with her packing everything was at
skies and sevens. They could take
her word that everything was all
right.
King, judging the whole by the
three samples, was urged on by Ruth,
who nudged his arm every chance she
got. Ruth couldn't let the party who
was coming in the morning have her
house She already thought OF It as
her house. In the end King said
they'd take It.
"We'll we've done IT," he said as
they walked home arm In arm. 81
know that's no way to buy house,
but | guess it's all right. And the
price was absurdly low expected to
pay more than that for our first real
home"
"Tm so happyp Ruth danced. "Pve
wanted that house, dear, ever since
first laid eyes on It. Think Of having
whole bay window and porch to
Ourselyes~
They did not see the house again
for Ruth forbore lntruding upon Mrs
Bangs while she was In the thrOes Of
moving When the last YanlOad de.
parted Mrs. Bangs came to bring Ruth
the key. She was on her way to the
station.
Ruth beheld the key with emotion.
She actually kissed 1t. Then she
snatched her coat and ran down the
street.
or course she knew that, dlsman.
tied the house could not possibly look
as It had when Mrs Bangs handsome
furniture was distributed about; but
she was unprepared to find that the
shaded lights had created an Illusion
I'm the rooms she had seen. The
rooms she had not seen had been OBJ
vlously kept hidden from purpose.
She bit her lips to keep from cry.
ing as she saw the faded wall paper
full Of nail holes, the Hyspecks and
smoke stains, the floors lacking var.
nlsh now that they we're no longer
covered with rugs. The kitchen range
had gone with the house, but II looked
ready to fall down. And the furnace
was no better.
The opening OF the door made her
Jump. It was King entering.
"Well, how Is IT." he demanded
Then as he saw her face" Pretty
badf"
Ruth chOked back a sob.
81 believe they've never had a thing
done to this house since they lived
here. And that must have been for
years and years."
She pointed to places on the wall