Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-07-09

Of natural rouge. CuddIes sat down
to watch.
"Viv, honest I believe you're hap
pier than you were when you had all
your lovely clothes and all that
money" she reached over and sam
pied a cookie Vivian had baked.
"U-mm, good!"
Like it?" Vivian wagged her head
happily. Il told you. Of course,
I'm happy. I'm thoroughly enjoy
ing making up to this little old
house for not seeing what a beauti-
full place it has been all these years
-and-and, well, I've got Kent all
to myself, too" She blushed.
Cuddles looked at her from down.
cast yeSe, trying not to laugh.
"Oh, Eat it? Goodness! / didn't
dream that had anything to do with
it. Aren't you ashamed to live here
alone with a MANI"
Don't misunderstood me. I'm
not LIVING with the man. We are
strictly boarding house mistress and
boarder."
Hes a poor fish"
And just when Vivian opened her
mouth to protest, they saw Mann
coming around the side Of the
house.
He stopped and shifted. Pie! APP
pie pie! Then taking his hat in
his hand he stood at the door, O.
litely, and implored in a hoarse,
unnatural voice:
please, mum, kin I chop some
wood for you or somethin' fer q bit
of a bite to eat?"
Vivian picked up a pie and a
knife, unsmilingly.
Here, my man-sit down on that
bench there and eat as much as
you like. Then I'll see what I can
find for you to do"
They watched him with eyes
dancing. Vivian's eyes o began
to bulge. Two, three and four
pieces he cut-and by the time
Mann finished the whole pie they
were standing beside him on the
porch, amazed at the spectacle.
When he finished Cuddles tied an
apron around him and Vivian hand
ed him a scrub pail and a mop.
"You may scrub the front porch"
she informed him, casually.
Neighbors and passersby were
shocked at the spectacle of the
great artist, energetically-if a bit
hampered by a slightly overdose Of
apple pie-wielding the mop on the
Johns piazza.
Kent, coming along the street,
stopped and stared.
What the dev-" he began-but
Bark stopped him with a signifant
wink. Pay no attention. It's just
a moving picture"
Its a moving picture, all right"
Kent said under his breath, and
walked in the house.
Cuddles and Vivian were standing
at the window. He passed them by,
silently, and a moment later ap-
peared on. the lawn with the lawn
mower.
Vivian and Cuddles held to each
other, overcome with laughter.
When Kent clipped on and Barlow
began to wash the windows a great
many of the neighborS had found it
was very arm in their houses and
taken to their porches.
Lets get dinner for them. I
think that's what they're limiting
at" Vivian suggested, finally.
Together they went into the kitch-
Ell, and a few minutes later the
appetizing odor of bacon and eggs
asSailed the air.
ooh, Lord, and I ate a whole ap-
pie pie" Bark regretted, under his
breath to Kent.
Vivian was having the best time
she had ever had in her life. She
was radiant when she rang the din
ner bell proudly and the two boys
appeared at the back door, caps held
to their chests, and an appealing
look on their faces.
Heroically, Bark did justice to
the three eggs and large helping Of
ham and potatoes that Vivian piled
on his plate. He ate a little more
slowly after a few bites-but was
undaunted.
Vivian was delighted to see Kent
and Bark get along 50 well together.
They had never clicked it off very
merrily before. She wondered why
the sudden masculine understanding
between them.