Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-16
TOO BIG TO SPANK-ByAAmgoyL 4nd1Ne


enough, too, Bob Craig phoned me yesterday 70
say that he could get me a splendid lease ii
wanted to rent my house"
Aunt Martha, who had taken it upon herself
70 go into conference with the real estate man.
showed the proper amount of interest and sur
prise.
well, what do you think of thatl" she ex-
claimed.
There was far-on anticipatory expression
on Helen's pretty face.
"Quite coincidence, wasn't it?" she agreed.
ST asked him how he knew was thinking OF
leasing and he said that he didn't know. but
that he had a fine tenant in the event that
would. Harry Seymour. the Little Theater d.
rector, think he said it was. And So" she
paused, with the house disposed of there's MOTH
ing left to consider but dear old Tom"
y OLLING out q pie crust and molding ie
deity over the edge Of her pan. Aunt
Martha said:
well, 1 can settle him. My friend. Myra
Virgins, was tellin' me only this morning thaS
she wants a roomer. Myra don't keep board
ing house. She's is in the egg and chicken
business, but she's got big, front room, next
door to the bath, that she's willin' to let out
Shed give him breakfast. too. An he could
get his other meals downtown or at his club"
There was an aghast futter of Helen's pretty.
pink-tipped ha. ds
oh Aunt Martha that sounds terrible! You
don't know how spoiled Tom is. and how fussy
ABOUT having everything Just So
Aunt Martha closed the doors Of the oven
with an emphatic shove:
Indeed, do know, too. An think it's .
cryin' shame for pretty young widow like you
to be wastin' so much spoilin' on q brother
when the world is just chuck-fun of men who'd
like little of it themselves" Aunt Martha said.
Thus it was toward the larger opportunities
of the city that Helen and her boys soon EN-
barked. But not before the charming young
widow had seen her dearly loved brother COM
fortably installed in Myra Virgins best front
room.
old thing. He likes his toast thin and his eOf-
fee strong" Helen said.
"I1 remember" Mrs. Virgins promised with
. smile her cheerful pudgy face; but the
pampered Tom could have testified that she did
not remember long
Thick bread and pungent-iess coffee that
tasted as if water had been poured over the
dregs, soon became his portion
The water was seldom hot enough to let him
shave IN the morning. He tried 1t several times
and then started to frequent the corner barber
shop. He annexed half dozen newsand force
full words with which he swore inwardly when
he had to wait his turn for q place In the
chair.
He liked the bedclothes tucked in securely
ut the foot of the bed, but Mrs. Virgins did not
have a touch of security in her fingers Night
after night he awakened to find he was using
the covering for a scarf Besides she had n
habit of putting q pink flannel blanket next to
his body, with the remark that lit gave folks
cold to sleep between linen sheets like some
of 'em did"
His pillow was hard, and the window wasn't
in the right place. It squeaked when he raised
it, and it required clothes brush to hold 1t up
Even then it didn't permit sufficient quantity
OF air. When the wind blew the brush OUT as
1t frequently did. it would fall with crash
Twice when Mrs Virgins had promised to
sew on buttons she had completely forgotten
about 1t. Another time he intrusted the press
ing of pair of trousers to her. and sat for 20
minutes waiting for their release, remembering
that he was due at an important business con-
ference. Mrs. Virgins cheerfu1ly explained
tina she never was no hand with an iron"
When he did receive the long-desired garment
the crease was crooked. She asked what he
was in the habit of paying for such services at
his taiors. and cheerfully stated that she would
be satisfied to take the same price
HOWEVER. to the radiant Helen. who was
finding city opportunities-for herself IS
well as the children-all that Aunt Martha had
predicted he wrote q gallant lie
Don't bother about me I'm getting along
splendidly." he told her, whereas the truth wa
that Myra's wrinkled sheets. thick toast and
boiled coffee bitter with the taste of taunin.
were combining to make him just as uncOm-
portable rs 1t was possible for q spoiled well
ordered bachelor to be-
TITS telling on him. Martha Ever since his
SISTER and her boys left he's had q lonesome
miserable look. and Dora Parsons who's aer
best friend says that he's been out with that
Richards girl every night this week and that
ne stops by for cup Of coffee with her in the
mornings on his way downtown Blessed If I
DON'T belaeVe your schemes going to work.
Mrs. Virgins said. with a pleased little cackle
when she dropped in to make q repor. early
one afternoon.
Aunt Marthas pink cheeks rounded in n
emile and her eyes twinkled like bue stars cent