Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1930-02-20

twenty-and at the very number, Miss
jenkins went to the door, flustered
and flushed Miss jenkins, unused to
doing the honors of q house.
II am Hiram Buckworth," he said
pleasantly. brown hand outstretched.
"Are you indeed?" stammered Miss
Jenkins 81 am Miss Jenkins-l will
introduce the girls when they come
down. was just to let you in Oh,
goodness me, what's that"
There was a sudden crash from be-
low, splintering, a thud, and over
all, sharp eXpletive which in any
other than ministerial home would
have been considered distinctly pro-
fame. For Ginger, aghast at the
stumbling confusion of the en-
barrassed Miss jenkins, of which she
heard every word. in impulsive eager
ness to rush 10 the rescue Of the par.
sonage reputation. had stepped too
far on the end of the ironing board.
so that it flew up suddenly and dropped
her into the barrel which overturned
on top Of her. The silence that fol
lowed the first crash was an immense
one.
Nothing" chartered Miss jenkins
volubly, nothing at all, you see. Just
nOise-lOts of noises here-house
full of them-rats. suppOse-rats in
the wall. Come righr upstairs. I'll
show you your ROOM"
MarjOry, holding her breath at the
window upstairs. heard tn ,se horrible
words. What was the woman think
ing of? Her instructions had been
positive, oft-repeated, to take him to
the living room, break the news of
ten dollars week, and hold him In
conversation until the appearance Of
the two girls for formal Introduction
Up the stairs-and Marjory spying
upon him from the window! She ran
toward the door, but already they
were at the curve of the circular stair.
case. She threw wild glance about
the room-no possible escape-the
closet, the bath with its single en-
trance! She, Marjory, presiding
hostess of the house to be caught in
this humiliating predicament? Not
to be thought of!
AS quick as thought, she dropped
to the floor and crawled beneath the
bed, where the fringe of the lace
spread sufficed to curtain her retreat.
"It's nice room," rambled Miss
Jenkins nervously. Its Mr.. Tolli-
ver's own room. l hope you like
religious books. Mr.. Tolliver never
reads anythings else--nOt that he
reads anything now, poor dear, what
with his eyes-I suppose you've heard
about that?"
"Yes, such a misfortune"
"Yes, such nice man. That's
your bathrOOm-yOu needn't be afraid
to use 1t, II goes with this room. We
have another one at the back. Mar
jOry emptied the closet for you, and
the bureau drawers are empty. We
have supper at six o'clock. and Oh,
| forgot to introduce the girls. But
they didn't come down, did they?"
Beneath the bed. Marjory writhed
in helpless fury at the poor woman's
fiuttering anxiety. But she went out
at last, and closed the door behind
her. MarjOry lay rigid beneath the
bed. hating the young preacher, hating
Miss jenkins, despising herself for
her childish curiosity. Her only hope
was that quick-wirted Ginger, missing
hnH /
and devise scheme to get the new
boarder out Of the room for a while.
Unfortunately, Ginger was in a pre-.
dicament of her own.
But Hiram BuckwOrth knew moth. |
Ing OF these unpleasant complications |
He put his bag on a chair, and
opened 1t, leisurely. Then he went to |
the closet, and looked in. Crossed |
to the windows, and looked out. Stood
before the bOOkshelves, examining the
titles of books, now and then taking
Out volume for brief inspection.
"Oh, dear heaven" prayed Marjory,
don't let him get inspired to write
4 sermon"
Hiram BuckwOrth left the book
shelves, and had a look at the bath.
room. He was whistling softly be.
.ween his teeth. No hymn the tune
that he whistled, something light,
catchy, with rolling ca.
lences. Presently he broke into song.
Ow song, barely more than a hum, in
pleasant low voice.
snow | ask you-very con-fiden-
she-sweetY
Slowly, he removed his coat, shook
I out, and hung 1t over the back of
he chair. and took off his collar and
lie. From his bag, he drew out n
resi- lot of ties, and selected one with
lice discrimination, his eyes flashing
uick comparisons In color tones from
OK to tie +:
"Oh, l hope he ism going to change
his clothes" thought Marjory, and
hut her eyes very tightly indeed.
Hiram Buckworth went TO the bath.
Dom, and turned beth faucets into
he tub. Marjory could hear the
rickle of the water over his fingers
IS he tested the warmth of it
con-fidentially-'"
Marjory, beneath the bed, was
athed In cold perspiration. He came
n. -