White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-01-03

yield with dignity. And then take
him upstairs-after you girls come
down. l mean-and say dinner will
be served at six o'clock"
Obviously, the windows OF the liv.
ing room were closed to scOrnful GIN
ger Ella. One vantage spot was left
to her, the basement, and she repaired
thither. AS the narrow window In
front was too high for her, she rolled
an empty apple barrel to the proper
position. STOOD 1t upright, ano laid an
old ironing board across it. Then
she climbed up, with great care for
her best summer frock, and was re-
warded with clear view of the en-
tire street.
At exactly two-fifteen, Hiram Buck.
worth briskly rounded the corner,
and made for the old brown parson-
age, unaware that from various we'll
Swallowed recesses, three pairs of
steady bright eyes bore silent witness
to his approach. Hiram Buckworth
saw only pleasantly sun-burned
shingle-brown old house Sc. in we'll
trimmed lawn canopied with broad
branching naples, saw an inviting
pathway of old dagstones. bordered
with pansies. The eyes behind the
curtained windows saw tall young
man, who walked vigorously, with q
vigorous swing to his arms, vigor-
GUS swing to his legs, noticed par
ticularly how the sunshine cast bronze
into his dark hair, for, most unmin-
isterially, he carried his hat In one
hand.
"What nice, clean, Christian boy
he looks" approved Miss Jenkins In
great relief.
"Why, how very young" wondered
Marjory.
"He doesn't look any Hiram to me-"
was Ginger's private comment.
But Hiram Buckworth. unaware OF
these secret Impressions, marched
briskly up the flagstone path, set down
his bag, and rang the bell A decent
interval was permitted to elapse-
Ginger, holding her breath on the
apple barrel counted the approved
twenty-and at the very number. Miss
jenkins went to the door, flustered
and flushed Miss Jenkins, unused to
doing the honors of a house.
II am Hiram Buckworth," he said
pleasantly. brown hand outstretched
"Are you indeedY' stammered Miss
Jenkins. Il am Miss Jenkins will
introduce the girls when they come
down. was just to let you in Oh,
goodness me, what's that?"
There was q 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 to 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
a 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 use 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 l
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 a 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 predicament7 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 sufticed to curtain her retreat
.It's nice ROOM" rambled Miss
Jenkins nervously. Its Mr.. Tolll-s
ver's own room. l hope you like
religious books. Mr.. Tulliver never
reads anythings else--not that he
reads anything now. poor dear, what
with his eyes--I suppose you've heard
about that?"
Eyes, such misfOrtune.n
tTo BE CONTINUED)