Hyder weekly herald., 1933-09-30
Mary's Latch Key
By JANE OSBORN
o, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
 WNU Service.

she was v0luble, not to say actually eloquent. This was one of the occa- sionS.
 Well, if you don't give me latch key I shall realize that you are not at all the enlightened parents I had thought you were," she told her fa., ther and mother as she stood before them In the living room. She had been arguing half an hour
 Mir. Stevens interrupted with weary sigh. "Oh. give her the key" he said to his wife. She's crazy-they're crazy-we're crazy to give 1t to her but l can't stand her nagging."
 And having received the coveted key Mary kissed her parents very sweetly, and explained that the reason she espe- cially wanted the key was because she was going to be escorted to the club dance that evening by Mir. Frank Ormsby, a young man as she thought of much importance. He's Miss Sally Ormsby's nephew and he's visiting her and he's been perfectly adorable to me considering all the people he knows in town and he'll bring me home after the dance and if he thought I didn't : have latch key he'd just think was little country simpleton, l suppose. He knows actresses and artists and everything -and l must seem stupid enough as it is."
 After all, as Mir. and Mrs. Stevens agreed, the idea wasn't such bad one. It was rather tiresome sitting up for Mary when they had no occasion to be up themselves.
 They were peacefully slumbering in their room at the back of the house when at about one o'clock Frank Orms- by's car rolled up. He had been tell ing Mary that he thought she was the cleverest girl he had ever met and was just wondering whether he dared tell her that he had also considered her the prettiest
 "Of course you'll come in for awhle,' she said. Well just slip in without disturbing anyone. I thought perhaps I'd make some coffee or some thing"
 You don't mean to say you have latch key" said Frank Ormsby-then he whistled and afterwards he laughed. 'Td awfully well like to come in," he said, "and I wish I had known-but you see I'm not so privileged as you are. Aunt Sally sits up for me and told her I'd be home at one-and just can't keep her sitting up. Let me come tomorrow, any time-please. Why, Mary"'
 For Mary had jerked herself away from him and had run up the path to the house. He hurried to her and tried to take the key from her hand. You can just hurry home," she said. "Im jolly well able to let myself in, thank you. Good night, Mir. Ormsby. I said good night"
 And Frank feeling as if the stars had suddenly fallen down from the sky retreated down the path into his car and started slowly down the road while Mary was fumbling with the key. Looking back he saw her still fumbling. then he turned the car around and drove slowly back.
 "The darn thing won't work" said the deiected Mary when he reached her side. "I guess they gave me the s wrong key. Oh. I think it is too dreadful" And Mary promptly began to weep. After that they rang the door bell. Then Mary called-first cautiously, then with all her might Still no response.
 ''I hate to keep your aunt waiting up any longer" said Mary
 'Im not worried about Aunt Sally" said Frank, "but I am worried about you.'
 Maybe I could go home with you and telephone to my house. That might wake them"
 Sally Ormsby who didn't look very much older than her nephew greeted Frank and Mary with reassuring savoir faire. But first you must stop and have a bite with us. We can tele- phone after that. But you don't mean. Mary, that you have a latch-key? I