Evening star., 1936-11-29

had been taut for years squeaked and the
door swung open.
She worked quickly to fill the lamp with
oil before dark should settle down. When
she had lighted it, she placed it on a chair
near the door and it cast feeble beam out
onto the path as she went back for the rest
of the supplies.
It was not until she had carried them
all in that she took time to look about her.
But as she held the lamp above her head and
surveyed the old kitchen, the fame f1ickered,
and for the first time she noted that the two
windows on the opposite side of the room
were OPEN She hastily shut the door to cut
off the draft. Funny those windows
being open. -.
Then she began to notice other things.
The room was dusty, but not with ten years.
dust, and on the table there was water in
bucket She opened a cupboard. Coffee, sugar.
some canned meat, an orange. She pinched
the orange. Firm and fresh.
Still holding the lamp on high, she walked
through the door that led into what had once
been the dining room. The great walnut
table and its high backed chairs were pushed
to the far end against the wall, and in the near
corner was the old. curly maple bed that had
stood in the spare room - upstairs!
Thre was SOMEONE living in the house!
For the next half hour she wandered un-
easily through the old rooms, but nothing
else had been disturbed. Once or twice abe
called out, but there was no answer. A tramp.
maybe She began to feel frightened. Then
she went back to the dining room and saw
what had escaped her first survey "a table
by the window. with typewriter on 1t and
papers scattered about.
She picked up one of the papers. 1t was
covered with untidy typing and many pen
cilled corrections. Not tramp writer.
apparently. Sarah felt surge OF relief.
Writers were harmless - but 50 boring. Sud-
denly she was mad - terribly mad at this
unknown person who had taken possession OF
her house - her house. She wished he'd turn
up 90 she could turn him out - and give him
piece of her mind while she was about it.
Back in the kitchen she banged dishes and
utensils as she laid out her supper II can
of sardines, cheese, crackers, bottle OF milk
and fresh tomatoes. But when she had eaten
she found that her indignation had sloughed
off into a great WEAKNESS. She had driven a
hundred and fifty miles - and she was tired.
90 tired. Her head dropped into her hands and
she nodded . nodded :. l.. nod 80.
'Sory, if I'm keeping you up. Oh - sorry"
She came to with sudden jerk and blinked
in the lamplight. She stared at the man who
sat with leg over the sill of one of the open
windows. The feeble light cast long shadows
90 that he looked taller than he really was.
He wore corduroys and rough blue shirt.
She couldn't see much of his face. just white
teeth in mouth turned up in grin.
He swung the other leg over the sill and
advanced toward the table, and as he came
within the circle of light she could see a
rough shock of sandy hair. and eyes that
oinkled with that hateful grin.
That's right" she said. and her voice
was cool and cutting. lust walk right in and
make yourself at home"
''Oh. I've already done that"
$50 see."
But I'm not selfish. I'm glad to see
you've done the same"
That's big-hearted of YOU"
Don't mention it. After all, the place is as
much yours as mine."
so kind of you to admit it"
Suddenly the grin faded from his face and
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