The Coolidge examiner., 1937-03-04

y
at somebody when they're fishing?"
She scrambled up from the bed OF
the stream. 'I should think any.
body'd have more sense than that.
Even an idiot, should think" Her
glance veered from Jim to the brook
and her expression altered. She
stopped to pick up the bamboo rod.
'It's broken!" she cried.
She was frightened, Jim thought.
Her lips were trembling now.
Maybe not" he said consoling-
ly. ''Here-let me see it."
''You 60 away and let me alone!"
Her round eyes blazed in her small
stricken face. ITS all your fault!
1t wouldn't have broken If You
hadn't made me fall"
'Oh, come now" Jim protested.
II know what you'll dol" she went
on, scorn in her voice, hint Of sobs
staunchly checked. You'll go tell
Cecily that I broke Daddy's fishing
rod. That's just exactly what you'll
do. You'll go tell Cecily and I'll get
the devil!"
mo, I won't" Jim assured her.
II couldn't. I don't know Cecily.
Who is she?-your sister,"
He had made an impression 1t
last. The child looked up at him
curiously, establishment in her eyes.
You don't know Cecily?" she
asked. 1t was apparent that she
found it difficult to believe him.
Word of honor" Jim's express
sion was grave. He sensed that this
was a matter Of great importance.
Il thought" she gave it up.
For a moment she seemed to de-
liberate. Then, abruptly. she ex-
tended the bamboo rod. Here. 3"
she said. Maybe you can fix il"
The rod was flag of truce. Hos
tilities were for the moment sus-
pended. Jim examined the break,
and the child, with the agility Of a
monkey, swung herself up on the
bridge.
"Can you?" she asked. do you
suppose you can fix it,"
Easily" Jim smiled down into
the small anxious face. "A little
twine and varnish will do the trick.
See, the break is here at the end. "
The puzzled expression returned
to her eyes. II should think you'd
know Cecily." she said. Il mean
you look" Again she abandoned
the difficult task of making her
meaning clear.
but l don't" Jim assured her.
"You see" he smiled. Are you a
Vaughn?"
She nodded.
(Which one?"
"Tm-Susan." Her manner pe-
came defensive. Go on and laugh.
I know it's an awful name"
Jim, with some difficulty. main
tanned a grave expression.
But it isn't" he said. ITS a
great advantage to be named
Susan"
Why"
Because people call you Sue
and that's very nice"
They don't. They call you
Susie"
IN call you Sue Well, Sue
Like it?" Jim asked.
Better than Susie" Her voice
was non-committal. She did not
mean to lower her defel4ses all at
once.
We'll, Sue," Jim continued, II
came to visit the MacPherSons.
They're here, aren't they?"
Sure" she replied. That's our
gardener and his wife,
They're friends of mine," Jim
continued, Il used to know them
once. A long time ago."
Did you? He's nice. She's
bossy."
Jim laughed. The child, obvious
ly, had no consciousness of class
distinctions.
80" he went on, "if you'll tell
me where l can find them"
III show you," she offered. Her
attention turned to the fishing equip
ment. I've got to do something
with this" she said obviously per-
picked.
Can l help you?" Jim asked.
She paused to consider, frowning.
Il guess we hadn't better take
them up to the house," she said al
length. "Somebody'd give me the
devil" Her eyes frightened with in.
spiration. Il know! We can put il
in the spring-house until tonight"
The spring house was in the
meadow, a short distance from the
drive. Jim walked through mead
ow grass with Susan. 1t was pleas.
ant under the light rain of the will
lows.
You won't forget that the rods
broken, will your" Susan asked
"You could get some things from
MACPHERSON and come here and fix
it."
That would require some diplo
macy, Jim reflected. But he was,
in a measure, responsible for the
accident. He looked down at her
She was looking at him, her plair