The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-01-29
"we're not well acquaint-

WLcu see IL. 1NOJ tAldL IllCIC dIC
excuses" she conceded, obviously
finding it difficult to be fair. "The
mothers been dead since the little
girl was a baby. Mr.. Vaughn is
getting over a breakdown of some
kind. He's been sick ever since
they came here the first of June.
That Miss Parker can't do thing
with the children. / feel sorry for
her sometimes, she's got job on
her hands! Is that thunder?" she
asked.
81 shouldn't WONDER" MacPher-
son replied. There's storm brew
ing. Well get it by shutdown"
''Then Jamie must stay the
night" She turned to Jim, her
face bright with expectancy. "It
wouldn't be the first time. You
will, won't your"
II should like to stay" Jim said,
"if l won't be a bother. I haven't
job at present"
mo job, lad?" Macpherson
asked. Nothing to do?"
Nothing" Jim's smile was
little strained. "There aren't any
jobs. Nobody wants me. I'm a
gentleman of leisure"
He had meant to be jaunty about
it. He hadn't intended to sound dis
couraged. His voice had betrayed
him. A sound, half-consternation,
half sympathy came from the easy
chair where MACPHERSON sat smok-
ing his pipe. Mrs. MacPherson's
expression told him that he hadn't
succeeded in being debonaire.
"Well!" she exclaimed. ''T h e
country is in state! AS smart a
boy as you are. should think any
body'd be proud to give you job!"
what do you do with YOURSELF"
Macpherson asked.
"Play the gentleman, go to par
ties, make myself agreeable, sponge
on Kay and Vic. Sounds pleas
ant, doesn't it?"
Mrs. Macpherson moved in her
chair.
"Jamie!" she said.
Her voice was insistent. Jim
glanced up, smiling, half ashamed.
You're talking a deal of nom
sense" she said. "You may think
it's smart but I think it's a waste
of words. Jamie, do you want a
job?'
"Do II"
"Well, why didn't you say so?"
She folded her hands in her lap.
"That's easily arranged. Andy, you
can give Jamie job. All this talk
about sponging! Why didn't you say
what you wanted?"
81 didn't come to you for that"
Jim protested. II had no idea-I-"
Macpherson emerged from a
cloud of smoke.
Bessie" he asked mildly, ''have
you lost your wits?"
II have not" she stated with en-
phasis. 81 don't see anything wit
less in your giving the boy job.
You'd have to get somebody. Why
not Jamie, I'd like to know"
She was in earnest about the sug-
gestion. That obvious fact amused
Jim and seemed to embarrass Mac
Pherson.
"The boy doesn't know anything
about work such as needs doing
here" he said. SIT would be inn
posing on Mr.. Vaughn. Even if Jim
was willing, I don't see how I could
take him on"
Mrs. Macpherson bridled. The
peony-pink of her face deepened to
crimson. Her eyes snapped light
ming darts at her husband.
HE knows as much about any,
thing in the world as that last one,"
she said staunchly. ''He can drive
car and keep a civil tongue in his
head"
"Mr. Vaughn needs a chauffeur"
Jim asked.
"Not exactly" Macpherson
rubbed the bowl of his pipe against
the side of his nose. Jim remem-
bered the gesture. It meant that
he was arguing with his conscience,
turning things over in his mind.
Driving is only part of it," he
went on. "Mr. Vaughn has no need
of a full-time chauffeur. Off jobs
in and about the house, an extra
man so to speak The last one
couldn't get on with the women"
"Of course you're too good for the
job" Mrs. Macpherson said to Jim.
"But it would be something, any,
way, nobody need know who you
are. And you could board here with
u.s."
"I'd like that" Jim smiled grave
ly. II do want a job" he contin-
ued. "But Mr.. Mac is right. I
don't know how to do anything It
would be an imposition on Mr..
Vaughn and a great imposition on
you"
"But what are you going to dor"
Mrs. Macpherson asked anxiously.
Jim rose from the patent rocker.
"Jock and I are going out to see
the place." he said, swapping his fin
gers at the dog. "Then we're COM
ing back for supper"
Macpherson went outside with
Jim and the collie.
care things so bad with voll2"