The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-11
CHAPTER VI

6ally EennlnBVoH SdPcu oO .AAA' Fortunately she was too fiabber- easted for speech just at that mo- ment. The elderly woman eyed Kinks, who was feeling as Caesar must have felt on the opposite bank of the Rubicon.
 "The Pennington-P Parker Resta- torium?" she repeated. T never heard of it."
 "No," said Kinks. You couldn't have. It-it only opened today You'll be the first-ah-patrons.
 "Weu. what's it like? Where is it? Who runs it?"
 "It,s wonderful" said Kinks, in an all-inclusive fashion. Excellent food, clean comfortable rooms, a river toto wade in and so quiet YOU can hear the birds thinking. It's about a mile from here. And we run it."
 "You?"
 "Yes." Kinks indicated Sally who was reeling on the curb. Miss Pen nington and l."
 The elderly woman gazed at him suspiciously.
 This sounds very funny" she de- cided.
 T assure you, Madam" said Kinks suavely, that it isn't funny at all.
 The old gentleman behind the wheel spoke for the first time.
 Tt wouldn't do any harm to nave a look at the place, Mother" ne said.
 "Now, Papa" said the woman, Ill a hush-hush tone. Then she ao- dressed Kinks again: What are your rates?"
 "Fiye dol . :" began Kinks. SaLy came to life in the nick of time.
 "Six," she interposed swiftly. She didn't quite know where all this was leading. But if this imebclie Kinks were letting her in for operating a clearinghouse or some thinp. she was going to demand a fair price at least. - .,o The woman in the car LOOK time out for thought. ~
 very we'll" she said, at length. "Mr. Hardness and I will look at it. And hope you have electricity; 'sThere is electricity" Sally toio her. oa.
 "All right" said Mrs. Hardness "FBSw do we get there?"
 "Just follow our car," salo hil'hs grandly. ..r.,
 "Now you've done it." said Sally as she headed her ancient Ford back toward Mrs. Preston's place. Wna of1 earth possessed you?"
 T like that" said Kinks. T nave the brainwave of lifetime ana you make it sound like an idea out ol the looney-bin."
 "But it's positively crazy. Wha' are we going to do with these peo- ple?" ,o. Jan, nutter with the electricity. AL SIX bucks a day per person. Why' m about 50 days we'll have earned C,ie mortgage interest. Parker's brignt idea saves old homestead. What oo you think of that?" ., a
 q think it's nuts," said Saiiy srhe mortgage is due in two weeks And even if we did this mad thlng the money wouldn't be all cieai
 "Something else will turn up' said Kinks confidently. Just llKe the Harknesses did"
 Mrs. Preston's house was & as charming inside as out, save 1oi the presence of a supernulty U, mounted animal heads in the nViile room. While Sally, dithering slignt- 1v showed the bedrooms to the Harknesses, Kinks inspected the COT lection of mounted specimens, se strangely at odds with the antique furniture and tasteful curtains.
 There was an elk's head, com plete with antlers, over the Ilre- place. On the opposite wall tn. plassv eyes of a mountain lloi elared at the elk. The head o1 wolf l,,rked in a corner. On the nool law a skin which either ended ol began in the head of a black pear And gazing through to the olililie e room Kinks perceived a specKiee trout condemned to gape lo' Eternity upon vanished noaTu;
 "My Lord" he murmured WrN let these in?" .h,
 "Well" she said, we're in th' soun up to our necks. The HarR' nesses are crazy about the place;
 swell" said Kinks. Look Sal er-Miss Pennington. do you minl if I say that I'm getting qulte kick out of being in business WILL you?" .,,r. xir
 every nice of you, I'm sure hii -er-Mr. Parker" said Sally.
 Lets take a hurdle" suggested Kinks, "and make it Sally ah' Kinks"
 "All right. But I still think your' insane, Kinks. I don't know the ITS thing about running a hotel or sanitorium or whatever this piac' Is turningt out to be-" m
 "Confidentially," said Kinks, don't either. But I'll try anytniiie pnce."
 And what Mrs. Clipstack is go Ing to say, can't think. She'll prop ably throw a fit. She does once II while"
 I'll talk to her." Kinks offered.
 "You1l do nothing of the Klno