I
AlabasterLamps
f -if j nrf 1 4 4
Margaret lurnouu. ,
nwtwair
'teoas.
STORY FROM THE START
Claude Melnotte Dabba re
turns from New Tork to hit
general grocery In Peace Valley,
Pa. With him oomii Ned Car
ter, a atranger, whom Dabba In
troducea to "Aunt Lyddy," hie
old houaekeeper, aa a nephew.
Later Dabba admlta to Aunt
Lyddy that Carter la a ehanca
acquaintance, veteran of the
World war, whom ha had met
In New Tork and taken a Ilk
lug to. Carter tella that ha haa
broken with hta family and hla
fiancee became of their ultra
parlflo leaning!. With Dabba
Ned vtelte Clover Hollow. They
almoat run over a dot belong
ing to a girl whom Carter ap
parently recornlsea. Ned de
llvere a crocery order, and In
hla abaenca tha girl, Dorothy
Beldea, aaya that aha knowa
Ned'a laat name to ba Rang-eley,
and that he la tha famous bank
er's aon. Next morning Ned be
f Ina work aa a delivery boy. De
livering an order narked "John
ston at tha "White Houee," ba
meets a girl who tells blm she
and her mother are alone, tha
aervanta having left Ned prom
ises to get help. Meeting Doro
thy, hla former fiancee, ha evades
telling why he Is In Peace Val
ley. Ned arranges with Ettls
Pulslfer to do housework at tha
Johnstone', but aha la unable to
atart work at once. Ned goea
to report to llary Johnston.
CHAPTER IV Continued
Mary opened her month to annihi
late thl pushing young person, but at
that moment the telephone bell rang,
and with a little nod of dismissal, she
hurried to answer It
Ned looked Idly about him. Then
the great Idea came to blm. lie
grinned, snatched np gingham
kitchen apron from the back ot a
chair and tied It across his cheat. He
turned the hot water on a pan full ot
dishes and reached for tbe dish mop.
He knew that camp, motor boat and
army experiences would stand him In
good stead now. He would show this
girl what an excellent J"b he could do.
He commenced to wash dishes In a
low, orderly fashion.
At the telephone, Mary was talking
to Mr. Dabbs. She had closed the
door. No sound from the kitchen
reached her. Tea, she told htm, she
was 11 Us Johnston, and hla nephew
had gone. She was ever ao much
obliged. It Mrs. Pulslfer could come
at noon, It would be a great help.
Mary left the telephone with shin
ing eyes. How kind these country
people were! Imagine a grocer tak
ing all that trouble In the cltyl She
must tell mother. It would amuse her,
If the headache was not too bail.
With a little run she took the stairs,
three steps at time, and softly
opened the door of the great front
bedroom,
It was a lorely room, darkened now,
beautifully arranged and furnished.
Nothing In It was as beautiful as the
woman who waa lying upon the bed,
staring at the celling. She looked
scarcely older than Mnry herself.
Tumbled masses of red hair spread
over the pillow. She turned her face
quickly from Mury.
"Mother, Vm going to bring you
some tea and toaat In a Jiffy, unless
you feel like coming down."
"I don't wunt anything. fJon't
trouble," came In a soft murmur from
the bed.
"Oh, mother, don't take It so hard I
I'm getting on famously and the coun
try people here are wonderful. What
do you think! The grocer the one
with a funny little short name
Dabbs that's It, Is sending a womun
to cook and clean for us this after
noon. By tomorrow we'll have not
only a clean house, hut probably a
new hatch of maids and a cook from
the city. Then yon can be properly
fed."
Her mother raised harself on one
elbow, staring at her daughter with
level, unblinking brown eyes. Seen
face to face she appeared older than
Mary, but one would hardly have class
ified them as mother and daughter.
Sisters would have been a reasonable
guess.
"Mury, what did you say the grocer's
name wast"
"Dubbs," repeated Mary. Funny
name."
"Isn't this place called Clover Hol
low r
"Yes, mother, but the grocer comes
from Peace Valley, There are no
shops In Clover Hollow."
Mary's mother sunk back on her
pillows and muttered something that
sounded likes "Oh my soul I The lust
trawl"
Mary looked puzzled and a little
frightened. This was the first time In
her life that she hud known her strong,
capable mother to give way to her
nerves.
"Mother, can't you tell me what's
wrong?"
"No, I can't Just now, Mnry-glrl. It's
a little fluunclul bother, and until 1
understand It better myself, I can't
talk about It ltun along like a good
child. My head will soon be all right
again." Then the head was lifted and
the eyes fixed upon her duughter.
"Oh do take that ugly apron off I"
"I've been to busy I forgot It"
Mary was more hart than apologetic.
To tidy a big house like this, and make
something to eat was quite an achieve
ment for any girl, and especially one
unaccustomed to doing It She had
looked for praise.
"It makes you look" her mother
gave an odd, hysterical giggle "It
make you look like a grocer's daugh
ter. For heaven's sake, take It off!"
Mary went downstairs more slowly
than she had come up. She wished
her mother would conflde In her, for
she must be awfully worried about
money to act like this. Mary won
dered. Idly, If It meant that they would
have to give np the proposed trip to
California and Honolulu this full.
They might possibly have to stay In
New York ail winter. They might
even be so poor that they would have
to stay here In the country. There
was something that appealed to Mary
In tills thought If only mother could
be kept amused.
Ever since Mary's childhood, she
had realized that the first duty of the
world and the people therein, herself
Included, was to keep mother amused.
When she was not amused. Mnry's
heavens were dark. It was not that
It took so much to amuse her. Some
times a new book or a visit from a
friend, and the sun shone again; but
woe betide any place or person boring
her for two consecutive days. They
were Immediately obliterated from her
life.
Mary sat down to rest on one of the
steps. Her thoughts went back
through the years to all the hotel
suites they had occupied the rented
villas, apartments In Spain, Italy and
France. All had been delightful, but
she would love to stay here and see an
American winter. To watch the sea
sons change from spring to summer,
summer to autumn, autumn to win
ter, here In her own country! It
would be delightful, wonderful.
Mary rose slowly and went dowu
stairs. One thing certain, she mutt
not bother mother now, and ahe must
make ber cup of tea.
Mary opened tbe door leading to the
kitchen. Then she stared with aston
ishment and dismay at tbe grocer's
boy drying the dishes.
"Ohl" exclaimed Mary.
The "grocer's boy" began tugging at
his apron strings, wishing that be had
heard her coming. "Must look fool,"
waa his thought
"It was very kind of yon, but en
tirely unnecessary." Mary spoke
severely.
Her tone reminded Ned of all he hnd
forgotten about his apparent station
In life. Suddenly he disliked this
blue-eyed girl Intensely, If she wus
that kind.
He slipped out of the offending
apron, took up his hut and looked at
her gravely. "Ill bring Mrs. Pulslfer
up after luncheon," he offered, limply.
Mary's sense of humor, which hud
momentarily deserted ber, returned.
She thought herself a fool to handle
the incident, however annoying, In this
manner.
"Ob. Mr. Carter, will yon please
bring up two pounds of Graham flour,
and some table salt I don't remember
how salt comes and three cakes of
, ; i,; iiii' 'i' 1 oi
.t!' '! i ii. 'iii - - . h -I
do these things," Ned lied cheerfully.
He made an elaborate note In a
book, which Mary, now aroused to note
this young mini's customs and man
ners, saw was a little red leather
diary and rather elegant at that. It
was not nt all the usual orderbook of
grocer's clerk. Her suspicions grew.
"May I ask," said Ned, feeling very
businesslike, "It that was uncle on the
telephone! Because, that's why I
waited. I knew he might cull up."
Mary admitted Hint It hud been his
uncle.
"Old he want met' Ned Inquired, a
shade uncomfortably.
Grouping her chance, Mnry an
swered demurely: "I don't know. 1
told hltu that you hnd gone, I should
think, If you are lu the habit of spend
ing most of your working hours wash
ing dishes for any customer whose
help leaves her, you might be a very
nice nmn, but a pretty poor grocer."
Ned laughed. "I wasn't concerned
about I'ucle Claude wuntlng me, but
about his requiring the car. Don't get
a fulse Idea from me of how the gro
cery business Is run, Miss Johnston.
The shop Is I'nele Claude's, I'm al
lowed to do odd Jobs, while visiting
him."
Mary's eyes unconsciously took In
the young man's outer garments. She
had been so domestically absorbed
that she had only concerned herself
with his actions and Intentions. Now,
she realized that before her was a
young nmn, clad In garments fur too
sophisticated and tm) well cut to be
long ta any grocer's assistant In Peace
Valley. Undoubtedly she was being
"had" by this youug man. Mary's
blue eyes snapped.
"I admire your uncle," ahe said
with feeling and obvious emphasis.
"He's my hero, too. Just now," Ned
could not keep from laughter,
and somehow laughter cleared the air
and seemed to leave all explanations
for a future time. Ned went guyly
down the steps. At the foot he turned
and looked back at the girt She
stood watching hhn from the door
way. He had not the slightest doubt
she was speculating about him. He
devoutly hoped so!
That afternoon Ned helped Mrs.
Pulslfer out and ushered her Into the
Johnston kitchen, which wns empty,
and nrged her toward the dishes
piled on a trny. Not knowing the eti
quette tif work by the day, Ned feared
she might resent not being cere
moniously welcomed. He watched her
begin her tusk ami, much relieved,
went Into the garden.
He found Mary there. Investigating
the growth of lilies In a small flower
bed under the side window. He was
whistling, and she rose from the
ground and put a finger to her lips.
He stopped Instantly.
"I think my mother's asleep," was
the low-toned explanation she gave
hi in, with a gesture toward an upier
window. Ned explained briefly the
arrival and temporury employment of
Mm. Pulslfer.
Mnry, delighted to hear this. Inti
mated politely that he had now done
all and more than was expected and
might add to her debt of gratitude
by his departure.
It being a lovely spring afternoon,
warm and delightful, Ned hnd no Idea
whatever of doing this and obtusely
followed ber into the kitchen. He
Insisted, pleasantly, that having
brought Mrs. Pulslfer there, be must
Introduce her.
The Introduction performed, Ned
still lingered. Mary Ignored hlin, hnt
Mrs. PulHlfer had been young once
and scented sn approaching romance
more readily than might be supposed.
She was the type of woman who
would always be on the side of the
man, right or wrong. With aly
glance at Ned, she asked Mnry If It
would not be "a klnda good time to
get a snlfft of fresh air?"
"I need no telling. I've set things
to rights often enough for the Greens,
who ustn have this house, you go
down along with Ned Carter here and
pick and choose something for dinner.
He'd bring yon back In a Jiffy. Aln'l
no sense In you two wlmen ruining
your dellcat stummlcks with canned
trash with me here to cook. You can
git a chicken In no time."
The thought of providing something
appetizing for her mother appealed to
Mnry. She made a dignified exit to
consult her mother.
Claude has something en hit
chest And he won't be satisfied
until he gets It off.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
X'XC-X-X'X'X'X'X'X'X'X'I'X-X'I-I'X'I-:iX'-'I--I-XX-X4Xs
Scoffer Met Match in Witty Preacher
Doctor Parker, fumoua English pul
pit orator, on one occoslon was receiv
ing a good deal of ut'.entlon at a Lon
don club to which he had been Invited.
All waa going well until one of the
audience, perhaps somewhat Irriluted
at finding a Christian minister the cen
ter of ao much fluttering attention,
launched out Into an attack upon
Christianity. He sold that after all.
the benefits of Christianity had been
tremendously overrated, and that In
beneficent Influence upon mankind
ninny inventions had done more than
Christianity. "For Instunce," he said,
"I consider that the discovery of gas
hus done more for mankind than the
Christian religion." The clubmen In
stantly resented this Insult to their
guest There were hisses and Cries of
"Shame" and "Withdraw." Doctor
Parker arose and said, "Hush, do not
let us quarrel with our friend. He Is
simply slating his belief. When I am
nenrlng my latter end I will cull for
the consolation of the Christian reli
gion, but our friend here, on hla death
bed, will cull for the gus man." Mont
real Family Herald.
Not Upright
J. P. W. remarks: "Many man's
standing would be better If he did not
spend so much time lying." Koaton
Transcript.
Electric heat Is used to dry the Ink
on bills made by the bureau of en
graving and printing.
LittleK
Bit T Tjf
Humorous j
WOMEN'S FIRST
They were plnjing lu a mixed four
some arJ Percy Pluttkett waa very
much oi color. It annoyed blm be
cause he wanted to put up a "show"
before the girl of his heart
After a particularly bad nilsa he
felt compelled to Indulge. In a lulld ex
pletive.
"Sorry, Susie," he apologized to the
girl. "I didn't mean to say that. For
give me for swearing like that before
you."
"That"! nil right," returned the
maiden sweetly, "you didn't"
SO HE WOULD KNOW
M - e T7 -
"Why do yon pay such attention
to what that crank tells yon to dof"
"So I'll know whut not lo do,"
The Perfect Cuett
We love the guest whs finds our home
A pleasant place to etay.
And yet who knows without a hlat
Tha lima to go away.
Simplified Society
"Tour siHiul activities require a
great deal of time."
"Not so much as you might think,"
answered Miss Cayenne. "You can
send out Invitations In half an honr,
notify the press In ten minutes and
cull up the caterer In thirty seconds."
Washington Star.
Preferred Rith
Agent Do you own a cart
Prospective Insurer Oh, I suppose
you're going to sflck on the premium
because I'm motorist
Agent tin the contrary, the pre
mium will be leas. If you drive a car
yon are In leas danger of being run
over by one.
It
Alto Water Hazard
"Oolf Is a very old game, Isn't
ddr
"Yea, my aon."
"They played golf In the ark, didn't
they, dndr
"What are yon talking abontT"
"Why. they had lynx In the ark,
didn't they, dud r Stray Stories.
WOMEN'S RIGHTS
She Women's rights are growing
tronger every day.
He Yes. newspaper accounts of
hubbies being hen ten up by their wives
are Increasing without doubt
Too True I
Mary had a little hen
But aha waa very queer;
She laid Ilka fun when aggs war
cheap
But atopped when they were dear.
Feathering a Neit
"Mrs. I'.rown, ma says will you rend
her a dozen eggs for a hen to sit on?"
"I didn't know yon had a hen."
"We haven't, but we're borrowing
one to sit on your eggs, and then, ma
says, we'll have poultry of our own."
Vain Scheme
Mrs. Crawford How Is It yott and
your husband can't agree about a bud
get Mra. Crnbshaw He tries to' put
over too many Thrift weeks on me.
Making Provision
"Are yon going to make any chari
table bequestsr asked the lawyer.
"Yes," answered Mr. Dustln Stag.
"I am going to leave Incomes to my
titled sons-in-law, who could not poa
slbly get along without them." Wash
ington Star.
A Sure Thing
"now did your friend acquire his
reputation for sufh great wisdom?"'
"Why, there Isn't a subject under
the sun be ain't remain silent about."
1 When you trade-in your used car for a
new car, you are after all making a pur
chase, not a sale. You are simply apply
ing your present car as a credit toward
the purchase price of the new car.
2 Your used oar ha only one fundamental
basis of value; i. e., what the dealer who
accepts it in trade can get for it in the
used car market
3 Your used car has seemingly different
values because competitive dealers arc
bidding to sell you a new car.
4 The largest allowance is not necessarily
the best deal for you. Sonit-timcs it h;
sometimes it is not.
5 An excessive allowance may mean that
you are paying an excessive price for
the new cor in comparison with its real
value.
6 First judge the merits of the new car in
comparison with its price, including all
delivery and finance charges. Then
weigh any difference in allowance
offered on your used car.
GENERAL MOTORS
"A car fur tverj purs and purpost"
CHEVROLET PONTIAC Ol.DSMOBILB OAKLAND
BUICK LaSALLB CADILLAC
GENERAL MOTORS TRUCKS YELLOW CARS AND COACHES
WICinAlREVuilKtTUr.ftltmHr
Too Bad
Saeha flultry, the French actor and
playwright aald on depurtlng from
New York:
"Die movies are ruining the the
ater. It's too had.
"A comedian sulci to a tragedian
over sandwich In one of your cafe
terias the other day:
"'I hear thut the crowd biased yon
off the atuge nt the (inlcty Inst night,'
"'A lie, my boy,' aald the tragedian.
'A miserable lie. Tltcra waa no
crowd.' "
Wedding School Affair
Miss Ola Sunshine Thomas, teacher
In a rural srhol near Los Angeles,
became bride on the Inst day of the
term. Her wedding took place In the
schoolroom, with each pupil In the
class taking some part lu the ceremony.
Borne acts are quicker than thought.
Fine Telephone Service
For two nnd a half rents the tele
phone service In Stockholm or Colli
eubiirg will cull you at any hour
l-cltlitl, will tell jou the exact time
and answer calls In ruse you are 111
or a way.
It also III take messages while you
are out, or even away orr the week
end, nnd deliver tliem when you re
turn, cull a busy number as soon as It
Is free and perform several other
services uaunlly done by an olnYe as
sistant or valet
The services are performed by ape
chit exchanges.
Round One
Mr. "Well, t satisfied! There art
worse fellows Minn I am." Mrs. "Oh,
don't be such a pessimist."
A few people are envied because of
their wisdom, tunny because of their
wealth.
Bugvillc's
Richest
Citizen
Tint Flyomn
will get hhn too!
)y.Qsan.
VICTIMS BURIED AT
cituTiT itiDucn uns
. ? JA Attn Fivf I
HE'SBEEN burying flic
and moMjuitoea by the
millions.
Flroean floats through your rooms,
killing every single fly and moa
qulto getting into corners and
crevices yon could nnrer see.
But use Hyoaan Itaelf the firtt
liquid Insect spray on the market
(non-poisonous). Flyosan not only
klllsevrryflysml mosquito In your
bouse, but also kills the millions
of deadly, disease-bearing germs
on the body of each.
And "swatting" only leattrrn three
genua Into the sir you and your
family lireallw.
Pvlerman'l hat
thn rlffht Intnt li.
till for each
inurU On mlt
ulwrriff drugt
arm told.
Here h the right limrtii Ue
for each Iturrti
FLYOSAN, Liquid Spray kills
flies and mosquitoes,
rETEflMAIVS ANT FOOD-r.
terminates ante.
FETEHMAN'9 DISCOVERY,
Liquid extornilnatrs hrdliuga.
TLTEHMAVS ROACH FOOD
exterminates that cockroach
army,
I'ETERMAN'S MOTH FOOD
protrrle against moths.
You muni have a specific Ineeetl
clde for earn Insert Mo single ln
srrtleldfl will exterminate llirm
II. Wo have had nearly 80 years'
esprrlencr, We Jtnot that la true.
wmanh
200 Fifth Av.,N.Y.C,