Show j I l' l or A A y 4 h 4 i SISTER BELL FIXES UP I 41 T i F h i t t By JANE OSBORN N. N i 1 ei r M. M 7 t i Sister Bell knew when she started j s 1 out to the city to fix things up in Broth Brother r Bensons Benson's apartment that she would would get In In some way but It was really an easier casler matter than she sh had hoped hoped- Im Mr Bridges Bridge's sister and 1 want wont I 1 keys for his apartment she told the woman who come up from the basement basement base base- ment In answer to the ringing of the bell marked Janitor Ive Iye come In his absence to fix fie his place up lie He forgot to send me th the key keys s. s J i Of or course Benson Denson had never had any ny intention of ot sending the keys not remotely remotely re re- dreaming that any of the folks folIs from home would make him a visit in I his new city abode He TIe had gone away on an on extended business trip and Sister Sis i 1 I ter ter Bell Ben had chosen the time as opportune opportune opportune t tune for her up process Fortunately the janitors janitor's wipe wife was new and green reen and unsuspicious Its tilts the third floor front Sister Bell told J her er and that was enough She got bot the keys and mounted the stairs to the wee three room apart part I ment meat r Th The place e was small small disappointing disappointing disappointingly I ly so so she she felt at first but hut at least It was full of at conveniences There was i ione one bedroom just large enough for a n I three quarter bed a chair and a bu bd bd- reau renu No curtains hung at the win In- In dow how dow how Sister Bell rejoiced at ut her scheme when hen she saw sa all these omis dons Th The only pictures id tot be be seen were two that stood on the bureau bureau- her own and an another ther Bensons latest r girl of at course cours divined Bell Dell Though r but eight years ears older than her twenty twenty- year two brother she felt and acted act i ed the mother to him J Sister Bell had arrived at ten In the tho morning At four she had hod her task mapped out and went In search of ot meat and drink for her solitary supper J With arms full of bread brend and lettuce Sand and eggs and milk bottles she made her her way back up the two long flights of ot stairs for the third time that da day It was on the last flight that she 1 turned and looked back at the man nine I Iwho who had been following her up the stairs She dropped the loaf of bread brenc and he picked It up for her Then while he was still standing holding it for Jor her she opened the door of the apartment and und stood to take It from shim There was a n look of momentary surprise sur prise c In th the face lace of ot the tho man which wa was explained ned to Sister Bells Bell's satisfaction on when he be said So So you are re Bens Ben sis ter tel I have seen your picture picture picture-in in his room room Hes He's a n great boy and ond I have hava I been him around a n. lit lit- tie tle At this Sister Bell Dell shifted some of ot her parcels held a hand out to him jn n gratitude and ond they were friends Ive been fixing up his place she said md Since the lad has to live In n such close quarters I might as well have lave It cozy Perhaps you will coma come comein in sometime sometime this evening and tell me whether It is progressing to suit a bachelor The newcomer promised Sand had fumbled in his pocket then turned and went downstairs with the excuse of having ing mislaid his key and needing o get a duplicate from the janitor That evening Martin MaYtin Stowe kept his promise and made his lily visit of tion Lion Every evening and antI sometimes in n the ilie morning besides Mr l Stowe made an no excuse to come and see how the work progressed Sometimes It ItUs was Us also to borrow orrow one of Bensons Benson's books sometimes sometimes some some- times trines even en to get something out of his trunk that he hc had left In Bensons Benson's dining room and as the dining room shaped Itself with inexpensive but ef furn ure he took the trunk back Lack Into his own narrow back apart apartment ment meat o a mere bedroom with a bath both It li was his whim to live ll in cramped quarters qun quarters he Je told Sister Bell The day that Benson came cam home Mr Stowe met him at the station He lIe asked Sister Bell Hell to go with him but she said she would rather stay homo bomo Jomo rind have the kitchenette dinner ready rendy for them on their return A week hind had passed since she had hod come and there had lead been many changes When Benson and Stowe returned j from the station the explanation was wast not long In coming Of course It hadn't t been beca Bensons Benson's apartment at all It was Stowe's and of course Stowe should have huye told Sister Bell to begin with But manlike he bad had not to toy tOj tell Bensons Benson's sister r that the brother was living In a room one room one back apartment apart apart- apart I ment meat when the sister ister was disappointed at the thc smallness of the larger one Inthe inthe in the front When he realized what Sister Sister Sis S ter Bell Dell was really doing he lie hadn't wanted to disappoint her lIe He hoped somehow that by the time Benson Denson came back he would be able to afford the larger apartment J JAnd And then I thought that perhaps Sister Bell might consent conent to sto stay nl aero noro ro with with us he be said What a trio we would be hc Wed We'd let Ben have breakfasts break break- lusts fasts with us too wouldn't we Sister Bell was still In a u daze rehearsing re rc re- re every event of or the wonderful days s 's to make sure that she had not at ut some time been ver very blind not to s see e eUte Ute tie situation nut lint I was so sure she site said Why Just seeing m my picture on Bensons Benson's bureau made me sure And the other girl I girl I thought that was Bensons Benson's new girl I It I Is Stowe assured Its hl Ills his girl girland girland and and my mr kind sister The duplicate is ison ison is' is on Bensons Benson's chiffonier l' l But Benson hind had but one ono picture of at atou you ou so I took that That hat was 1 before dore I had seen you ou and I knew even then Copyright 1917 by tho the McClure l Ne Newspaper sp per pcr Syndicate J |