| Show 4 1 A i t tS S 1 W N u. u SERVICe f l G. v dM 1 c. c 7 o X Continued X l 12 12 think Del was some sort of a heathen said Aunt Olympia the day after they arrived at Shires And Im I'm not sure but in some ways he is she added thoughtfully Seems to me even a heathen would have the nerve to speak to that worm about his conduct My dear remonstrated the Senator Senator Senator Sen Sen- ator that Is one thing that cant can't be done In any sort of ot political circles What cant can't be done Speaking to your opponent about his conduct talking about your opponent opponent nent vent Im I'm talking about Cece Dodd I 1 want you to tell him to keep away from here Ive I've got trouble enough My dear he was supposed to stay with us That's what you ou hired him for wasn't It Yell Well I didn't hire him to go eyed calf over Limpy You tell him to quit looking at Limpy Every time I glance up I see him looking at Limpy Its It's getting on my nerves You tell him to stop It it My dear he said In a pained I voice I cant can't do that He lie Isn't a aboy aboy aboy boy you know lies He's doing a good Job You cant can't tell a man what hes he's to look at even If It hes he's working for tor you They'd have me up before belore Wages and Hours in no time Do you see any sense paying a aman aman aman man wages to spend his hours looking lookIng look look- Ing at at-at at at an Infant an-Infant Infant Is that what the N. N L. L I H. H B B. B stands for My dear youre you're making too much of this Limpy Is only a child And a nice child I like to look at ather ather ather her myself She's a mere child You silly dunce Dont Don't you know children arent aren't what they used to tobe tobe tobe be Thus frustrated on every hand Olympia conceived the notion ot of dropping a few delicate hints her herS self seU She couldn't come right out In the open about it because she realized that even It If Limpy herself felt relt no personal interest in Cecil she did enjoy being admired and andopen andopen andopen open opposition would arouse her herand herand herand and her sisters with her to her own defense So Olympia decided to be beI I diplomatic Well Cece she began pleasantly pleasant pleasant- ly Iy when she finally cornered him himI alone what do you think of at our I girls eIrls I 1 think they're lovely he said with a warm smile maudlin Olympia Olympia pia called It Just lovely in fact tact When I think of ot poor Len stuck with those brats I think I struck It pretty lucky Olympia ground her teeth but silently si sl si- Adele beautiful she I I asked leading him on They all are he said generously generous generous- ly Iy Every Everyone one of at them Adeles the most beautiful and you fOU cant can't deny It she persisted doggedly I 1 dont don't agree with you He light light- td ed a cigarette looking worldly and sophisticated Beauty you know Is ls entirely a matter of taste It is not noU she said rudely Its a I matter of complexion and features and nd nd hair And it may Interest you to know that all aU real authorities on beauty beauty artists artists and sculptors and andreal andreal andreal and and- real authorities say authorities say Adele is la far tar farand and away the most beautiful Oh Ob perhaps from their point of ot view he conceded Personally I dont don't agree with them Well what's wrong with her looks you silly dunce she demanded de de' mended Irritably Nothing Nothings Nothing's wrong with them Her looks are lovely But ButIn ButIn Butin In my opinion her kind of ot beauty Is well Is-well well Its It's not natural Its It's not spontaneous It looks artificial almost almost al al- al most theatrical Aunt Olympia could hardly believe her ber ears She was speechless Now you take beauty beauty well well like Limpy for tor Instance he said warming to his subject Now Limpy's Lim- Lim pys py's beauty is honest and cut clean-cut and straightforward Theres There's nothIng nothing noth noth- ing lag stagy about it Its It's Just plain unvarnished straight the heart to beauty Adeles Adelel not varnished either she said feebly Ive seen leen her come straight from her bath Ive I've watched her make up I know what Im I'm talking about Oh probably not he said In differently But the effect is II the same It looks made Limpy's different Do you realize began Olympia hall choking that Limpy is Is a is a perfect perfect infant infant A mere child To a man of my age and and gen gen general era eral experience he said IBid gently there is nothing In the world so 10 beautiful as 81 a brave glowing little bud Just blossoming out out Aunt Olympia got up and walked straight out of ot the room She had to She was afraid if she ahe remained she would choke him with her bare hands bands and that would end the campaign cam camS In a hurry ItU probably end up by my do do- Ing it anyhow she he told the Senator savagely But nut Im I'm making every effort to wait walt till after the election You cant can't really blame him my dear for tor liking the childs child's looks he argued mildly Everybody likes her looks You know Ollie to tell the truth he continued hesitantly I like her looks better than Adeles Adele's myself Olympia groaned That was the gall and wormwood of ot it it She did too Her Iier distress was so great that the Senator decided to speak to Cecil himself without telling her anything about it for the Senator was devoted devoted de de- de voted to Olympia and would humUl humiliate ate himself to almost any depth to spare her distress He Ile had Cecil sent up to his library and closed the door See here Cecil he began mat- mat ter factly I want you to stop flirting with Limpy Cecil rose right up out of ot his chair to answer that Flirting with Limpy sirl sir Im I'm not flirting fluting with Youre not Youre You're not flirting with Limpy Well what do you call it I dont don't call it anything sir But ButI I know it isn't flirting Im I'm crazy crazy crazy cra cra- zy about Limpy Well stop H it Her tier aunt and I will positively not permit anybody to be crazy about Limpy until until after after the election I wouldn't dream of flirting with Limpy said Cecil Any time The election has nothing nothing noth ing to do with It it Well youve you've got her aunt all aU upset up up- set about It and we cant can't worry I about Limpy and win an election at atthe atthe the same time I But what have I done Senator Ive I've been very careful I only gave her that pin pin and and everybody wears Sloppy pins And Mrs asked me to be nice to the girls girts To the girls yes Not to Limpy Just to Helen and Adele They're as good as married anyhow Not Limpy You know Senator Cecil confessed confessed con shyly I could get married myself if she it-she she was old enough With my political experience In this campaign campaign cam cam- Im I'm sure to land a good job somewhere And Ive I've got money enough to take care of a wi a wl-a a I woman I could do a lot better for fora a girl than Len Hardesty Youve got to stop looking at ather ather ather her said the Senator firmly But Senator you must realize realize- theres there's no place else to look when Then there remonstrated Cecil desperately Im sorry Cece but youve you've got gotto gotto gotto to stop It Pay attention to your work And when you are discussing discuss ing lag the campaign with us U you needn't address your remarks to Limpy She's not running for office and I am Ill try Senator he said unhappily un un- happily I dont don't want to upset Mrs and I do want the campaign to go through all sU right But Senator you must see lee how Impossible impossible Im im- im possible it is to look at anybody else when Limpy's in the room Ill keep her out of ot the room as much as I can promised the Senator Senator Sen ator kindly You keep your eyes glued to Mrs Discretion is the best beat policy policy policy-at at your age When you get to be my age a glance or two at Limpy wont won't hurt you It'll ItU even set you up a little But nut for forthe forthe forthe the time being you stick to Mrs CHAPTER XI During the first week of ot October the trailer entourage established as headquarters and were giving parking facilities In the Community Com Com- Community Center From this base the campaigners went off oft dally daily on flyIng fly fly- Ing lag junkets by automobile with a noisy escort of police It had been a ahard ahard ahard hard week for this was the beginning begin ping ning of ot the Senators Senator's wide state-wide sweep for tor votes On Saturday Aunt Olympia ex ex- exhibited exhibited a degree of ot nervous energy for tor which not even the hard bard week could be held entirely accountable She spent the morning relaxing in I bed and studying manuscript She spent the afternoon having a facial a wave a mud pack and a hot bath The Senator had gone off with Dave and Cecil to attend a picnic of ot the Young Democrats at Hardcastle Hard Bard castle planning to return to Bays Bays- town in time to address the big rally In the Auditorium at eight lie He had wanted to take the girls along but Aunt Olympia had hid put her foot down on that No I want them to get rested up so ao they'll be pretty and fresh tresh tonight she said And if Limpy were off with you and Cece I wouldn't be able to concentrate You go iO and keep your eye on Cece It If he gets back here ahead of you IU Ill have him arrested Aunt Olympia made the girls girts take a brisk walk She had tea and sandwiches sandwiches sand sand- ready for tor their refreshment on their return I want you to wear your prettiest est frocks tonight and look your sweetest Our wind wind-up costumes asked Limpy eagerly for fot those fetching gowns had been kept under lock and key all summer No not those The next to Is this a special meeting Auntie Aunt ie asked Adele Well its it's apt to be admitted Aunt Olympia nervously And its it's my policy to be prepared for tor any thing You see very see very possibly this possibly this may be the night the Senator willbe will willbe willbe be late and they'll call on me for formy formy formy my extemporaneous speech That's That why I ordered these little corsages for tor all of us Rosebuds I 1 prefer orchids but they look too expensive for a campaigner But nut why do we have to wear corsages and look nicer than usual They wont won't call on us will they Oh no dears of ot course not But nut you will have to sit on the platform plat form torm and look nice and take a bow or two But nut we always do tha t Yes but when I make my ex extemporaneous extemporaneous ex- ex speech we always have extra photographers on ha hand d Ladies Ladles and gentlemen she murmured working on her chin and smiling urbanely At six o'clock groups began streaming into the park Microphones Microphones Microphones Micro Micro- phones had been set up all aU over ove r the grounds so that those unable t to crowd into the auditorium might t hear At seven floodlights were turned on and the band struck up Wed better dress now said Aunt Olympia Its ILs very crowded for four t to dress In here objected Adele Cant we take our bags and das dash h over to the hotel No Its It's more effective for the theto them to summon us from the trailer Incase In Incase case they call on us of ot course 1 J 4 b I l 1 e d 1 rte rte- I Adele Adelea not varnished either ahe she said laid feebly You'd better take the length full-length mirror Adele It doesn't make s so much difference about the rest of o ous i us u.s. us Aunt Olympias Olympia's words were pro At eight o'clock after preliminary preliminary pre pre- speeches and Introductions bons Jim Allen the state chairman chairman chair man shouted into the microphone Attention attention attention I 1 Ladles Ladies and gentlemen I We have Just jut t received word that our good friend Senator has been unavoidably unavoidably ably detained at Hardcastle H He S Swill will not waste a moment getting gettin g here but in the meantime out her hern here hereon e n on n the trailer just finishing their r quiet supper we have that gran granold grand d old trouper Olympia th the e Senators Senator's wife and her young youn g nieces Shall ShaU I try to Induce Olympia Olympia pia to make a few remarks until the tin C Senator gets here A roar of applause went up Jims probably mentioned trying g to Induce me said uld Olympia blandly bland blan d dr ly Iy dusting her face with powder r and tucking back a nervous curL Jim Allen AUen banged on the trailer tralle r door Olympia opened it i Mrs the Senator i is s I unavoidably detained a few minutes Wont Won't you come over and just so say y howdy to the folks Just pass awa away y V the time till the Senator gets h here re Now Jim you know I dont don't t know a thing about politics I I leave leav leaveaU e all aU that to the Senator protested d Aunt Olympia Well they want to see you any anyhow how Just hear them cheering over eve r there I You dont don't have to make a speech speech- just give them a smile i Come on Mrs Come on girls Dont forget any of ot those extemporaneous ex es wisecracks wise youve you've e been thinking up all aU summer Bummer summer this Limpy If U I do you can prompt ne e said Aunt Olympia in tn high go good humor The auditorium was packed to th the thedoor thedoor e door packed a hundred feet beyond I Ithe the doors in fact tact there was a rear tea r entrance giving easy access to th the e platform but Jim Allen AUen forced a away away way through the crowd to lead hi his s smiling contingent right through U the e voting public There she is There they are arel Good evening Mrs Slop hirel Rah rah rah tab the ladles ladies The Tb e ladies ladles pod bless them Half Halt a dozen hands reached dow down n m from the platform t to assist them t to o mount Olympia Helen Adele an and d Limpy The applause continued forten for forten forten ten minutes while the ladles ladies lookIng look look- Ing very pretty prelly stood bowing smiling smiling smil ing waving 1 their hands Limpy remembering the brats threw kisses Then Jim Allen roared for silence Ladles and Ladles ladles and gentlemen gentlemen- 1 This lady needs no introduction to you youl She's your lady This is our old friend tri Olympia She wont won't make a speech she just wants to say Your howdy howdy Your I-Your Your lady ladles ladies and gentleman Olympia Olympia advanced smiling smiting to the rostrum and put her handbag and gloves on it Then she turned and shook a playful finger at Jim Now Jim Allen Alien you only asked me to come and take a B bowl You didn't say a B word to me about making mak make ing lag a speech she protested gaily I cant can't make a speech I dont don't even know how to tn begin Especially Especial ly Iy on politics I always say one politician in a family is enough nough Sometimes I think it is 11 more than enough Now if you wanted a speech on keeping the house on running the family budget on cheap recipes for tor canning fruit and making preserves preserves preserves pre pre- serves I 1 could talk till election Why I am not even enough of ot a politician to call you constituents she cried keeping well In range of ot the microphone Youre not con conn constituents constituents to mel me Youre You're Just friends old friends and neighbors That's all aU I know about politics Now because you are only my friends and neighbors I want you to meet these three dear little children children chil dren of mine who have made me meso meso so happy and kept my heart and hands so full this year Girls come on stand up ups I want them to see what you look like The girls girts tripped up and stood smiling grouped about her Now those of you who have families fam tam flies lUes she went on on understand that between providing nourishing meals doing the mending and darnIng darn darn- Ing superintending the laundry safeguarding the health of my husband husband hus hus- band and these three children I wouldn't have time to meddle In politics If U I wanted to But Dut the girls mean more to me than poll poll- tics That's why I want you to be |
