| Show THAT MR AIR SMITH 88 by SYDNEY FELL ft 0 mcclure newspaper syn syndicate dacate service K r OW youve got it all N X straight ann bar rington arington leaned from the opened window ot of the car her hands already on the wheel preparatory to starting susie looked at her with admiring eyes yes maam she said let me say it to you when mr smith comes im to show him into the par living ro room om and give him his lunch on a little table in front of the fire and make him comfortable till you come home thatis right susie said ann as she started the engine and ill be back about four and off she went the loud purring of her engine falling away to a blur and then to silence as susie watched her wind up the road and over the hill susie was almost completely happy she had come to tb work for ann barrington straight from the orphan asylum that had always been her home she had been with ann two weeks the two most interesting weeks by all means that she had ever passed her life at the orphan home had not been unhappy indeed it had been definitely happy but it had been institutional the freedom she enjoyed in anns kitchen and in the small cheerful third floor bedroom which she called hers at anns house was heaven to susie just one thing sometimes bothered susie john barrington anns husband was susies ideal of perfect manhood to be sure susies acquaintance with men at the home had been limited old peter the handy man and occasional visits of inspection spec tion by members of the board of directors susies acquaintance was certainly limited her idea of the perfect man had been formed largely from the heroes and villains she had seen on the once a week visit the home children made to the movies and john barrington certainly was nothing like those heroes or those villains at eighteen susie had become acquainted quain ted for the first time with a real man john was not good look ing not glamorous in any way about thirty hardworking hard working rather solemn but kind and considerate he was devoted to his pretty young wife and to susie it seemed as if his devotion his considerateness his loyalty and attention must be enough to make the world a perfect place for ann yet sometimes susie thought ann was not quite as appreciative of her husband as she might be today kar smith was coming at anns invitation to lunch ann had invited him by telephone susie had heard her do come for lunch she had said my husband wont be home till dinner time if you come for lunch that will give us five or six hours then at half past eleven there had been a telephone call for ann and a few minutes later ann had come into the kitchen dressed in her smart tweed coat and skirt all excited and upset susie she said ive just had a telephone call my sisters little boy is ill and ashes got to go away this afternoon she has to go to court some sort of suit she and her husband are involved in about his fathers estate so ive got to stay with the boy and just have to take care of mr smith till I 1 get back she h had left the lunch all ready for susie to serve and had told susie just what to do and now as susie heard the last of anns motor as her car went up the hill she was planning to do a little missionary work on mr smith work tor for mr barrington perhaps shed tell mr smith ann had gone to lunch with another man get rid of him before ann came home so engrossed was she in her thoughts that she did not hear bear the car coming from the opposite direction suddenly she was startled by a voice right at her side she looked up there stood a young man hatless coatless grinning oh she said startled are you mr smith surel said the young man me you miss barrington mrs Barring tons been called away she help it its her sisters little boy hes ill and she has to stay with him but she told me to tell you to come right in and susie smiled a smile that made her plain face radiant and led the way to the house she liked mr smith and she lie about ann when the chance really came you go right in there and sit sil down she said at the door of the living room and ill bring your lunch right in mrs barrington Barring tor said be hungry well sure im hungry had a thing since seven mrs bar ring tons swell she but say if im going to have some lunch id a heap rather eat with you you yoi eat in here oh no said susie 1 I eat in the kitchen you see im susie and before she knew it she had told the strange mr smith of her life at the home and of her present blissful existence as mrs barring tons maid A real home real money and the kindest people in the world to work for mr smith gave susie flattering attention and in the kitchen he helped her set the oilcloth covered table for two and when she had the coffee ready to serve and the salad and sandwiches the cup cakes and shredded pineapple all daintily spread out she tried to follow anns good taste in setting the table he stood and held susies chair while she was seated susie was thrilled never in her quiet life had she been so thrilled she blame ann for being a bit interested in this jolly and very courteous mr smith he passed things to susie insisting that she help herself first ile he said one or two or maybe three lumps and dropped them into her cup he jumped up and went to the stove aitor or more coffee and he talked of the things that interested her you look pretty in that pink dress he said as they ate their dessert susie blushed with pleasure like it she murmured 1 I put on a white dress every afternoon sort of a stiff one like linen and a cute little apron well said mr smith through a mouthful of cake look good to me even if your dress was mud colored and they both laughed as if at a great joke then the doorbell rang and susie went to the door A good looking man about mr Barring tons age stood there Is mrs barrington home he asked no said susie she not home said the man when will she be home 1 I dont think any of your business said susie and slammed the door fresh thing she said explaining to mr smith in the kitchen thinks just because im young ill tell him all our affairs probably hes a burglar come to pry around im sort of glad youre here to protect mr smith beamed sure ill protect you always he said that was a swell feed you gave me sure mrs barrington wont care and then mrs barrington herself burst in at the kitchen door oh hello sam she said come to fix that leaky faucet upstairs youre the only plumber I 1 ever knew that could be depended on susie it nice I 1 have to stay the trial has been postponed and anyway the babas better mr smith come and then between tearful apologies on susies part and half exasperated explanation on the part of ann the thing was untangled an while sam smith the young plumber stood by very red of face and uncomfortable ready to defend susie if need be mr smith the mr smith who should have eaten lunch in the living room was an old friend of johns a college classmate stopping at the house for a visit with ann before he went on to town for dinner with john and said ann 1 I suppose hes the burglar you slammed the door on oh well another ring at the door ann answered it sam and susie heard her laughing explaining in a minute she came back to the kitchen hurry up susie she said lets scrape up some lunch for mr smith the other mr smith and me sam you run upstairs and fix that leak and oh sam busy this evening well why dont you invite susie to go to the movies im going to town to have dinner with my husband and the other mr smith and I 1 dont want to leave susie to a lonely evening have her home by eleven and as sams qu quick ick and cheerful acquiescence came down the back stairs as his noisy footsteps went up ann said hes a nice young man susie like him lots 1 I do said susie already |
