Nancy Brandon

rst place she was young, so young as to be mistaken often for Nancy's big sister. Then she was lively, a re

preaching. Perhaps this was due to her own experience. She had been a girl much like Nancy. She had not inherited the so-called domest

er the scented mass Nancy had gathere

happily. "I'm sorry we couldn't get things slicked u

always just like that when b

just great here. There's the best lot of boys.

want you both to have a fine time, but a little mischief goes a

l. We won't have any real g

"Real guns and swords and knives, indeed! If

No real firearms at-all," protested

ned Nancy foolishly, as if she enjoyed the sensation. "It is not like it was when Anna was wi

e things that you didn't know. Anna was an ideal maid, but maids are not educators and none of us can learn without being given a chance. Ted, please get the ice water. And I would try,

for inspection, was daintily arranging the salad. "As a matter of fact,

to that accident Mrs. Brandon insisted that her daughter was one of the girls who mus

wants to be sure of his meals in spite of all the educa

her vacation," said Mrs. Brandon. "Anna does not really have to work now. The salary and light

e here she would be forever poking in and out of the store, and really mother," Nancy's voice fell to a very s

ul little helpers. Now, come eat dinner. You must be ravenous. Here, Nancy, carry along the be

nner plates and hurrying into the little dining room with them. "That ice cr

other in vivid description and volumes of parentheses, Mrs. Brandon listened with but few interrupt

d, "for Miss Townsend told me that much. Of cou

d, holding his plate ou

g at the boy's joke. "But then, too, we expect to depe

talk," said Nancy. "I suppose we act booky too, only we can

u won't lose the potatoes and burn the meat aga

insisted Nancy. "I'm sure w

ther forestalled their argument. "Did s

rything. And you should see her little dog, Tiny, sniff around! Honestly, I thought he'd sniff his little stumpy nose off at the fireplace. By the way, moth

cy. You must remember, dear, we have only agreed to let you run the little store pra

Then began again, "Mother, I simply can't have the girls come in and have thin

said rather decidedly. "And, after all, th

else what did she start right in to search

mething like that," suggested Mrs. Brandon.

uldn't need to act so mysterious

about papers, could he? Dogs are awfully wise

ce, Nancy continued to deplore Miss Town

bout the place before they left," Nancy continued. "Vera is talkative, but

e prohibited sliding position from his plate, "and she's

like very," said

e is, scary. And the fellows say Mr. Sanders is a first-ra

t his habit of disappearing

so. It couldn't be. How could any one d

ed Nancy. "I just asked you if the boys spo

d, and again his mother

did say something about it they didn't say he was

. Sanders lived somewhere around here but no one knew where, that he went right up the hill to the stone

, "how perfectly absurd. I'm surprised

, that's all," explained Nancy, who had begun to carry the

their part in the clearing of the table, and washing the dishes, and as

me out with us, won't you Mother? There's heaps of things yo

r. "You and Ted hurry along with your work-Ted will dry and

have your evenings free," protested Nan

and we must live as such. That means-civilization, around

s? I do declare, children, here are your lost potatoes, packed

tins. But Mother," she said, in a grieved to

hment could be greater to her than the loss of a summer evening out

did idle my time today, Mother dear, b

. Brandon. "Just attend to the dishes and you won't know these quarters presently

checked their argument. I

rough the screen door. "There

h," Nancy called

dear," interru

not need to be coaxed to give up his task, and when dis

it was, with firemen and a baseball team making up the "scramb

beautiful evening, what I should have done today," s

ed Ruth kindly. "And I won't br

Nancy, really determined now to g

ever, seemed to draw out the heaviest applause, but that was because old Jake Jacobs, the best piccolo player around, had been training them. Still, there was Pete Van Riper, the drummer on the baseball side o

t was spoiled for Nancy. She could see and actually feel her mother working in that l

to go home with her, there pushed into the crowd an old man in a bro

here's Mr. Townsend! And t

rls were. They did not see the girls, but Mr. Sanders drew Mr. Town

uitable for his surroundings, "the whole town is talkin'. They sa

ghed as if he e

eep cool, fri

no means keeping cool,

my sister on her ear, made a

h a sudden movement, perfectly

bargain, Elmer Townsend,"