The Touch of Abner. H. A. Cody

it away."

      "You don't say so! Why, Jess never told me anything about such things."

      "Oh, she's used to 'em. Anyway, she's so sot on Social Service that she can't come down to common things. Say, de you swaller all that stuff?"

      "What stuff?"

      "Social Service gas, an' what it'll do fer the world, sich as elevatin' pigs into hogs an' sich like."

      "I try to be interested," and Belle gave a deep sigh. "Jess is so wrapped up in her work that I do all I can to help her. But I ani afraid that I'm too light-headed for such things."

      "Light-headed, be fiddled," Abner growled. "Ye may be light-headed as fer as the color of ye'r hair goes, but no further, skiddy-me-shins if ye are. Ye'r all right, an' I'm mighty glad ye'r not luney over that Social Service bizness."

      "You are!"

      "'Deed I am, an' I wish to goodness that Jess 'ud git sich nonsense knocked out of her head."

      "But it doesn't hurt her, does it?" Belle queried. "I don't believe anything could change Jess from the sweet, jolly girl that she always is."

      "Oh, no, Jess is all right that way. But, ye see, she wants to go away to some big city instead of stayin' at home where there's a darn sight of elevatin' to be done. That's what riles me."

      "Oh, I see," Belle meditatively replied. "You wish her to remain with you?"

      "That's jist it, Miss. There's only me an' Tildy, an' it needs someone to brighten up the house a bit. I tell ye our house doesn't allus have a heavenly atmosphere when we're alone, not by a jugful. The best wheel an' axle will git hot an' make an unholy noise if they run too long together without bein' greased. I guess most married folks are that way."

      "I understand," and Belle smiled. "Jess acts as a go-between to make affairs run smoothly.

      "Yep, that's jist it. She's the grease, an' she sartinly works wonders in stoppin' the creakin' in our house. That's why I want her to stay with us."

      "Have you spoken to Jess about it?" Belle asked.

      "Sure. Had a long talk with her."

      "And what did she say?"

      "Said there wasn't enough to do at home; that she needed more sailin' room. I wish to goodness she'd lower her sail, an' drop anchor at Ash Pint. It 'ud make all the difference in the world to me an' Tildy."

      "Then you must see that she does," was the emphatic reply.

      "Does what? Lower her sail and drop anchor at home?"

      "Yes."

      "But how kin I do it?"

      "Get something important for her to do along Social Service lines. That will keep her for a while at least."

      "But what kin she do?"

      "I cannot say now, but perhaps something will turn up. We must try to work out a plan which will prove attractive."

      "Say, you've got a shrewd head on ye'r shoulders, Miss. I guess you've hit the bull's-eye, all right. Yes, we must git an anchor of some kind that'll hold solid."

      These two were now becoming firm friends, and they talked about various matters. Belle explained about her life at the Seminary, and Abner told about the proposed Orphan Home, and his conversation that morning with Lawyer Rackshaw. He was somewhat surprised with himself for talking in such a free and easy manner. But the girl was so sympathetic and willing to listen, that he found it a great comfort to confide in her.

      "Ye won't say a word about this to Tildy an' Jess, will ye?" he asked. "They don't seem to understand sich things. But you do, an' that's why I've said more to you than to anyone else."

      "I'm good at keeping secrets, Mr. Andrews," was the reply, "and I thank you for your confidence."

      "It's them Denton kids I'm worryin' about," Abner explained. "They should be put into a good home at once. I really don't know what will become of 'em, to say nuthin' about the widder."

      They were in sight of Ash Point now, and Abner directed Belle's attention to his house some distance ahead, nestling among the trees.

      "It ain't much of a place," he apologized, "but ye'll git a hearty welcome, lots of room, an' plenty of fresh air. It's a mighty healthy place, if I do say it."

      He paused and a peculiar expression suddenly lightened his face. He straightened himself up with a jerk, and brought the palm of his hand down upon his knee with a whack.

      "Anything wrong?" Belle enquired.

      "Nuthin' but a kink. I have it sometimes an' it makes me kinder queer."

      "Where does it affect you?"

      "Ginerally in me head."

      "That's serious, isn't it? What do you do for it?"

      "Jist git out an' make it hustle."

      "Make what hustle? The kink?"

      "That's it, 'specially if it's a dandy."

      "A dandy!"

      "Yep; a dandy idea. That's what I've got. But here we are at home, an' there's Tildy an' Jess waitin' at the door."