Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 269, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1911 — Dibley’s Reckoning [ARTICLE]

Dibley’s Reckoning

By JOHN CHARLETON

Laurence Dlbley looked ruefully at the flat punctured tire of his automobile and then around at the thickly wjfoded section tn which he wka •ymded. yhe road ran through tall woods and a X al »f B* length it was perfect for n^toTOg;’Laurence had never been on the Cross highway before and he bad been an ardent admirer of the quaint little villages and picturesque farm house* scattered through this New England country. Once in a while he came upon the river and crossed it through echoing covered bridges. Be had just passed through the wood when a tire burst beyond all repair. Laurence slipped it off and applied the emergency tire he had carried and had barely gone another hundred yards when a rear tire exploded loudly, ruinously. “Talk about disasters at seal** Crumbled Laurence as he pushed the light roadster into an open space among the trees beside the road and gathered branches of autumn leaves to heap over it until It wks quite hidden under October foliage. “If over a mariner was marooned at sea —this landlubber is wrecked on dry land! I wonder how many miles from civilisation I am?” He pulled out his road map and studies It closely. ‘Tour miles to a repair shop—whew!" He pocketed the map and tucked his long dust coat into a locker with his heavy fur coat, and with cap tilted on the back of his head set forth to tramp tX*e four miles Into the next village, Melton.

At last he emerged from the woods into a more open country and there, temptingly on his right hand lay a long, low, white-painted farm house whose great square chimneys denoted hospitality as well as did the roomy front porch furnished with comfortable chairs and tables. Laurence could bee large barns in the distance and on rolling meadows In the background were dotted a doxen cows. “That looks like glasses of buttermilk and hunks of cold Johnny cake,** murmured Laurence wistfully looking backward as he passed the place. A quaint signboard swinging from a fall elm tree near the gate arrested his attention and sent his feet speeding in the opposite direction and up the path to the Inviting front porch. “Refreshments Served to Travelers.” it stated plainly. Laurence llfed the polished brass knocker and made known his presence there.

Light footsteps sounded and there ■was the click of high heeled shoes on bare polished floors and the door nwung open revealing a girl clothed Ca chine blue pinafore that envelopher from neck to heels. She was a pretty girl—nay a beautiful girl, with a mist of fine dark hair breaking Into tendrils around her rose-tinted face and with delicately arched black brows above large hasel eyes. There was a dab of flour on her nose of which she appeared unconscious. She looked inquiringly at Laurence, for so absorbed was he in contemplating the charming vision of her that he quite forgot his errand. « 1 He whipped off his cap and stuffed tt in his pocket “Good afternoon —1 ■—er have had a breakdown with my car back here In the woods and I am on my way to Melton for a mechanic. I happened to be mighty hungry and I saw your signboard—so I came right in. is that right?” “Certainly." said the girl gravely. “If you will sit down In the porch 1 will bring .you whatever you wish. It is so warm and sunny out there people seem to prefer it, but If you'd rather we have a room inside.”

“Out here by all means,” protested Laurence dropping gratefully into a comfortable rocking chair. “I dreamed of buttermilk and cold Johnny cake.” he smiled. “Your dream will be realized, only the Johnny cake is hot from the oven —I have just made IL” She flashed out and In the door again leaving in his hand a small card on which was set forth a list of viands served at Kim Farm. The handwriting was angular and the ink was of old-fashioned violet hue. Laurence ate his hot Johnny cake and drank glass after glass of cold buttermilk in addition to various other delectable viands, all served by the beautiful girl In the blue pinafore. She went about the business of serving him with a quiet gravity that charmed him He could have remained hours amd would willingly have eaten op and down the bill of fare several times over if bo had not feared the mrsve inquiry of her eyes “Sbe must think Fm a glutton.” bo

thought with chagrin as she carried the empty dishes away. T never ate so much in all my life at one time, and I’d do it all over again Just Tor the privilege of watching her trip in and out!** He summed up the cost of his meal and asked the girl if it was correct "What Is my reckoning?” hb smiled. ” She said It was and he thrust his hand into a pocket for his wallet He went through one pocket after Another with growing embarressment, finally fishing up a solitary dime. “I—l must have lost my wallet,’* he stammered awkwardly, before the concern In her eyes. He was conscious then that his clothes were dusty and that bls hair must be untidy. What if she thought him an imposter? He blushed deeply. “I’m glad you've got grace to blush, young man,’’ rasped a shrill voice and behind the girl appeared the sharp features of a middle-aged woman clad in a violet print dress % and white apron. “That’s an old story—you’re not the first impostor I've cooked tor and waited upon only to have serve me such a trick! Fd be ashamed —**

"Miss Malvina!** protested the girl with a shocked look at Laurence. “I’m sure this gentleman must have tost his money—pray, give him a chance to explain.*’ * Laurence turned a grateful look upon her and then addressed Miss Malvina. “I am sorry, madam,” he said a little stlfflly, “but appearances certainly are against me; my automobile broke down in the woods back yonder and now that I come to think of it I must have placed my wallet in my dust coat and the dust coat la in a locker in the car! If you care to send somebody with me as a guarantee of my return I will go back after it, and return to pay my reckoning!” “Fiddlesticks!” sniffed Miss Malvlna “There Isn’t a soul to send along with you now. Here I am without a mite of help around the place today—everybody gone off to the county fair at Melton. If Miss Fairly hadn’t put on her big apron and come down and helped me I don't know what I’d have done —It ain’t right either, her being a boarder and up here for a rest! You can set right down here, young man, until my brother Samuel comes back from the fair —I reckon he’ll walk back with you after your pocketbook!” “Miss Malvina!” cried the girl again, and thia , time she was quite indignant “I will pay you the ndoney because I am sure this gentleman will return —there!’’ She flashed in and out of the house, returning witha silver mesh purse, from which she took some money and paid Laurence Dibley’s reckoning with Miss Malvina. “I hope you don’t object” she said with a smile toward him. •'

“Miss Fairly, I am deeply grateful,” he said-warmly, and under the scornful eye of Miss Malvina Lee he strode down the path and returned to his disabled machine. When he reached the spot he came upon a large motor car full of people lunching in the shade of the trees. Among them were several friends, and after he had told them of his trouble there were many willing hands to pull out his car and with an elaborate tool kit the chauffeur of the big machine repaired the broken tires sufficiently to send him rejoicing on his way to Melton. Nobne could blame him for tooting his horn triumphantly as he stopped before Miss Malvina’s gate, and when he reached the porch and had paid the money he had borrowed from Miss Fairly into her’pretty pink palm, he grasped it for a moment in his own strong clasp. “You’ve been a friend indeed to me.” he said soberly. “My reckoning with Miss Malvina is paid—but my reckoning with you. Miss Fairly—well. 1 never want to settle that!" With a smile and a blush from her he was gone—<but he went back again.