Walter and the Wireless

o

robably have turned his back on its forlornity and never have come again. The sea was wrapped in a mist so dense that its vast reach of waves was as complete a secret as if th

o be coming to Surfside and yet that they were a

elf responsible for the general dampness and discomfort. "Fog ain't nothin' to us folks who are used to it. We've lived by the ocean long enough to love

" ventured Walter, who

xious for the place to look it's prettie

ea that lapped its shores. He therefore understood Jerry's attitude and shared in it far more than he would, perhaps, have been willing to admit. Nev

ted as to what to do next. There was plenty he might have done. There was no question about that. He might at the very moment have been unpacking his possessions, hanging his clothes in the closet, and stowin

had pledged himself to bear a hand wherever it was needed, he felt he should be on the spot and within call. And if beneath this worthy motive lurked a certain desire to see whatever

, he did not hurry the lad indoors to unpack even though he sensed full well that precious t

, that's sure. Now I myself don't mind a gray day off and on. It's sorter restful and calming. But these city people can't see it that way. My eye, no! They begin to groan so you can hear 'em a mile away the minute the sun is clouded over; and by the second day of a good northeaster they are done for. You'd think to listen to 'em that the end of the world had come. No motoring! No golf! N

t!" Walter

ch of humor, "for you'll come in for your share together with the rest of us. Everybody gets it. Most likely you'll hear that an egg-beater is a much better thing to smooth down a dog's hair with than a brush; that all the world knows that and only an idiot uses anything else. Don't smile or venture a yip in reply. Just say you'll be glad to use the egg-beater if he prefers it. Remark that, in fact, you quite hanker to try th

ness was familiar although his mother's cellar was clean, as cellars go. This one was immaculate. Indeed it seemed, on glancing about, that one might have done far worse than live in the Crownins

Jerry proudly. "You could eat of

d say yo

t 'em go helter-skelter. Now here's a basket. Load into it as many of those bir

ascended the stairway and tiptoed through the kitchen. As they went the boy caught a glimpse of gleaming porcelain walls; ebon

cook here!

aking, washing, ironing, bread-making, and cleaning is done by electricity. There's even an electric sewing-machine to sew with, and

atch the effec

e way you and me are

N

ually hated to set foot within its walls. Seems 's if my fingers was always all thumbs every time I come inside the room. Still, I had to come in though; there were things I had to do here. So I schooled myself to forget t

quite speechless from

you hear concerts, sermons, speeches, and about everything that's going on; at least that's what Mr. Crowninshield undertook to tell me, though whether he was fooling or not I couldn't quite make out. Still, it

r lau

told me so. They broadcast all sorts of entertainments-songs, band-playing,

ten in?" repeat

ength from a central station so that amateurs with a range

d midway in

n sling a song off the top of a wire into the air an

that," chuckle

e it!" declared

be done; rea

r," returned the skeptic mildly. "Somebody's stuffed you

onting him and stepped into the great hall, the splendor of whi

to examine. The large tiger-skin rugs that covered the floor piqued his interest, so did the chiming clock, and a fountain that welled

ring for on hearing the cadence of the c

. Why, the folks may be here any minute now. Here, hand me one of those long st

hing once or twice in my lif

the others," said Jerry. "After you've got this one going you ca

rig

Don't take all

p some of the logs with his long arm

in a twinkling scarlet flames were roaring up the wide-throated chimneys and he had placed fenders before them to keep in captivity any straying sparks. While he looked a

minute too soon. Tuck those logs into the brass box;

bang down the cover before flying footsteps filled the house, maids appeared from every door, and there was

vertheless in an incredibly short interval had shaken hands with most of the servants, directed where each piece of luggage was to be put, commented on a new lock on the

obinson. And in between he was scolding all the time about the weather and saying how idiotic

nage to get together, Jerry?" grow

inly is w

s infernally wet! How long is

't say

traight back where I came from. Little old New York i

ed His Highness lurking

, young man?

r King

who is going to lo

s,

! Like

ed the lad at a warn

hawklike eyes

take care of a lot o

try," was the

my son. You've got to do it

l do my

all I s

n countenance into geniality a

g is yo

s,

and gives you somet

t know what to an

s?" said the inqu

y, "and I am sure I shall like your dogs becau

etch of a creature with scarcely a virtue-cruel, deceitful, cold-blooded; and yet I grew

al contact and sympathy, and the smile the elder gave him bound the

er she meant to freeze them all by leaving the outside door open. Walter could see the girl flush red and as he leaped

ter King who is going to look afte

nshine. Tucked under her arm was a wee dog with soft brown fur and sharp little eyes. Mrs. Crowninshield was very pretty, especially when she spoke. As Wal

ter of the kennels?" smiled she

altered His Highness, a trif

oot her glance

the puppies as tidy as you keep yourself

o fumble with the corner of his sweater and look nervously down at his hands. They must be very dirty from making the fir

ntuition, read his thought for she

ake us more comfortable. I can see you started out clean. I have a boy of my own, you know. Richard," she went on, turning to a ta

ed at each ot

alter for the lack of somet

as the shy retort of the

upted them with h

have thought it! You must be pretty crazy about

the money," was t

O

if regretting her

served quickly. "I am sure you will not find th

left behind her a memory of swe

with a desire to help the lad make his escape. "They will be

ed up his cap and slipping from the room raced ac