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Addie Bennett’s OSd Beau Ladies’ Aid Society Goes on an Errand of Mercy By CLARISSA M ACK IE The whistle of the excursion steamer prowled a warning blast. There came the thunder of hoofs down the length of the wharf, and Jimmy Howell's white horses wheeled gracefully and brought the long hailed stage to a standstill at. tin.* gangplank. From the stage there descended twelve women in gala attire, each one carrying a paper wrapped shoe box ennobling lunch. Tin* Queen City moved nway from the wharf with a churning foam of propeller blades, steamed out of the harbor and turned down the sound to wn: d New York. Mrs. Hen Tucker put her particular iunrh box utidor her chair, removed her hat aid tied a green chiffon veil over 1,,-r faded hair, and thereby gave to lief sallow com te»auco*,a ghastly hue. Mrs Hen Tin ker talked incessantly rapidly, “like a li.use a lire." said the long suffering Henry Tucker, and she t Idl'd with her lips and bet* eyes and no--* and chin and often with her •hands, all at one and tin* same time. She was speaking now to the assem bled membem of the* Ladles' Aid so- P ciety of the S<*e< ml Haplist church, bound on their annual outing to the giv-it city, hut today's excursion em braced an errand of mercy, nncj as the errand was Mrs. Tin leer's idea they nl- I iwed h r to talk about it as much as - sin* pleased. “As I was saying." babbled Mrs. Tn I. r after she bad tied the green veil securely and permitted herself sev . a I deep inhalations of tin* sail air— ■ s i was saying, the idea canto to me J'ko a lias!) one day w hen I \Vas watching Addle Bennett i:i church. Si\ys I to m\self: ‘Tin. re’s Ad Hen nett, the only one of flu* girls who went to school with me who ain't, married yet. NY by ain't --Ik* married?* I asked my self,, and I set out to answer the ques tion- and I found the answer!" Mrs Tucker beamed triumphantly on h r f s.-ii.at.il lisle' er- Susan Leers nodded drowsily and shook her fat shotfldera. "If you as!: why Addie Hennett ain't ever married I can answer you that it's because she couldn't dud a hus band!" giggled Susan sleepily. Mrs lien Tu-1 er nodded approval of this sentiment, and. taking another deep breath, she femme.l her narra live: “I found Addle Hennett had had a d "‘appointment in her life, and I heard of it through her aunt. Lyddy Smitlj Aunt Lyddy spoke* free as air about it. Ikamf as it wasn't anything that eon eenied her personally. Scorn's if Ad die* had a beair fifteen years ago—Hi ram Decker's hoy. Hob—and for some reason < .• other they got mad at each other and Hob went away to New Voile. AH of his folks have been dead for years, so hi* never comes dow n to Little River no more, but some folks j who have met him say. that lie’s never ! married, all on account of Addie. "When i found that out I remem- • bored that the Ladies'. Aid was going { r ___ ■ _ N ' <S’f3o*.V> • 1 Mli>. HEN* TUCKER HAD HYPNOTIZED HER i FELLOW MEMIIERS INTO AITENTIVENESS. to New ' ork on their annual picnic, and 1 declared that I’d put it lip to you girls to sop if we couldn’t find Bob Becker in New York today and let; him know that Addie, was waiting here. It would be a great thing for us to accomplish that—bring two lov- J iiu hearts together again—what say?" The "girls." whose combined ages world have aggregated f>lo years, lis toned attentively. Mrs. l.ew Shuster nodded approval of Mrs. Tucker’s no ble sentiments "I’m willing to do tny share." she said practically "1 s’pose you got some plan all worked out. Annie?" Mrs Tucker shook her head express,, ively "1 can’t somehow think of what to . <k > Non girls have got to lie!] me out.’ "Wo better divide up into butenes of two. Each couple will follow up a certain clue," said Mrs. Spinster In her decided v« ice. Then they all talked at once, each one outlining a different plan for the linding of Addle Hennett's old lover and. bringing about a reconciliation be tween them. Tin* Queen City entered the Hast river all too soon for their purposes, for there was so* nmol) of interest to he observed here that all thoughts of Addle Hennett and the errand of men v popped out of their heads until Susan Beers, gaping up at the Blackwell's island bridge, made a suggestion "Wouldn't it be awful if we found he'd committed some crime and was in prison on this island? Maybe lies one of them men In striped clothes over there!" sin* pointed dramatically with a fat forefinger. Miss Ophelia Otis stiffened at once “Hob Decker was my sister's bus hand's nephew." sin* said coldly. Ii would he impossible for him to enter such an institution." Mis* lb o’-s blushed palnfullv "1 was only thinking." she said ::p >' gcth-ally "Seems to have a had effect on you. Susan." tittered young M-hel Shuster Impertinently. "Don't think any more please!" "Ethel!" warned her mother. “I don't care. ilia, but it does seem so funny to think *-f you aU feeling so sorry for Add!- Bourn'ft Site wmit off on the train this morning wearing a new gray sr :< and a white hat. and she looked real sweet and happy I d n't I *!ieve she's mourning fur Ilol) 1 locker. ’’ “Keep opt'et. Ethel! Don't let me hear yon dl-tating to your elders any more. What do w u know about Addie Dennett, anyway?" Jus! before the Queen City paused at the pier to let off her passengers. Mrs lien Tucker l lrshitig',' s: g—u "d to Imr companions that they spend a moment in silent prayer for the sneee; - of tbelr wissp ti- Hie finding of a hus band for Addie •Hennett. So the twelve ladles clou" 1 their eyes end offered up silent prayer and thereby nearly lost ::n opportunity to leave the* boat, at Hits point. When the steamer had faded into the mist of river trahi • Ihe bat; 1 of mercy trudged up the long pier to the bln/Jug city streets. •*We forgot to eat our lunch!" an nounced Susan I Jeers suddenly. “For the land's sake! What shall we do now?" With one accord they turned to Mrs lien Tucker. “What slntl’ we do. Annie?" -they asked in chorus Mrs. Tucker pointed a work worn thumb over her shoulder. "Take a cross town car to Hroadwny and on I our lunch in the park there Then we can separate and look for Rob De leer." They fell into marching order and approached the* electric ear. “It's dreadful hot to go skylarking ell over creation hunting for Holt Deck or." grumbled Mrs I’eevey. “It ain't tr*ver too hot to do a good deed." admonished Mrs. TuYker. wrig gling her nose "I s'pose some 'of i’s'll miss that boat." complained Susan Deers, who showed signs of weakening. "We can go home hy train then." said Mrs Tucker gallantly. At this moment they hoarded the ear. and Mrs. Lew Shuster, who was treasurer of tin* society, tendered the conductor a dollar hill and requested him to let them off at the park. lie eyed her indifferently and walked away. It was Mrs. Hen Tucker who recog nized the square when they reached Broadway, and she led her sisters to the little breathing space. So the loungers in the sunny square were treated to the singular sight of twelve hot and flustered ladies and one pretty young girl eating delectable lunches out of twelve shoe boxes. At hist it was over and they were free of the shoe boxes and away from the hungry eyed loafers and ragged hoys who had watched them through the meal. Silently they walked through the square to the busiest corner of the great street. Here it was that temptation assailed them and the Ladies’ Aid society for got the errand of mercy. A large sightseeing Ims was drawn j up at the corner, and the megaphone j man was blaring forth invitations, to them to come and till the remaining s unoccupied seats. The twelve eyed each other furtively, and Ethel Sinister nudged her moth- 1 er's elbow. "Oh. nia." she whispered, "let Addie llcnnett find her own beau. We won’t get a chance like this for another year!” The others heard the words, and as by one accord they moved toward the bus. In five minutes the Toadies’ Aid society of the Second Baptist church were riding majestically through the city streets. Aifdie Ben nett and her one time lover quite for gotten. It was on the return trip that some thing quite remarkable occurred. The megaphone man who had snout ed himself quite hoarse during the journey uptown was enjoying a little cessation from his vocal labors. lie was an undersized man, rather stoutly built, with a dark, keen face, lie had a quick, glib way of speaking, but it was his slightly nasal accent • keen ear of Mrs Henry Tucker. “Seems like I’ve heard that voice before, and his face is familiar.” puz zled Mrs. Tucker. Then, leaning across to Mrs. Lew Shuster, she asked sharply: “Eva. have yon ever seen that mega phone feller before?" THE COFFEE COrXTY PROGRESS. DO IT, LAS, GEORGIA Mrs. Shuster turned her full dark eyes on the gentleman in question and studied his face solemnly. “I declare—it might be Hob Decker!" she whispered shrilly. "That's what i thought—did you ever!" Mrs. Tucker's face performed ( its tricks In bewildering succession. ■Tm going to ask him!" “Dare you to." Mrs. Tucker, beside whom the man was standing, nudged his elbow. lie leaned down and stared under her hat. , “Hey?" he asked and then, studying j I her face closely, repeated in a sur prised way: "Hey? Iley?" •*Air you Rob Decker?” demanded Mrs Tucker tensely. "I guess I am. I thought I recog nized familiar faces. Is this hunch | from Little River?" he grinned. "Yes. and 1 guess there's some of them you know or ought to know if you’re Hob Decker! -Inst think of your being on this bus when we was going to hunt all over New York for you." “Hunt for me? What for?" demand- I ed Mr. Decker, quite forgetting his; job til the megaphone. “Be atise oh. well nothing." was j Mrs. Tucker's enigmatic reply, .and Ipi 7 pp ~1 ; lA h-Lj|P' v : ■ ff 'j'h \ L i QVA MIS! \-.ym Mwh'ii &WJM i! I mi 1 FYjA i—_ ~ 'Wf /] j | “seems r.iKr. i'vk heard that voice j..-:- ! FORE,” PUZZLED MISS SUSAN. j then Mr.-Decker being reminded by an I indignant passenger that his duties j wt re being neglected picked up his in- j | strttmenl of torture and bellowed forth I | informal ion of all sorts. In the meantime Mrs. Tucker had ] conveyed tin* news to her companions J l !:;it the 10.-t laid been found. Mr. j j Decker was on this identical motor- | i bus-wasn't it wonderful? Mirneu : Ions? There wasn't one of those devout I ladies who doubted that the finding of Hob Decker on the sightseeing auto | moliiie was a direct answer to that moment of silent prayer. They till bade a friendly farewell to Robert Decker, and Mrs. Hen Tuck er had a few moments' private con versation with him. Iler eyes twinkled and her nose twitched and her mouth laughed as she joined her companions •and hoarded a ear for the boat laud ing It wtts not until they were aboard the Queen City that she gathered them in a corner .and told them of her talk with Hob Decker. "I hadn't much time to do it in. so I says to him. says 1. ‘Rob, do you remember Addie Bennett?' He blush ed and says he: T do. ma'am.' 'Well,' says I. significant like. ‘Addie’s never married yet and I can guess the reason why. Y'ou ain’t married and I can guess the reason why. too. It ain't too late to be happy. Rob.’ says 1. ‘l’m coming down to Little River tomor row.’ says he with a smile, 'and you get a free ride on the rubberneck wagon whenever you come to New York. Mrs. Tucker.’ says be. and he went off real grateful. Now. girls!" ended Mrs Tucker triumphantly. "Well, we did our errand of mercy and had some fun. too." said Susan Beers reflectively; "I used to know Hob Decker myself." she went on a little jealousy. "1 believe he did ask after you." re smarked Mrs. Tucker, “and I says to him. ‘She’s as fat as ever and she ain't ever married either.' ” Susan’s pale blue eyes bulged indig nantly. For the moment she hated Annie Tucker; but there came a time before the winter was over that she quite forgave the sharp tongued. inter fering little gossip. “So it’s to he a real romance after nil.’’ mused Mrs. Lew Shuster. "We can congratulate ourselves. But it was my idea.’’ babbled Mrs. Tucker triumphantly. Ethel Shuster came up. her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Ma, what do you suppose?" she cried breathlessly. “Addie Bennett is aboard with Mr. Farnharn. the school teacher, and she just told me they were married in Brooklyn tilts morning— and she said 1 could tel! you all.” The Ladies’ Aid society gasped for breath and in a body turned on Mrs. FTen Tucker. “Now!" they cried explosively. Mrs Tucker winced hatever are you girls going to sa.\ to Rob Decker?’’ she ventured in trepidly. "It was your idea.’’ said Mrs. Low Shuster coldly as she led them forth to congratulate the bride and groom. But Susan Boors* ptMe blue eyes were shining happily. I vS Lott Douglas, Georgia ® JL-4 lummssks* ez3BKC2&;3»H cm’ib—i MZZM DEALER IN m=m Mtiles, Horses, Wagons, Buggies Harness, Sash, Doors, Lime, Ce ment, Plaster, Brick, and all kinds of Builders’ Hardware. W ire fencing, All kinds of im . • proved Farming Implements, Galvanized and Rubber Roofing, Paints, Oils, W indow Glass, and Builders’ General Supplies.. Your Patronage will be greatly Cr APPRECIATED it ' I s, I ott Telephone No. 77 VJ 1 ' ■BBCBH(EOnMa C ■'roanaw™ -aci y-.ap.-a— Douglas, Georgia The Grocerymen Our Stock of Grocer ies is Fresh and com plete. Phone us be fore beginning a meal We have it. A nice line of fruits always i on hand. . . , 207 E. Ward-st, Phone 83 Douglas, Georgia