Ted and the Telephone

by Sara Ware Bassett

  CHAPTER IV

  THE FIRST NIGHT IN THE SHACK

  Throughout the long summer afternoon Ted worked on, fitting up his newquarters. Not only did he make a comfortable bunk for himself such ashe had frequently constructed when at logging or sugaring-off camps inVermont, but having several boards left he built along the racksoriginally intended for canoes some shelves for the books he meant tobring from home. By late afternoon he had finished all it was possiblefor him to do and he decided to go to Freeman's Falls and join his ownfamily at supper, and while there collect the possessions he wished totransfer to the shack.

  Accordingly he washed up and started out.

  It was a little late when he reached the house and already his fatherand sisters were at table.

  "Mercy on us, Ted, what under the sun have you been doing until thistime of night?" demanded Mr. Turner. "I should call from seven in themorning until seven at night a pretty long day."

  "Oh, I haven't been working all this time," laughed the boy. "Or atleast, if I have, I have been having the time of my life doing it."

  Eagerly, and with youthful enthusiasm, he poured out the tale of theday's happenings while the others listened.

  "So you are starting out housekeeping, are you?" chuckled Mr. Turner,when the narrative was finished. "It certainly ain't a bad idea. Notthat we're glad to get rid of you--although I will admit we ain't gotthe room here that I wish we had. It is the amount of time you'll saveand the strength, too, that I'm thinking of. It must be a good threemiles up to Aldercliffe and Pine Lea is at least two miles farther.Being on the spot is going to make a lot of difference. But how are yougoing to get along? What will you do for food? I ain't going to haveyou eating stuff out of tin cans."

  "Oh, you needn't worry about me, Dad. Mr. Wharton has arranged for meto take my meals with Mr. and Mrs. Stevens who have a cottage on theplace. Stevens is the head farmer, you know."

  "A pretty penny that will cost you! What does the man think you are--amillionaire?"

  "Mr. Wharton told me the Fernalds would see to the bill."

  "Oh! That's another matter," ejaculated Mr. Turner, entirely mollified."I will say it's pretty decent of Mr. Wharton. Seems to me he is doinga good deal for you."

  "Yes, he is."

  "Well, all is you must do your full share in return so he won't loseanything by it." The elder man paused thoughtfully. "Ain't thereanything we could do to help out? Perhaps we could donate somethingtoward your furnishings."

  "Mr. Wharton said if I could supply my own bedding----"

  "We certainly can do that," put in Ruth quickly. "There is a trunkfulof extra comforters and blankets in the back room that I should bethankful enough to ship off somewhere else. And wouldn't you like somecurtains? Seems to me they'd make it cosy and homelike. I've a piece ofold chintz we've never used. Why not make it into curtains and do awaywith buying window shades?"

  "That would be great!"

  "It would be lots more cheerful," remarked Nancy. "What kind of a bedhave you got?"

  "I've built a wooden bunk-two bunks, in fact--one over the other likethe berths in a ship. I thought perhaps sometime Dad might want to comeup and visit me; and while I was at it, it was no more work to make twobeds than one."

  Mr. Turner smiled in friendly fashion into his son's eyes. The two weregreat pals and it pleased him that the lad should have included him inhis plans.

  "Beds like that will do all very well for a night or two; but for asteady thing they will be darned uncomfortable. Cover 'em with pineboughs after a long tramp through the woods and they seem like heaven;but try 'em day after day and they cease to be a joke. Wasn't there awire spring round here somewhere, Ruth? Seems to me I remember itstanding up against something. Why wouldn't that be the very thing? Youcould fasten it in place and have a bed good as you have at home."

  "That's a corking idea, Dad!"

  "I wish we could go up and see the place," Ruth suggested. "I am crazyto know what it looks like. Besides, I want to measure the windows."

  "Maybe we could run up there to-night," her father replied rising. "Itis not late and the Maguires said they would take us out for a littlespin in their Ford before dark. They might enjoy riding up toAldercliffe and be quite willing we should take along the spring bed.Mat is a kind soul and I haven't a doubt he'd be glad to do us a favor.Run down and ask him, Ted; or wait--I'll go myself."

  The Maguires had the apartment just below the Turner's and Mat, athrifty and good-humored Irishman, was one of the night watchmen at theFernald mills. He had a plump little wife, but as there were nochildren he had been able to save more money than had some of hisneighbors, and in consequence had purchased a small car which it washis delight to use for the benefit of his friends. In fact, he oftencalled it the Maguire jitney, and the joke never became threadbare tohis simple mind, for every time he made it he laughed as heartily as ifhe had never heard it before, and so did everybody else. Therefore nosooner had Mr. Turner proposed his plan than Mat was all eagerness tofurther the project.

  "Sure I'll take you--as many of you as can pile in, and the spring bed,too! If you don't mind the inconvenience of the luggage, I don't. Andtell Ted to bring along anything else he'd like to carry. We can packyou all in and the stuff on top of you. 'Twill be easy enough. Justmake ready as soon as you can, so the dark won't catch us."

  You may be sure the Turners needed no second bidding. Ruth and Nancyscrambled the supper dishes out of the way while Ted and his fatherhauled the wire spring out, brushed it, and dragged it downstairs.Afterward Ted collected his box of electrical treasures, his books, andclothing. What he would do with all these things he did not stop toinquire. The chance to transfer them was at hand and he seized it withavidity. His belongings might as well be stored in the shack asanywhere else,--better, far better, for the space they left behindwould be very welcome to the Turner household.

  Therefore with many a laugh, the party crowded into the waiting car andset out for Aldercliffe; and when at length they arrived at the housein the pines and Ted unlocked the sliding doors and pushed them wideopen, ushering in his guests, what a landholder he felt!

  "My, but this is a tidy little place!" Maguire ejaculated. "And it'snot so little, either. Why, it's a regular palace! Look at thefireplace and the four windows! My eye! And the tier of bunks is neatas a ship's cabin. Bear a hand here with the spring. I'm all of aquaver to see if it fits," cried the man.

  "I made the bunks regulation size, so I guess there won't be anytrouble about that," Ted answered.

  "The head on the lad!" the Irishman cried. "Ain't he the brainy one,though? You don't catch him wool-gathering! Not he!"

  Nevertheless he was not content until the spring had been hoisted intoplace and he saw with his own eyes that it was exactly the proper size."Could anything be cuter!" observed he with satisfaction. "Now with agood mattress atop of that you will have a bed fit for a king. You'llbe comfortable as if you were in a solid gold bedstead, laddie!"

  "I'm afraid I may be too comfortable," laughed Ted. "What if I shouldoversleep and not get to breakfast, or to work, on time!"

  "That would never do," Mr. Turner said promptly. "You must have analarm clock. 'Twould be but a poor return for Mr. Wharton's kindnesswere you to come dawdling to work."

  "I guess you can trust Ted to be on time," put in Ruth soothingly. "Heis seldom late--especially to _meals_. Even if he were to be late atother places, I should always be sure he would show up when there wasanything to eat."

  "You bet I would," announced the boy, with a good-humored grin.

  "I shall have enough chintz for curtains for all your windows,"interrupted Nancy, who had been busy taking careful measurements duringthe conversation. "We'll get some brass rods and make the hangings sothey will slip back and forth easily; they will be much nicer thanwindow shades."

  "Ain't there nothin' I can donate?" inquired Mat Maguire anxiously. "Arag rug, now--why wouldn't that be a good thing? The missus makes 'emby the dozen and our house is full of 'em
. We're breakin' our necksmornin', noon, and night on 'em. A couple to lay down here wouldn't beso bad, I'm thinking. You could put one beside your bed and anotherbefore the door to wipe your feet on. They'd cheer the room up as wellas help keep you warm. Just say the word, sonny, and you shall have'em."

  "I'd like them tremendously."

  The kind-hearted Irishman beamed with pleasure.

  "Sure, they'll be better out of our house than in it," remarked he,trying to conceal his gratification. "You can try stumbling over 'em aspell instead of me. 'Twill be interesting to see which of us breakshis neck first."

  It was amazing to see how furniture came pouring in at Ted's bachelorquarters during the next few days. The chintz curtains were finishedand hung; the Maguire rugs made their appearance; Mr. Turner produced ashiny alarm clock; and Nancy a roll of colored prints which she had cutfrom the magazines.

  "You'll be wanting some pictures," said she. "Tack these up somewhere.They'll brighten up the room and cover the bare walls."

  Thus it was that day by day the wee shack in the woods became morecheery and homelike.

  "I've managed to hunt up a few trap's for you," called Mr. Wharton onemorning, as he met the boy going to work. "If you want to run over tothe cabin now and unlock the door, I'll send a man over with them."

  Want to! Ted was off in a second, impatient to see what new treasureshe was to receive. He had not long to wait, for soon one of the farmtrucks came into sight, and the driver began to deposit its contents onthe wooden platform which sloped from the door down to the river.

  As Ted helped the man unload, his eyes shone with delight. Could anygifts be rarer? To be sure the furniture was not new. In fact, some ofit was old and even shabby with wear. But the things were all whole,and although they were simple they were serviceable and perhaps lookedmore in harmony with the old-fashioned curtains and the quaint rugsthan if they had come fresh from the shop. There was a chest ofdrawers; a rocking chair, a leather armchair, and a straight woodenchair; a mirror with frame of faded gilt; a good-sized wooden table;and, best of all, a much scarred, flat-topped desk. Ted had never owneda desk in all his life. Often he had dreamed of sitting behind one whenhe grew to be a man. But to have it now--here! To have it for his own!How it thrilled him!

  After the furniture was in place and the teamster had gone, he arrangedhis few papers and pencils in the desk drawers a score of times, tryingthem first in one spot and then in another. It was marvelous how muchroom there was in such an article of furniture. What did men use tofill up such a mighty receptacle, anyway? Stretch his possessions as hewould, they only made a scattered showing at the bottom of three of thedrawers. He laughed to see them lying there and hear them rattle aboutwhen he brought the drawers to with a click. However, it was verysplendid to have a desk, whether one had anything to put in it or not,and perhaps in time he would be able to collect more pencils, rulersand blocks of paper. The contrast between not having any room at allfor his things and then so much that he did not know what to do with itwas amusing.

  Now at last he was fully equipped to take up residence in his new abodeand every instant he could snatch from his duties that day he employedin settling his furniture, making up his bed, filling his water pitcherfrom the river and completing his final preparations for residence atthe boathouse. That night he moved in.

  Nothing had been omitted that would contribute to his comfort. Mr.Wharton had given him screens for the windows and across the broad doorhe had tacked a curtain of netting that could be dropped or pushedaside at will. The candlelight glowing from a pair of old brasscandlesticks on the shelf above the fireplace contributed rather thantook away from the effect and to his surprise the room assumed underthe mellow radiance a quality actually aesthetic and beautiful.

  "I don't believe Aldercliffe or Pine Lea have anything better than thisto offer," the boy murmured aloud, as he looked about him with pride."I'd give anything to have Mr. Wharton see it now that it's done!"

  Strangely enough, the opportunity to exhibit his kingdom followed onthe very heels of his desire, for while he was arranging the last fewbooks he had brought from home on the shelf above his desk he heard atap at the door.

  "Are you in bed, son?" called the manager. "I saw your light and justdropped round to see if you had everything you wanted."

  Rushing to the door, Ted threw it open.

  "I haven't begun to go to bed yet," returned he. "I've been tooexcited. How kind of you to come!"

  "Curiosity! Curiosity!" responded the man hastily. Although Ted knewwell that the comment was a libel, he laughed as Mr. Wharton came in,drawing the door together behind him.

  "By Jove!" burst out the manager, glancing about the room.

  "You like it?"

  "Why--what in goodness have you done to the place? I--I--mercy on us!"

  "You do like it then?" the boy insisted eagerly.

  "Like it! Why, you've made it into a regular little palace. I'd noidea such a thing was possible. Where did you get your candlesticks andyour andirons?"

  "From home. We have radiators in the apartment and so my sisters hadstored them away and were only too glad to have me take them."

  "Humph! And your curtains came from home, too?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Well, you've missed your calling, is all I can say. You belong in theinterior decorating business," asserted Mr. Wharton. "Wait until Mr.Clarence sees this place." Again the elder man looked critically roundthe interior. "I wouldn't mind living here myself--hanged if I would.The only thing I don't like is those candles. There is a good deal of adraught here and you are too near the pines to risk a fire. Electricitywould be safer."

  Whistling softly to himself, he began to walk thoughtfully about.

  "I suppose," he presently went on, "it would be a simple enough matterto run wires over here from the barn."

  "Wouldn't that be bully!"

  "You'd like it?"

  "Yes, siree!"

  The manager took up his hat.

  "Well, we'll see what can be done," he answered, moving toward thedoor.

  But on the threshold he stopped once more and looked about.

  "I'm going to bring some of the Fernalds over here to see the place,"observed he. "For some time Mr. Clarence has been complaining that thisshack was a blot on the estate and threatening to pull it down. He'dbetter have a peep at it now. You may find he'll be taking it away fromyou."

  He saw a startled look leap into the boy's eyes.

  "No, no, sonny! Have no fears. I was only joking," he added."Nevertheless, the house will certainly be a surprise to anybody whosaw it a week ago. I wouldn't have believed such a transformation waspossible."

  Then as he disappeared with his flash-light through the windings of thepine woods he called:

  "We'll see about that electric wiring. I imagine it won't be much of ajob, and I should breathe easier to eliminate those candles, pretty asthey are. Until something is done, just be careful not to set yourselfand us afire!"

  With that he was gone.

  Ted dropped the screen and loitered a moment in the doorway, lookingout into the night. Before him stretched the river; so near was it thathe could hear the musical lappings of its waters among the tall grassesthat bordered the stream. From the ground, matted thickly with pineneedles, rose a warm, sun-scorched fragrance heavy with sleep.

  The boy stretched his arms and yawned. Then he rolled the doorstogether and began to undress.

  Suddenly he paused with one shoe in his hand. A thought had come tohim. If Mr. Wharton ran the electric wires over to the shack, what wasto prevent him from utilizing the current for some of his owncontrivances? Why, he could, perhaps, put his wireless instruments intooperation and rig up a telephone in his little dwelling. What fun itwould be to unearth his treasures from the big wooden box in which theyhad been so long packed away and set them up here where they wouldinterfere with no one but himself!

  He hoped with all his heart the manager would continue to be nervousabout those
candles.