Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-06-03
"The
Hearts
Charity
By Ina BrevOOrt Roberts
Copyright. by J. b. Lippincott Coz

most delectable chocolate cake.
They were rich people, these friends
who were coming, and self-support-
ing Jean could not entertain them as
they entertained her. Not being af-
flicted with false pride, however, she
did not allow herself to be disturbed
by this fact, but served her simple
refreshments with daintiness and
taste.
On this afternoon, having finished
her cake, Jean set it on top of the
box the janitor had nailed outside
her kitchen window to hold her store
Of supplies, which device saved buy
ing ice during the winter months.
Several hours later, when she had
arranged the table and dressed, Jean
lighted the gas in the kitchen and
went to the window to take in her
cake.
But no cake met her gaze. 1t was
gone-vanished into thin air, appar-
emily. Jean looked up at the sky,
then down into the stone-paved court
below. She was still at loss to ac-
count for the mysterious disappear
ance when her glance CHANGED to rest
on the window of the opposite apart
ment.
1t was very close to her window !;
an arm could easily reach across the
distance. Could any one have
Jeans cheeks flushed at the suspicion,
but what else was there to think?
At all events, the cake was gone
and there was not time to make an
other. Bewildered and disappointed
Jean was about to close the window
when her fingers came in contact
with two hard, round something's that
clinked when she touched them.
She took the money TO the light
The new, shining half-dollars had been
left in payment for the cake. But
what a trick to play, Jean frowned
at the money in her hand. then
laughed and brought philosophy to
bear upon the incident.
But the money-what to do with
that? 1t was not until her guests had
come and gone and she was in bed
that inspiration came to her. She
would give the money to charity in
which she was interested. She had
personal knowledge of the good &C
complished by Deaconess sisterhood
that supplied trained nursing service
gratuitously to the very poor and al
low cost to people in moderate cir
cumstances who found their means in
adequate to meet the exorbitant de-
mands of illness.
On the following morning, having
put the money away until such time
| as she should be able to add to il
| from her own purse, Jean dismissed
the incident from her mind.
She did not recall it again until q
second cake had disappeared in the
same way. Jean thoughtfully regarded
the money she took from the top OF
the box-it was in quarters this time
Clearly, the moment had come for q
decisive course of action. She could
of course, stop putting cakes outside
the window, which must end the mat
ter. But the money looked very good
as she laid it with the other dollar
that was to go to the Deaconesses.
On her next baking day, having
tired of finding herself cakeless, Jear
made two cakes and put them outside
the window. When she went to look
later in the afternoon, she found one
still there with the dollar for the 9th
er. The money was in dimes and helC
down fiuttering bit of paper. Jear
took this paper TO the light and read
Gould use another cake on Tuesday.
BY this time Jean, who was blessed
with a sense of humor. had entered
into the spirit of the affair. Besides
tae money would be welcome to tn,
society to which she meant to give il
and 1t was honestly earned. So OF
Tuesday she made the other cake.
| IL must not be supposed that sh,
was without curiosity in regard to it,
destination, but this curiosity seemed
likely to remain unsatisfed, since
there was no way to crafty it excep
by watching to see the cakes disap
pear, and this Jean would not do-sh,
could not play the spy Whenever sh,
put cake on the box she lowered tn,
shade.
l The weeks went by and white
slowly gave place to spring.
IL was about this time that Jeal
met, at an evening party, one Howar,
Carruthers and his friend. Arthu
Blake. The former escorted he
home.
When she paused in front of tn
apartment in which had her quarter
and took out her latchkey. Mr.. Car
ruthers seemed to be surprised.
IF you live here, we are neigh
bors,' he said. my place is mex
door"
Jean said goodnight and went III
stairs wondering.
During what was left of the sprin
and the early summer she saw a goo
deal of Mr.. Carruthers and his FRIEND
Arthur Blake. The two men wer
much together. and Jean Away
coupled them in her thoughts. hopin
by this plan to avoid blushing ever
time she thought of one Of them.