Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-05-14

There WAS moments pause. Polly
realized for the first time that she must
actually readjust herself to new or
der of things. Her eyes again roved
about the room. 1t was cheerful
place in which to be imprisoned. Even
Polly could not deny that. The broad
window Mt the back. with Its white and
pink chintz curtains on the Inside and
it's frame of ivy on the outside, spoke
of singing birds and sunshine all day
long. Everything from the white cell
ing to the sweet smelling mating that
covered the floor was spotlessly clean.
The cane bottomed rocker near the
curved window seat with Its pretty
pillows told of days when GONZALES
cent might look in comfort at the gar
den beneath. The counterpart. with ita
old fashioned rose pattern: the little
white tides on the back of each chair
and Mandy grooming beside the win
dow all helped to make homelike pic
ture
She wondered what Jim and Toby
would say II thfy could see her now,
sitting like queen in the midst of her
soft coverlets. with no need to raise
even finger to wait upon herself.
"Ain't 1t the limit?" she sighed. and
with that jim and Toby seemed to
drift farther away. She began to
see their life apart from hers She
could picture Jim with his head In
his hands. She could hear his sharp
orders to the men. He was always
short with the others when anything
went wrong with her
.I'll bet 'Muvver Jims' in the
Dumps" she murmured as cloud
stole across the howerlike face; then
the tired muscles relaxed. and she
ceased to rebel
.Muvver Jim?" Douglas repeated.
feeling that he must recall her to a
knowledge of his presence.
'rhat's what call him. Polly ex-
planned, but the fellows call him Big
Jim You might not think Jim could
be good mother Just to look at him.
but he is only sometimes you can't
tell him things you could real
mother" she added. half sadly.
"And your real mother went away
when you were very young?'
mo, she didn't 80 away"
MOP" There was u puzzled note ir
the pastors voice.
''She went cut" Polly corrected.
"Out!" lie echoed blankly.
"Yes; finished lights out"
.Oh. an accident" Douglas under
stood at last.
II don't like to talk about It," %N'oll!
raised herself on her elbow ant
looked ut him solemnly. as though
about to impart bit Of forbidden fam
. ily history 1t was this look In tn
round eyes that had made Jim so oftel
declare that the kid knew everything
why. mother d IA been ashamed
she'd "a knowrd how she wound VI
She was the best rider of her time
everybody says so-but she cashed i
by fallin' of skate what didn't haV
no more ginger an kitten. If 20
can beat tbat!" She gazed ut hill
with her lips pressed tightly together
- evidently expecting some startling ea
preston of wonder.
y "And your father?" Douglas aske
rather lamely being at loss for an
adequate comment upon TRACED
which the child before him was to
desolate even to understand.
"Oh, dads finish was all right. Il
got his'n in a lions cage where b
worked. There was nothin' slow abou
his end. She looked up for his al
prevail.
"For de Lords sake" Mand
groaned as the wonder OF the child
conversation grew upon her.
"An' now I'm down an out" Poll
concluded. with sigh.
But this is nothing serious" sal
the pastor trying to cheer her.
Its serious enough with who
show a-dependin' on you. Maybe yo
don't know how it feels to have
knock off work"
"Oh, yes. do" Douglas answere
quickly IL was Ill a while ago mysel
had to be III bed day after day. thin
ing Of dozens of things that ought
be doing"
WAS you ever flooredY' Polly askt
with touch of unbelief as she studio
the fine. healthy physique at the sit
Of her bed
"'Deed, he was, chile" Mandy erie
feeling that her opportunity had no
arrived, "an' | had the wors' tin
a-keepin' him In bed. He act jes' III
you did"
did he? Polly was delighted
find that the pastor had "nothin' {
her." as she would have put it.
You ought to have heard hin
continued Mandy. made eloquent
Polly's show Of interest. "'What W
dose poor folks dor he kept a-sayi
'Jes' yo' lay where yo' is, | tole hi
n Dem poor folks will be better off d
dey would be a-comin to yoah
neral"
Poor foks?" Polly questioned 81
you give money to folks? We are
ways itchin' to get 1t away from zen
Before Douglas could think of wor
with which to defend his disapprov
methods Mandy had continued Gag
ly:
I AN den on Sunday. when he ca
go to church an preach She got
further. sharp exclamation brouf
both Mandy and Douglas to attentio
"Preach!" Polly almost shouted
looked ut him with genuine alarm t
time.
''That will do. Mandy" Douglas CO
manded. feeling an unwelcome dra
gathering about his head.
"Great Barnum and Bailey" Pc