The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-07-17
The
Charity"
BY Ina BrevOOrt Roberts

Miss Jeanette Dalrymple was ex
pecting guests for the evening, SO
having put her tiny apartment in
order, she proceeded to mix and bake
= most delectAble chocolate cake.
They were rich people. these friends
who YER coming. and self-support,
ing Jean could not entertain them as
they entertained her. Not being az.
nicted with false pride, however, she
did not allow herself to be disturbed
by this mct but served her simple
refreshments with da~intiness and
taste.
On this afternoon, having finished
her cake, Jean set Il 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 nc cake met her gaze. 1t was
gone-vanished into thin air, appar-
emily. Jean looked up at the sky,
then down into the stone,pavsd court
below. She was stu at a loss to 40
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 bard, 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 playi 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
thatg 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 a charity in
which she was interested. She had
personal knowledge Of the good ac-
complished by a Deaconess sisterhood
that supplied trained nursing service
gratuitously to the very poor and at
a 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 It
from her own purse, Jean dismissed
the incident from her mind.
She did not recall It again until a
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 a
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 II with the other dollar
that was to 90 TO the Deaconesses
On her next baking day, having
tired of finding herself cakeless. Jean
made two cakes and put them outside
the window. When she went 10 lock.
later In the afternoon, she found one
still there with the dollar for the 9th
er. The money was in dimes and held
down a i%uttering bit of paper. Jean
took this paper to the light and read,
Gould use another cake on Tuesday -
by this time Jean, who was blessed
with a n of humor, had entered
Into the spirit of the affair. Besides
the money would be welcome to the
society to which she meant TO give IL.
and II was honestly earned. 40 q
Tuesday she made the other cake.
IL must not be supposed that she
was without curiosity in regard to its
destination, but this curiosity seemeA
likely to remain unsatisied. since
there was no way to crafty II except
oy watching to see the cakes disap-
pear, and this Jean would not do-sbe
could not play the spy. Whenever she
put a cake on the box she lowered the
shade.
The weeks went By and winter
Slowly gave place to spring.
II was about this time that Jsan
met at an evening party, one Howard
Carruthers and his friend Artbur
Blake. The former escorted her
home.
When she paused in front of the
apartment in which had her quarters
and took out her latchkey. Mr. Car.
ruthers seemed to be surprised.
If you live here, we are neigh.
bors," he said. MY place IA nert
door"
Jean said goodnight and went IN.
stairs wondering.
During what was left Of the aprfn~
and the early RUNNER she saw 4 1000
deal Of Mr.. carFuthers ana hfs friend
Arthur Blake. Tho two men we're
much together and Jean alwavr