Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-18


faction. A snowy cloth was laid on her
kitchen table, and piled thereon were
loaves OF crusty bread, sheets of feath-
erweight biscuits and glistening rusks.
There were tempting loaves Of pound
cake and several layer cakes as well as
q platter heaped with sugared dough
nuts and another Of cookies.
Friday was always Testers busiest
day. She arose at o'clock and baked
all day to I'LL her orders for the dain-
ties which were in great demand
among her neighbors. On Friday even
ing, although she was tired and foot
sore. she would deliver the bread and
cake. She would have to make several
trips with the heavily laden basket be-
fore her weary body could seek repose.
Now she sat down and drank a cup
Of hot tea and ate a trifie of supper be-
fore she started out on her rounds.
She was plump, rosy little mite Of
woman with bright brown eyes and
brown hair that obstinately refused to
turn gray. although Hester had passed
her thtrty-hrst year. Now she slipped
into a thin white dress, for 1t was a
hot evening, and. arranging her first
basket load, went out into the gather
ing twilight
At Mrs. Amos Blake's she left part of
her fragrant burden and paused for a
little chat.
You know the Paige place has been
rented for the summer, don't you, Hes
teri" asked Mrs. Blake after awhile.
mo. I'm glad to hear it, though. It
means another customer" laughed
Hester.
Ell spoke a good word for you. It's a
lone man who has something to do with
making q map Of the county hereabouts
and he was planning to set all of his
meals at the hotel, but when told him
about how you baked for some of us
lazy housekeepers he said he'd much
rather have home cooking and he
guessed he'd fuss over his own break
! fast and supper. You know men like to
fuss over cooking things. Now, Amos
here is tickled to death whenever l let
| I'LL get DA0dhldSl Oh
This isn't telling you about Mr.. Chan.
der, though. told him I'd speak to
you and tell you to leave him some
bread and cake. and he said he might
not be home when you came, so he ask
ed me to give you this dollar and tel
you to leave a dollars worth on his
back porch every week. Have you go
anything to spare|
Maybe 1 can make out some for hin
by giving up my own baking" replied
Hester as she placed the money in the
little bag dangling from her waist. 81
I don't hurry it will be pitch dark be
fore L get through. Good night"
Good night, Hester. That cream cake
looks so good I'm going to have a slic,
right away"
1t was dark indeed when Hester Ran
dali stopped with her third load Of good
les at the gate of the Paige house.
was small gabled cottage smothere,
in honeysuckle vines and for severa
seasons had been rented furnished t,
city people. 1t looked dark and desert
ed now as Hester opened the gate ant
made her way around the sandy patl
to the back porch. AS she stood there
hesitating. the moon pushed silve
rim above the shoulder OF High hill, 3
she waited until 1t rose in all its splen
dor and cast pale glow over the Paig
house and garden. 1t fell full on n
open window where q white curtain
languidly tapped.
Ac uactar oDapaa har no nd lof
clean napkin on the porch a harsl
voice from the open window startle,
her.
what are you doing out thereT' |
snarled, and Hester was quick t,
reply.
I'm leaving your bread and cake,
she said with offended dignity in he
tones.
"Well, hurry up and get out of here
I want to be aIonew rasped the voice.
1t was a very indignant Hester VIII,
dumped several loaves of bread.
sheet Of biscuit and some doughnut
and a layer cake on the back porcl
and hurried out of the yard will
burning cheeks.
what a Grabbed, cranky old mai
he must bev' thought Hester as sh
went home and prepared for bed. II
1t wasn't for the money I'd not bak
another crnmb for him. The ideav'
Unfortunately Hester could not Civ
way to her injured feelings, for sh
needed every penny she cs2ld earn t
pay or the Indebtedness N the littl
house which was her Inheritance iron
Woodworking parents. So the follow
Ing Friday evening found her ono
more standing at Wr. Chambers bacI
door with her basket of goodies.
! was not yet dark. and she could see
large china dish on the floor, besid
| which lay something white and OF
long. She picked 1t up and IN the wan
ing light read her own name In bold
black characters. She tore it opel
and there dropped out another crIs
dollar bill and scrap of paper. o.
which was written
Everything was bully. Don't forge
me this week. / like pie"
Involuntarily Hester smiled an
tucked the note away IN her bag wit
the money. Then she knelt down an
lifted from her basket a flaky cherr
pie, some bread and rolls and cak
which she piled In the dish Mr.. Char
1I1r rrnrfHaH