South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-14

times not 20 push this table back
against the wall" There was an I'M
usual note OF irritation in Helen's
voice. You see how it mars the pa
per? Now I want you TO leave this
at least an inch from the wall"
Maggie whisked the dust cloth about
the legs OF a chair in resentful sill
ence.
And another thing. Maggie, didn't
tell you to put all the bureau scarfs
and those doilies in the wash last
week."
THAT was a big wash. man. with
them curtains and that bedspread.
Mrs. OGrady couldn't do no more in
one day"
shes not expected to. 1t was dis
tinctiy understood when YOU came
here, that what Mrs. O'Grady couldn't
wash in one day. you were TO do the
next. Now. Maggie. hereafter / want
YOU TO put these scarfs in every other
week-whether the washing is big or
not"
Here the bell rang and. grumbling
under her breath, Maggie went 70
answer f..
She came back with a box from
the cleaners and a bill for $40.
Helen glanced at the bill as she went
in TO get her pocketbOCk.
Peerless Cleaning & Dyeing Co.
Waist ...-.......... $l.oO
pr. Gloves .......... 20
'Why / thought they charged only
five cents for cleaning short gloves"
Helen protested, when she went TO the
door to pay the boy
Il don't know, man, it's on your
bill"
But I've never paid more than five
except for long gloves"
The boy only twirled his cap indif-
ferently. The amount was SO small
that il would be foolish to call up the
office. so Helen handed him $1.75-
dollar bill. fifty cents and a quarter.
Il Amt got no change" starting to
put the money I'm his pocket, plainly
implying that he expected her to say.
Keep the nickel" At any other time
Helen might have said IL, but she had
no intention OF saying il now.
Surely you've got five cents"
mo, man. L amt got nothing"
Then give me back that quar-, err
Helen's hesitanCy to ask a favor OF
Maggie just now was overcome by her
determination not to let that boy take
advantage OF her, for she knew he
would not have been sent out with c.
.. j. packages without a cent of
change. Maggie" she called, "can
you change a quarter"
But Maggie had only a dollar bill
and fifteen cents. There was a CLEAN
Of satisfaction in the boys eyes, which
increased Helen's determination not TO
give him the nickel. She rang for the
elevtor boy, but he. too, had no change
for a quarter.
So, after all, Helen had nc choice
but let the boy keep the nickel. Her
cheeks burnt angrily as she closed the
door. The incident had not served
TO lessen her irritation.
Everything had gone wrong that
day. She had gotten up with a dull
headache. The night had been warm
and sultry. she had not slept we'll, and
when morning came her back ached,
her head ached and she felt more tired
than when she had gone TO bed.
All day everything had seemed to
c0ntrfve to irritate her. And now as
she opened the box from the cleaners
she felt certain that something would
be wrong.
The waist was a dark blue chiffon,
they had pressed 1t badly. and the
lace collar was torn where one of
the collar bones had been showed
through. The gloves were stiff, and
two Of the buttons were gone.
Why had she not examined them
before she paid the boy? Helen tossed
the box. waist and all on the bed
with a strong desire to cry. Why must
everything go wrong today?
Then the phone rang, and she hur-
ried TO answer Il. Somehow a tele-
phone ring always meant for Helen q
little thrill of anticipation. Just the
sound Of the bell seemed full Of pleas
ant possibilities.
Number. please?" shrilIed Central
why. you just rang" Indignantly.
Excuse il. please"
Very Irritable.
Helen changed up the receiver with
an angry exclamation. Twice that
morning she had been called by mis-
take.
"Oh. get out Of the way. pussy purr-
newt" as the kitten. playing with a
piece of crumpled paper, almost
tripped her up.
The added irritations had increased
her headache. and with a wretched
sense OF discomfort Helen now sat
down by her sewing basket to mend
the waist. OF course, the scissors
were not there, and she had TO get
mp to look for them. Then Pussy
Purr-mew knocked off her thimble,
and Helen slapped her sharply
She mended the lace collar. and
tried 20 prize up the hooks that had
been carelessly ironed down. The
scissors slipped. and she sucked her
hurt finger with angry tears. Then
she sewed the buttons on the gloves
and started 10 try one on. But they
seemed to have shrunk The stiffened
Kid split suddenly across the palm.
Boiling with indignation. Helen
went over 20 the phone and deter
minedly rang up Mrs ThurstOn.
Didn't YOU say the Peerless Clean
ing company did such beautiful work
for you? Well. they're simply ruined
some gloves for me-a brand new
pair thatd never been cleaned before.
And they tore a waist-and ironed
down all the hooks on. no know
it's not your fault. ] didn't mean that
No. OF course not But I thought
] ought 20 tell you
on. why had she called up Mrs.
Thurston? II had only made things
worse. Mrs. Thurston had plainly re-
scented g. declaring stiffly that she was
very sorry she had recommended
them.
The phone rang again. Thinking Il
was just ringing of. Helen did not
answer But she smiled on persist
entity.