Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-06-04

n,.., u,h.4 Dear, that must
IT,. be it," pointing to
an old iron gate
way that showed just ahead.
Ever since Mrs. Hodgson had told
them the wonder of the Caledonian
rag market, Helen had been deter
mined to come. She had finally per-
suaded Warren to meet her early and
go with her this Afternoon.
The underground had brought them
out in twenty minutes, and they
planned to see the market and get
back to London in time for dinner.
They had reached the end of the
street now, and Helen caught her
breath at the scene before them. In
great fencedin space was mass OF
stalls, horses, wagons and a motley
swarm of people.
The rag market! The Caledonian
rag market! To Helen, who reveled
in rummaging through old things, the
very name was enticing. The dusty
windows OF every antique or even sec.
ond-hand shop held for her alluring
possibilities. And now to explore this
famous old rag market!
Huh, this is rum place. shifted
Warren. "Where'd they get all this
junk?"
Listen dear" shaking his arm ex-
citedly. Lets start here. and go up
one lane and down ths other-so we
won't miss a thing"
There were no regular stalls. Ev-
erything was spread out on the ground
on old pieces of carpet or sheeting,
and back of each lot was a ram
shackle cart and the patient donkey
or horse that had drawn it.
Yer own price. lady" urged the
man as Helen paused before an amaz-
ing mass of odds and ends-every-
thisg from old jewelry to old shoes.
Business brisk in glass eyes to-
day?" Warren poked his cane at
box OF artificial eyes. You've got a
full line there-assorted colors."
Yes. sir" grinned the man. take
yer choice-tuppence each
By the next lot sat an old woman
as weird as her stock. There were
a tin foot-tub, a globe for goldfish.
clothes wringer, a bronze Atlas shoul.
dering a clock, a plush album. and
irons, old lace, a bedraggled feather
boa, a rusty rat trap, and odd pieces
of old pewter, china and brass.
Dear, did you ever play that game
where they carried around lot Of
things on a tray, and you wrote them
down from memory"
"Be a tough job remembering
these" chuckled Warren. Where in
blazes does all this junk come from
that's what gets me-"
"Oh, London's so wonderful-it's full
Of old things. And this rag market is
only on Fridays"
THE weeks collection, eh? All,
here we arei" Warren swung his
cane over a basket of false teeth.
May need 'em some day. How about
laying in a supply?'
"oh. how awful! Do people real
ly-"
day." asked Warren.
But the man, resenting this face
tiousness, glared at him angrily.
Dear, don't make fun, and don't
poke at things with your cane" whis-
pered Helen. Some of them don't
like It."
who cares?" shrugged Warren
you just pounce on the freakish
things. There's lots of interesting
things here-I know there are. Dear,
you go along that side while stay on
this. Mrs. Hodgson said we shouldn't
be together anyway-theyll think
we're American tourists and put up
the prices"
"All right, suit yourself. Only I'm
not going to hang around a woman
long"
At stall Just beyond a woman was
haggling over the price of an old blue
meat platter. Helen, interested, drew
nearer.
"I'n give you one and six
Two bob, mum. not a penny less.
The woman shook her head. laid
down the platter and started off.
Take 1t along for one and a tan
ner." he called after her. My two
sons Is in the war. lady. Let poor
| dies"
The woman stolidly put the platter
In her huge shopping bag. and Helen
followed her keenly observant. She
watched her buy lace scarf, a de
| canter and a candlestick, paying not
more than half the prices asked.
This was illuminating, for 1t was evi