The Tupelo journal., 1916-10-20

shaking and bitter ~reproach. The
mother stroked his head fondly. He
awoke with a start, and instantly his
expression became that of a sulky cur.
He thrust aside her hand.
"Oh, go away!" he cried. Cant
you leave me alone? Why do you
want to come bothering Il feller?'
"But, George, DEAR" she protested,
its time you were up. Here's your
breakfast"
The mere mention of food exerted a
soothing influence. Like the snarling
pup that he was, George Ray conde-
scended to eat, though grumbling the
while that she might ha' given a fell
Ter another half hour
Meanwhile, Helen had taken her
w breakfast from the stove, and was
looking after the children's wants
when her mother came into the room
and stared at the clock.
''Just look at the timer she cried.
eff you sit there much longer eatin'
you'll be locked half a day at the
store"
Helen glanced up in alarm. The
hour was twenty minutes after seven.
She ought to have been out of the
house at least five minutes ago. Hast
lily gulping down some coffee, and stuff
fling her mouth full of bread, she
grabbed her hat, and made for the
door. Then she bethought herself.
MA" she said. Cant you spare a
carfare this m%orning?"
"Carfare?' shrilled her mother.
"1ou get a now on, you hussy. Where
am | to get carfare from, with a hun
CRY pack to feed an a rotten husban'
who guzzles every cent he can lay
hands on?"
Ray snOrted at this unexpected flank
attack, and Helen fled, followed down
stairs by the sounds of a furious al
tercation. Nevertheless. Ms. Ray vas
able to produce Il niue SIS needed
carfare for her son when thar sore
headed young gentleman made Il be-
lated appearance about nine o'clock.
lie, by the way, was far better dressed
than his sister, ana his chief worry
for the hour conferred in the fact that
he had no cigarettes.
The head of the family had already
gone off on the usual round, which in
Guided every corner saloon in the dis
trict, so the mother, after a strenuous
debate, sighed resignedly, and pro-
duced some coins from underneath an
unsupported tin box on a shelf. Young
Ray took them ungraciouSly and hur-
ried out. He was supposed to be
studying law. Curiously enough, he
contrived to imbibe legal lore in a
poOlroom.
Helen, making up for lost time by q
running walk, was delayed by a long
freight train which halted across the
street and, after an interminable de-
lay, backed slowly. The department
store where she earned her pittance
opened at se~ven-thirty. If she was late
she knew only too well that she would
lose half a days pay. At last, how
ever, the road was clear and she lit
orally q the rest of the way. Never
theless, the hands of the clock at the
employees entrance pointed inexora-
bly, to 7:4O.
I'm terribly sorry about the time"
she explained breathlessly to the
checker. But / couldn't help myself.
There was a train across the track
and
"Oh, can that stuff, it's DID," said
the clerk, with an odiOus leer. IF you
can't put up q better spiel than that,
let it 60"
But it's true,' cried Helen desper-
ately, her face blanching at the
thought of the scene at home when her
pay envelope was lessened by a fine
Of half a days pay.
The clerk caught her by the Shout
der.
"Say, kid" he chuckled, "IIl just
forget you were late. The fine is one
kiss"
The girl was so taken aback that
she recoiled as though some noxious
insect had stung her. Without another
word she darted along a passage. The
checker gazed after her philosophy
cally.
$50 that's the lay of the land, is it?"
he muttered, and marked her name on
the late" list.
Helen was engaged at the notions
counter. The morning passed without
unusual incident. At first there was q
rush of customers, but things quieted
down after the commuters had fin
ished their shopping and were stream
ing out to lunch. About that time, a
tall, well-dressed young man halted at
the counter and examined its contents.
His exceptionally fine physique and
strong, self-reliant features invited the
covert scrutiny of Helen and her co
workers.
Say, he's some swell guy, amt he?"
whispered one of the girls.