The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-06-08
CHAPTER CONTINUED.

Mary Alice paid no attention to her
father, but went to Mrs. Brown and
said something in a low tone.
whats that?" the man demanded
'None of that secret talk, now"
"You better bring 'em up, dear" said
the mother. "Pll do 'em tonight"
Mary Alice took clothes basket and
went out.
"Where's the money!" asked Lem.
"She didn't Mrs. Travers didn't
pay her"
"None OF that, now. That amt so.
You're holding out on me-"
"Lem, it's the TRUTH" said Mrs.
Brown.
Mary Alice staggered up the stairs
with load OF clothes from the wagon,
and Mrs. Brown fell to sorting them.
whats them-dirty ones? asked
Lem. Say, where's that money! You
come through, now, or I'll show you"
AT this moment the child in the crib
awoke and cried fretfully. Mrs. Brown
drew a cup of water at the sink and
bent over the little thing, soothing it
and offering cool drink.
Say" roared Lem, chow long you
gonter keep me waitin'?"
He arose and strode to his wife's
side. The sick child looked up and,
seeing its father began to cry.
'Git away" said Lem. pushing Mrs.
Brown violently. "Ill tell you what.
You gimme that money, quick, or I'll
wiring the kids neck"
1t was an inspiration of cruelty OF
undoubted effectiveness. If Mrs.
Brown had possessed a penny on earth,
she would have yielded 1t up with all
haste. But, lacking the resources of
ransom, there was only one thing to
do, and she did it. With a cry the
motser threw herself upon her tor
mentor
Don't touch him, Lemp she cried.
II haven't a cent, 1 tell you; If had,
I'd give It to you. oh, Lem he's so
sickl Please, please"
The drunkard struck her heavily
upon the mouth, so that she fell against
the wall. She returned to the encOun-
ter, but at this moment Mary Alice,
ascending with the last Of the soiled
Travers linen, dropped her big load
turned upon her wolfishly, his heavy
hand closing upon her thin little shOul-
der.
"Butt in, will you" he said. "Butt
in, eh? III teach you"
He stopped and picked up, from the
woodbox near the range, a stick not
large enough to be called n club, but
heavy enough to be extremely formi-
dable in the hands OF Lem Brown
With Il he aimed a blow at Mary Al
ice. Throwing up her hands, she re-
ceived the stroke crushingly upon her
fingers.
"Oh Ohr' she moaned. Mrs Brown
screamed and would have defended
Mary Alice, but in doing so was her
self cruelty beaten. Again and again
the weapon fell, each time crushing,
brulsing, lacerating. Only Mary Al
ices thick black hair saved her skull.
She had never taken such a beating
before. When Il was over, she cow
cred In a corner, sobbing with the hor-
ror and pain Of It, Mary Alice would
have prayed, but It looked like a hope
less procedure; for If God knew all
about 1t and let II go on, what was the
good OF asking him to help herr lie
either meant these dreadful things to
happen or He didn't care.
Lem, convinced that If money exist
ed In that house, so much punishment
would have brought it from its hiding
place, stumped of curslng and weep
ing, with m0udlin pity for a man
whose home was thus barren Of fnan-
cial resource. lie might come back
later, he might be gone n week, he
might be arrested before another hour
and sent away for good, long sem
tence. Mary Alice hoped the last
named event would occur. And it did,
although Mary Alice and her mother
were several days iu finding it out
Mrs Brown locked the door leading
into the hall
"Come dear" she said. "Uudress
and iet me look et you wish had
some witch-hazei. Poor little girl, poor
nstle Ndi Mothers so sorry"
Mary Alice WINGED every time her
mothers fingers touched her flesh Mrs
Prown wept when she viewed those
neid iuprlnts upon the meager body
bf her child FOR every bruise che sur
rered sL agony OF sympathy which
dwsffed her own pain. itself 40 small
,hioe
The nck baby slept quietly aod Ms
fsvn puis.d his crih irfo fhe @pthcf