The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1916-01-28


found barely enough left to support
her. TO relieve her you consented
to take the children
Wanted them, you mean. ] wRs
delighted to have the dear little ones
to care for"
well, I may as we'll break the nnal
bad news" went on John desperately
Mothers millinery venture has failed,
She can struggle on no longer and
hold on! where are you going?" for
Mary was fitting away fast as she
could go.
where am going?" she chirped
vivaciously why, to get the spare
room ready and comfortable fast as
can, OF course. Why, sir, do you think
l am going to have honored company
catch me unprepared?'
"You angel" voiced John Rice. you
have brought nothing but brightness
and blessings to anyone coming near
you!"
Johns mother was settled IN the
very best room in the house. New life
seemed to inspire her, with her chit
dren restored to her, and Mary's con-
stant cheerful smile brought radiant
sunshine to her dropping spirit.
Things we're not going well with
John. A cut in salary made him look
serious, but Mary declared it possible
to meet the grocery bill without de-
priving them Of enough to eat. The
mother contributed a few dollars q
month to the household from doing
some sewing, but John was Worried
for It looked vague and dark ahead.
Then came a new surprise, and COM
plication, and burden. The brother Of
Mary was crippled in an accident at
the mills where he had worked. The
doctor said he would be an invalid
for about a year. Harry Estes could
get around we'll enough, but he could
not do the hard work his former posi-
ton had required.
Harry was cutting away a dangling
piece of shoe sole when old Mrs.
Rice noticed the fact.
"Why, Harry, your shoes are pretty
well gone UP, aren't they?' she re-
marked.
THAT for some time" Harry tried
to say lightly.
y was thinking" proceeded Mrs.
Rice reaectively. q have some clothes
and such up in the old trunk of my
dead husband. Yes, and / arm certain
there is a pair OF shoes he wore. They
are not new, but certainly better than
those you are wearing. If they Mt
y0u, they might do. Walt I'll go and
look them up"
Mrs. Rice proceeded to the attic.
She returned shortly with the pair OF
shoes she had described and handed
them to Harry.
why, they fit Just famously," he
declared, as he tried one on. They
would do me for six months If they
were patched up a little. ! helped the
old shoemaker on Central street carry
in some leather supplies few days
since He told me that made me a
free customer in the way Of repairs 1
might need. I'll go and see him now
The shoemaker was true to his
promise. Harry sat in his stocking
feet as the artisan began work on the
shoes.
The worker had found the sole Of
, the shoe quite regular and ordinary
When he came to the other, however,
it held fast and firm and he had to
dig hard to loosen two thin plates OF
steel. He drew them out. Between
I them lay a little package, done up in
, oilskn.
Whoever wore these shoes used
this sole for a pocketbook," observed
the cobbler, as he handed the oilskin
packet to Harry.
The latter unfolded 1t. Within rest
ed a motel or a check! No, certi'
ficate of deposit on an Oregon bank
for thirty thousand dollars!
r Harry knew enough Of the history
of the Rice family to read the oracls
= promptly. He uttered an excited yell
Then, in his stocking feet. he made .
e dash for home.
, The agitated Mrs. Rice insisted OF
n going straight to the local bank to b'
assured the certificate was good
There she left it for eollection-"hal
,. to John and Mary" she directed.
u III we hadn't taken in the children
mother would never have come, MOI
the old shoes" reasoned the happ!
Mary. And, oh, John, see the gran'
fortune that has come to US for dut!
we'll performed"
Downright, 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa