The circle banner., 1917-12-07
Their FUND
BY cATHARINE cRANMER.

Harry Benton, salesman, and Amy
Werner, cashier, tied for the prize. The
boss handed each of them ten-doilar
gold piece, but Benton knew that his
annual salary reached in thousands
almost what Amy's did in hundreds.
won't you let me add my gold to
yours so you'll have enough to jingle?"
he asked smilingly.
"Oh, you couldn't think l meant
really to take it, could you?"
won't you? You really earned 1t
more than /. I've talked the goods so
constantly for years that it was nat
ural for me to think up name cas-
lily"
"Ah, now" said Amy, with a tiny
pout, don't intimate that thinking
was such hard work for me; but l
can't accept what you earned by your
thinking even il it was easy to do
"Will you have dinner with me this
evening and help me think out way
to do something nice for somebody
with that piece of gold?"
"Ye-es," began Amy slowly It'll
help you if you'll let me contribute
my gold piece to the happiness fund
And Harry agreed.
A few hours later, over their dinner
they discussed the possibilities of their
fund.
81 want our fund to bring happiness
to somebody who doesn't dream of it,
and to bring it just at the psychology
cal moment when it means every
thing" Amy was charming when she
was serious.
"That's the idea, exactly" agreed
Harry, "and the best way to distribute
happiness is to go where there 10 a
lack of 1t. What do you say to ouI
taking a stroll through the outskirts?"
"Thats where there are extremes OF
happiness and unhappiness, I've heard
All right, let's go! that is, if you think
we won't attract too much attention"
"Oh, you'd attract your share of at.
tention anywhere, but I'm plain enough
to offset your charms" This was said
without any palaver of gallantry and
was accompanied by such a genial
smile that Amy laughed, too, although
she thought Harry's clear eyes and
honest face and broad shoulders very
satisfactory kind of plainness.
AS they passed through the district
of the downtown poor, they distributed
various bits of happiness in unexpect.
ed dimes given to small tots who were
standing disconsolately in doorways or
tagging each other on the brick-paved
sidewalks.
Look who's here! No need for our
happiness fund in that party" said
Harry, as they saw approaching them
festive party consisting of an ltal'
ian girl still in her teens, her swag.
gering young escort who pulled at his
sunburned mustache, some dark
gowned women with scarfs over their
heads, few ploddirg men and chill
dren Of assorted sizes and varying de-
grees of uncieaniiness. From one of the
children Harry learned that the young
couple han been married that day and
were or their way to their new home
of two rooms in nearby roomiug
house.
At that instant, the clang of the fire ;
bell was heard, and with each stroke J
the sound grew louder until around the
corner came the galloping horses and
rafting hose wagons and the scream
ing engine leaving it's trail of sparks
on the uneven cobblestones of the mar
row street. Amy and Harry stood on |
the curb, and down Amys spine went
the chilly creep and into her eyes |
came the unshed tears that the sight |
and sound of fire department in ac-
tion always brought to her.
She became conscious, in the midst
of it, that Harry was holding her arm |
protectingly. Two blocks away the
engine stopped, the wagons sought the
curb, and the lately happy group OF
people began to scream excitedly. The
young groom tried to enter the burn
ing house and the protesting bride
threw herself before him to prevent
.hetris The fire was in the house
where their two rooms had been fur
lished.
The lamentations of the bridal party
made a babel, but Amy and Harry
ooked understandingly at each other.
Gould we find better place for a
happiness fund.-" asked Amy.
1--WE won't look for better, will
xe?" And Harry put his hand in the
pocket where the happiness fund re-
POSED.
mo; this is the psychological mo-
nent we wanted" answered Amy, and
ogether they approached the dis
ressed young couple.
"This is hard luck, my boy" began
larry, "but this lady and / had bit
Il good luck today and we'd like to
hare 1t with you and your bride.
Won't you take this"-handing him
he money-"and get other lodgings
nd such furniture as it will buy?"
The outburst of gratitude from both
he bride and groom and from their
insmen made Amy and Harry wonder
ow they could escape, but just then
axicab came along and Harry hailed
and hurried Amy into it. AS they
umped away over the cobbles there
vas q chorus of cheers. :
They looked at each other and
Iughed happily and without embar-