Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-02-03

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.
ooh, go awayr' he cried. "Can't
you leave me alone? Why do you
want to come bothering a feller?"
''But, George, dear" she protested.
its time you were up. Here's your
breakfast"
The mere mention of food exerted
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
own 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"
hour was twenty minutes after seven.
She ought to have been out of the
house at least five minutes ago. Hast
f1ng her mouth full of bread, she
grabbed her hat, and made for the
door. Then she bethought herself.
Ma" she said. "Can't you spare a
carfare this morning?"
'Carfare?" ShrilIed her mother.
you get q move on, you hussy! Where
am / to get carfare from, with 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 fed, followed down.
stairs by the sounds of a furious al
tercation. Nevertheless, Mrs. Ray was
able to produce a much less needed
carfare for her son when that sore
headed young gentleman made a be-
lated appearance about nine o'clock.
He, by the way, was far better dressed
than his sister, and 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
running walk, was delayed by q 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 seven-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 ran the rest of the way. Never
theleSs, the hands of the clock at the
employees entrance pointed inexora-
bly, to Z 40.
I'm terribly sorry about the TING, -
she explained breathlessly to the
checker. But 1 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 1eer. IF you
can't put up a better spiel than that,
| let it co.
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 fine
of half a days pay.
| The clerk caught her by the Shout
| der.
"Say, kid" he chuckIed. "IH just
forget you were late. The fine is one
| kiss
| The girl was 500 taken aback that
she recoiled as though some noxious
insect had stung her. Without another
word she darted along passage. The
checker gazed after her philosophi-
cally.
$50 that's the lay of the land, is it?'
he muttered, and marked her name OF
the '1ate" list.
Helen was engaged at the notions
counter The morning passed without
unusual incident. At first there was 6
rush of customers, but things quiete(
down after the commuters had fin
ished their shopping and were stream
ing out to lunch. About that time,
tall, well-dressed young man halted a
the counter and examined its contents
His exceptionally fine physique ant
strong, self-reliant features invited tn,
covert scrutiny of Helen and her CO
workers.
Say, he's some swell guy, amt her
whispered one of the girls.