The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-01-27

ticed her sad face and tear-wet eyes.
"Why Annie! What Is It'll" she
asked.
Mother" sobbed the child, "they
didn't know this morning whether
she'd last out the day, an | daresent
stay home cause I'd lose my job an
| asst Mr.. Gardner tiff | couldn't
leave off ut five au-an-" Here the
words broke off in Il sob.
And wouldn't he let you?" quickly
asked June.
mo. He said he was tired of hear
ing about sick mothers. l said 1 was
telling him the truth, an he could
phone the doctor. Then he said he
hadn't any time for dom detective
work. an If l wanted to be locked
half Il day | could 60. l told him l
had to have the money to buy medi-
cine an things fer mother. Then ne
got awful mad. an said if l didn't
want to he fined I'd better stop talkin'
back"
"Tll speak to him." said June.
NO, no, please. I'd get fired then
sure if he thought | told you. He's
Just awful when he gets started. He'd
find some way of dockin' or tinin' me
like he did last week when that ten
cents stuck in the slot, an l didn't
see it."
Filled with sympathy for the child
June went home with her that evening
to see what she could do.
That's my house. and she point
ed to one of a row Of cheap flats in a
noisy street.
"Why, isn't that Mr.. HedStrom 60
ing in?' exclaimed June. He doesn't
live there, does he?"
30 no. | s'poSe he's comm TO see
mother. Say, if it hadn't been fer him
I don't know what we'd done. He p2id
this months rent, an said we wasn't
to worry about the doctors bill, an
he's always bringin' in nice things fer
mother. l never s'pose anyone could
be so good what wasn't any relation or
nothin'.'
$50 you have known Mr.. Hedstrom
a good while?"
20 no. he just was sorry, Same'S you
are. Bout three weeks ago. when
mother first got sick | was some scared.
an l was cryin', an somehow | run
against him as | was comm out of the
store, an he stopped me an wanted to
know what was the matter. an then
he Went On home with me Same's you
are, an he's been helpin' an dom
things Y @ Sence."
June made no reply. but she was
thinking hard. This was the man they
had called stingy, because instead Of
spending money to buy popularity and
crafty himself, he was helping a fell
low creature over the thOrny way with
quiet self-sacrifice and generous use
of his means.
They found him bending over the
thin little form on the bed, the drawn
face looking at him with a pathetic
smile. He started slightly as June en-
tered, bowed to her, and turned to the
child.
she's better. Annie" he said kindly.
The pent-up feelings of the girl gave
vent in a burst of Sobs.
There, there. you mustn't do that"
he said patting her shoulder. You
must keep her very quiet. Good night"
And with another bow to June he was
gone.
June stayed till a visiting nurse
came, and went home still thinking.
The dashing figure of Gardner
seemed quite efraced by Il kind of halo
that shone about the head of n quiet
man with kind eyes. She had thrown
away a pearl of great price to pick up
an imitation diamond. whose glitter
was now quite gone, and the r~eali2a-
ton of her folly made her supremely
miserable.
The e day she met Hedstrom out
side the store. She had waited for
him.
"Why don't you CONF any more to
see us?' she asked.
II didn't suppose you"
But ! do she broke in.
He drew her hand within his arm
and they went on together.