South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-31

the idea OF rooming and preparing
her own meals had appealed to
Ethel Storey. so she rented a two
roOmed apartment and established
her little household II was an airy
place and all summer she enjoyed IT,,
but when the cold weather came on
she found that she had a problem
before her. The only means OF
heating the rooms was from a little
coal stove. and when one doesn't
understand the management of a
coal stove and is dependent upon il,
there is trouble ahead. But Ethel
learned TO manage. il at last and
would have been fairly comfortable
all winter had not the coal short
age come on. Because there was
scarcely room for the things she had
in her rooms. she had not been able
TO buy coal in anything but small
quantities.
The dealer from whom she had
that they were sold clean out and
there was none to be procured until
shipping conditions improved, leav-
ing her in a quandary.
For a week she manased to get
along by burning charcoal. but when
she came 10 figure up accounts at
the END OF the week she found that
the charcoal was costing her nearly
as much as she earned. She would
have to try something else. she told
herself. and then she remembered
a. 4 no nlr
had been blown down in the big
storm that had caused the railways
TO be tied Up and had mainly been
the cause of the inability of the
roads TO carry through coal TO sup
ply the consumers. The tree most
likely belonged to the city, but 1t
would be just as cheap to pay fine
as 10 burn charcoal, she reasoned.
as she put on her coat and armed
herself with a hammer TO begin
work. converting the maple into
irewoOd.
After nearly five minutes hard
labor. she decided that a hammer
wasn't very good substitute for
an axe. Cant 1 help you ?" Ethel
heard someone say and looked up to
see Leo Delaney. who occupied the
front suite on the first floor, smil-
ing down at her.
oh. Mr.. Delaney, I'm trying to
chop firewood," she explained with
laugh as she attempted TO
straighten her hair Il haven't a
bit of coal and l won't be able TO
get any for some time. This tree
just simply refuses TO break up"
1T is too green to burn, anyway. .
he said. as he examined the wood.
However. if it would burn you
wouldn't be able TO chop enough
With that hammer to last ten min
utes."
What am ! going to do?" she
asked in perplexity. III have to
move some place else where the
hee ting is looked after"
1T would be pity to have you
do that. / have plenty of coal and
could let you have some until a
supply comes to. the city
But it will run you short"
NO. il won't The firm that I
work for keeps me supplied with
coal. 1 am specially privileged"
They would not care TO have
YOU give il to me-" she said dubi-
ously.
They wouldn't miss little BIT
like that. and besides l have right
to it
Ether did not ask him TO explain
his right, but she felt that if ne said
so il would be all right TO accept
the coal He kept her fire well
supplied after that ana many time
when he carried a scuttle up the
stairs to her, he stayed TO chat. He
was an interesting young man she
found. and wondered why she hadn't
taken more notice OF him before
Now that she came TO think Of II ne
had always seemed anxious TO be-
come better acquainted with her
and often when they had ridden in
the street car together she had not
even smiled at him. Somehow she
had looked upon him as an ignor-
ant man. but ne was far from that
The black hands and face that she
had noticed he generally came home
with had likely given her this I'M
I preston. w men he WIS vi G1SC1 u =
he looked like a real gentleman. IT
was not long after he started bring
ing her the coal that she discov-
cred that he had been 20 college.
Why in the world was a college man
doing mental work. she asked her
self time and again.
The little coal that did come 10
the city was soon distributed and
could not be sold To consumers in
less than quarter ton lots, so as the
weeks went by Leo was still keep
ing Ethel supplied. One evening she
came home and found that her
scuttle was empty and the FIRE low.
She waited for Leo 10 appear for
nearly an hour and then went 20
the first floor in search of him.
There was no response 20 her rap
on the door OF his suite. and she
decided that ne had not got in. That
was strange. for he had never been
so late before, As she waited in
her room. listening for the front
door TO open and announce his ar
rival. she picked up the evening
paper which she had brought with
her.
"Railroadman Arrested for Coal
Theft. was the first heading she
saw A. she read the story her eX-