Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-26
CHAPTER XXI
Uifh Epery Jim n lame.

TWO days after Fred Baisdcll had returned
l. from college, his mother came to see Miss
MagGic. Mr. Smith was rearrangng the
books on Miss Maggie's shelves and trying
to make room for the new ones he had
brought her through the winter. when Mrs
Hattie came in. red-eyed and hushed-faced,
he ceased his work at once. and would
have left the room bu. she stopped him with
a gesture.
no. don't go. You know all about it,
anyway-and Id just as soon you knew the
rest So you can keep right to work. just
came down TO talk things over with Maggie
lin sure I don't know w-what I'm going
% do--when l can't"
But you always car. dear" soothed Miss
Maggie. Cheerily. handing her visitor fan
and taking chair near her
Mr. Smith after a moments hesitation
turned quietly back to his bool<shelves.
But can't" choked Mrs Hattie. Z
I'm going away"
Away" Where What do you mean"
cried Miss Maggie. mot to--to live"
Yes. That's what came to tell YOU"
why, Hattie Blaisdell. where are you
going"
TO Plainville--next month"
"Plainvile' Oh, well. cheer up That's
only forty miles from here. | guess can.
still see each other Now tell me what does
al this mean"
We'll, of course il began with Fred--hs
trouble. you KNOW.
But thought Jim fixed that all up. dear"
oh. he did He paid the money and no.
body there at college knew u thing about it
But there were-other things. Fred told us
some of them night before last. He says he's
ashamed of himself but that he believes
there's enough left in him to make man of
him yet. But he says he cant do it--there"
You mean he doesn't want to GO back TO
college," Miss Maggie's voice showed her
disappointment
oh he wants to go 10 CollcRe--brt not
there"
oh" nodded Miss Maggie Il see"
He says he's had too much money to spend
and that 'twouldnt be easy TO spend tiff
he was back there in the old crowd So he
wants to 60 somewhere else"
We'll that's all right. isn't it,"
Yves, oh yes. Jim says it is. He's awfully
happy over it, and-and guess ! am"
"of course YOU are But now. what is this
about Plainville?"
oh that grew out of it--al this. Mr.
Hammond is going to open a new Office in
Plainville. and he's offered Jnl-James-no
Jim-lm not going to call him James any
more--the chance to manage it."
We'll, that's fine, I'm sure"
Yes. Of course. that part is tine-splendid
Hell get bigger salary and all that. and
and guess I'm glad to go. anyway. | don't
like Hillerton any more. ] haven't got any
friends here. Maggie. OF course. wouldn't
have anything TO do with the Gaylords now
aIter wndt happened-that bov getting
boy to drink and gamble-and everything
And yet-you know how I've strained every
nerve for years and worked and worked to
Eet where my children could--could be with
them. 90
1T didn't pay, did it. Hattie?'
| Il guess it didn't They're perfectly hor-
rid-every one of them and ! hate them -
"Oh. Hattie, Hattie"
well, I do Look at what they've done
| TO Fred. and Bessie, too; I shant let her
be with them any more. either. There aren't
| any folks here we can he with now That s
| why don't mind going away All our
| fiends that we used to know don't like us
any more. they're SO jealous on account
| of the money oh. yes 7 know YOU think
| I'm to blame for that" she went on ag-
| grievedly II can see you do. by your face,
! Jim says So too. And maybe I am But il
was just so ! could get ahead ! did so
| want to be somebody :"
| Il know, Hattie" Miss Maggie looked as
| II she would like to say something more
| but she did not say it,
| Over at the bookcase Mr. Smith was
| abstractedly opening and shutting the book
| In his hand His gaze was ont the window
| near him. He had not touched the books on
| the shelves for some time
| And look at how I've tried TO see wha. n
| has come to-Bessie 50 hgh-headed and
| airy she makes fun of us. and Fred a
| gambler and drunkard and most a thief
Ana it's all that hundred thousand dollars -
tTO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW