Ellsworth American., 1919-12-31

tin-foil factory. The company's quit
collecting to educate an orphanr
In utter confusion Horace automnt-
ically obeyed the peremptory sum
mons. He took the dime from the ex-
| tended hand and was confounded to
see that 1t was a most palpable coun-
t. felt.
"Why, er-er-I--that is, assure
you madam"
| ''Never mind about the assurances;
! just hand over a regular United
States dime" The gray-eyed young
woman was staring with cynical un-
sympathy into the embarrassed eyes
of Mr.. Burdett.
Somehow Horace managed to find
quarter. and after critical look at
it the conductress gave Horace fifteen
cents and turned to pull the door lever
for a departing passenger.
Horace Burdett was profoundly
mortified. Never before in all his life
had he been accused of dishonesty.
But as he sat ruefully contemplating
his own feelings he suddenly realized
that he didn't care a hoot what the
passengers thought of him.
What hurt was that this gray-eyed
young woman. with splendid hus-
band overseas fighting for his country,
should deem Horace an unworthy crea-
ture who passed counterfeit dimes.
Suddenly, as he coyertly glanced at
his accuser and caught sight of the
metal number on her oocky little mill
tary cap, Horace remembered that he
was well acquainted with the paymas-
ter of the street car company, and q
resolve came upon him.
Next day Horace found out from
Strickland's office, by phone, that No.
HAS name was Kate Dorm and that
she lived at certain address In the
Hundreds" Also that she was through
her work at $50 That evening, with
his courage in his hands and pocket
full of documents, he called at the GER
tain number in the hundreds"
The Dorm apartment proved to be a
very tiny one at the back OF the house.
His ring was answered by the gray
eyed young woman, who looked in
finitely less impersonal and much
more charming in soft gray dress.
Horace was like a cold-water bath
er who dare not hesitate lest he flee
altogether. He rushed into explana-
tions: Mrs. Dorm" he said the mo-
ment he made sure of her identity,
81 gave you a counterfeit dime yester-
day. Obviously, you believed I knew
1t. My name is Horace Burdett;
am employed by the third largest
house in Wall street; | have good
salary and some property; l am a
member of the Masons and the Elks.
l have brought the papers to prove
these statements and to assure you
of my responsibility. / have-really,
Mrs. Dorm, l say 1t with the utmost
respect, j assure you-I have greatly
admired you and thought what fine
thing it was for young woman to
be working so heroically while her
husband was fighting for his country.
And l could not bear to have you
think me a common cheat"
The gray eyes had expressed first
amazement and then interest, and
now the young woman laughed out
right. why" she said, I'm dread
fully sorry was so snippy--but they
do try it so often. I ought to have
known, though, that you We're not that
kind. Anybody could see. at glance,
that you are-well, that you're a gen
tleman. But what made you think I
had a husband in the war? l haven't
there or anywhere; l haven't any
body" The laughter had died away.
81 just took that job because it pays
better than anything / could get--and
I'm crazy to save enough for chick
en- farm
Horace's heart leaped within him.
Then and there he realized that he.
too, was just crazy about a chicken
farm. He said SO.
How lovely" exclaimed Miss Dorm.
DO come in and talk about it,
Many marriages are predicated on
| less solid foundation than a mutual
| interest. The Horace-Burdetts' chick
| en- farm is the admiring talk of their
New Jersey village. AND the Horace
Burdetts-well, there certainly isn't
happier couple in that county.
Beans WouId Mot cook