The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-12

each one spending considerable time over the problem of how to make both ends meet while Jack, the bread winner, waS temporarily off the bread-winning list. There was a little insurance money but 1t was a pitfuHy small sum. Jacks mother, now more than ever. felt that she was a burden on her son. There seemed to be nothing that she could do. She would gladly have done any thing if she could thereby add a few dollars to the family purse to help during her boys illness If I could only find Esther" she said to Betty one day
 Don't worry, mother some day she will be sorry and hunt you up and beg your forgiveness" Betty an- swered cheerfully.
 ''She got everything I had and now she ought to help her brother. Every day when I go out I look for her. Some day 1 shall meet her, I feel sure, and I am going to ask her to do what is right
 Betty made no answer She did not want to give Mrs. Brown pain, but she felt that Esther would not be influenced by what was right Her own selfish desires had been the only
 
 influence on her
 However. Mrs. Brown was convinc- ed that if Esther Knew of their trouble she would help.
 The old lady had inserted a small advertisement in the local paper ask ing for plain sewing It was the only way that she could think of whereby she might perhaps earn something, no matter how little. She whisper ed tiny prayer as she handed in her fifty cents, that there would be some replies.
 Hope had almost died in her breast when one morning the postman brought a letter asking the lady who advertised to do plain sewing in Tues days "Bulletin'' to call at 90 Lincoln street.
 Mrs. Brown had not told Betty about her advertisement nor did she mention her letter. She donned her best bonnet, merely telling Betty that she was going to see an old friend on the other side of the city, and set forth without deley. She did not even know where Lincoln street was but stopped the first policeman sh met and made inquiries. He ex- plained as carefully as he could the general direction and added, Ma dam, it is a. long way from here You will have to take a car. Here co -les one now" and he held up his hand to stop it.
 "Oh, no, I prefer to walk" excIaim- ed Mrs. Brown and she started away How could she explain that even such small sum as a car fare was not to be spent unless absolutely necessary. She would ride back but she simply could not ride both ways Her venture had cost enough already. She would not spend another cent un- til she had earned few.
 She trudged along, though the way seemed endless, each block longer than the one before it. As she was crossing Q street not far from her destination she glanced casually at grocery store on the corner. What she saw brought her to a dead stop. There, in the customary white apron was her son-in-law standing behind the counter. This was evidently his new store. Yes, there in gilt letters on g. large sign she read, Albert Wheeler, grocer
 Mrs. Brown pushed open the door of the shop. There were several people waiting, but she marched up to Albert and demanded Where is Esther?' Albert looked startled but tried to act as though he had not heard her question.
 Nothing daunted, Mrs. Brown again asked this time ir a louder voice. Tell me at once, where is Esther 2" Seeing that he could not put her off and not wanting a scene before his customers, who were already looking curiously at her, he answered gruffly Upstairs. Suite g." The old lady did not wait to make any reply She hurried out and climbed the brown stone steps that led to the door of the apartments above. Just then some one was coming out and not waiting to push the bell Mrs. Brown pushed by the woman and climbed the stairs She was breathless and her legs shook beneath her but she rapped loudly at the door that had a card tackled on it bearing the name Al bert Wheeler Tapping heels came nearer and in a moment the door was opened cautiously. What do you-"
 q want you" and Mrs Brown de- terminedly pushed the door further open and walked in. For a mo- ment Esther was dumb with amaze mont then she broke out with, What do you want to come here for? How did you know where we were?"
 T did not know. I found you by accident, or perhaps by the help of God Why have you hidden yourself from me and why haven't you sent me the money you promised. I need l it now more than ever" and she told i Esther about the misfortune that had | come to her brother. You got every | thing that I had, Esther, and now. | give me twenty-five dollars to help US over this hard place." | Are you crazy, mother? Albert what do you think" to her husband | who had just come into the room, | mother wants us to give her twen- ty-five dollars. She must think we're | made of money!"
 You must have received double | that amount and more for my fur niture that you sold" broke in her | mother.
 | what if we did" answered Albert | that was a gift, wasn't it? As for | giving you so much money each week, have you any documentary evil | Dot o4% r, ,f