The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-08-05
A DIAMOND IN
THE ROUGH
By cEcILLE LANGDoN

IL was not very pretentious room
that Norma Ellis occupied, but its rent
was low and there was a sense of pro-
lection In having Mrs. Judy Porter
for a landlady. Then. too. there was
her twelve-year-old son. Jerry, always
In mischief, but amenable to the pleas.
ant ways OF Norma. who believed there
was lots of good in him.
For five years Norma had been an
orphan. She had secured a position
as typist at very moderate salary.
Another employee had told her of
Mrs. Porter, who rented out rooms
TO an entirely respectable class, and
something motherly in the manner OF
the hard-working landlady had at
tracted Norma. The interest became
quite mutual, and very often Mrs. Por-
ter Invited Norma 10 tea to talk over
her manifold troubles, finding a SYM
pathetic counselor.
The main complaint Of the dis
tressed mother was Jerry, sin hot
water all the time" He was a nat
ural born fighter, and came home at
least once a week with brulsyd lip
or blackened eye. He annoyed many
OF the roomers whom he dislIked with
his eliish tricks. was sent home per
manently from school. and this led
Norma to taking up his education. He
would study for her, and she devoted
her evenings to giving him instruc-
tion.
'You look, tired, dear, and, excuse
me. but sad too" remarked Mrs. Por-
ter after noting n certain depression
In her favorite roomer.
"Yes, there Is rush of work at
the ofiic" just nor." evaslyely ex-
planned NJT1a.
There had been at the office
young man named Roscoe Burt who
had shown her some pleasing atten-
tlons and she treasured the same.
They had become very friendly and
he he'd said:
"They are sending me on the road
Miss Ellis, and II | make good II
viii probably place me In a position
where ! may want TO say to you what
| would not until sure OF business
future"
Just then some friends approached
and he half whispered to Norma:
"lf l write to you, you will not deem
me presumptuous. and will replyg
"Yes," she assented, and flushed
and trembled, as was natural with a
girl feeling that her first love was
about to eliminate.
A week went by and there was no
word from the young man. Norma
genuinely sorrowed.
Norma took up her cross and tried
to be cheerful and happy. Mrs. Porter
was going away TO visit sister, and
Normn was glad 10 keep melancholy
thoughts at bay by occupying her spare
evenings in helping to arrange her
landlady's wardrobe.
81 have friend who viii take
charge Of the rooms while am gone"
she told Norma, "but Jerry leave en-
tirely In your care"
81 shall be glad" said Norma sim
cerely. at will keep me from being
lonely. He will behave himself splen-
didly while you are gone, won't you.
Jerry?
"I've got TO II I keep my promise
10 you. Miss Ellis" declared the lad
seriously. "Fm not going to miss be
ing educated, when you tell me that
within year you win have me trained
so | can run a typewriter and get a
good job as a clerk" and he kept of
the streets. studied his lessons con-
scientiOusly, and at the end of the
first week Norma said:
snow, Jerry, we've worked hard and
will enjoy little pleasure. There Is
fine movie down at the Orpheum.
There Is my pocketbook. Please pay
for the tickets. And we must have
some soda after the entertainment"
"All right. and some OF these fine
days when I get working I'll pay you
back by taking you to swell opera"
They had very enjoyable time,
and Norma was quite proud of her
well-behaved escort. He bade her
good night as she reached her room.
"oh, Jerryw she called down the
stairs after him as she opened her
pocketbook, "the key to my room-lt
is gone"
"Then I must have lost IT," Jerry
chided himself Say. Tm awful sorry.
Look here" and he returned to her
side. IFS catch lock, isn't IT? All
right, I'll just climb through the tran
som and unlatch II. Mrs. Willis has
gone TO bed but I'll let you in here
and bring a duplicate key first thing
In the morning"
The transom had been always kept
open for ventilation and Jerry was
soon on the other side, released the
lock, and departed. AS Norma turned
on the gas she noticed lying upon the
carpet an envelope. II was slightly
creased and soiled. brushed by the
body Of Jerry as he crowded through
the space overhead. II was clearly
discernlble. to Norma that II had been
brought by the postmaH when she was
away. who had sought 10 fling II