The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1920-05-21
A LOVING
RECOMPENSE
By RALPH HAMILTON
Copyright. 1920. western Newspaper Union

A tramp passed by the little cottage
on the hill. hurrying to shelter from
the pelting snow, shifted the air redo
lent and appetite-inviting with savory
flavor. and grew hungrier than ever
The general store delivery boy. tossing
mis- package on the rear porch, peered
generously IN at a window, slightly
lowered to let out the steam of cook.
cry, and saw on q table great bowls
OF freshly cooked doughnuts, noted AL.
Ice Ford. aproned, flour-covered and
lovely. dipping and lifting out the tan.
tal1zingly crisp and Drowned product
of her task. Then. fitting about bust
~. this queen of the kitchen nodded and
smiled as her neighbor friend, Maud
Trevor, came bustling into the house
Thought I'd run over before the
drifts got too Deep" she announced
For mercy's sake! What are you
up to? Starting a bakery?"
Pretty nearly" smiled back Alice
There! that makes twenty dozen, two
hundred and forty. and the flour is all
used up" and Alice sat down in a
chair. her dimpled elbows barred, with
sigh that was restful and satisfied
Maud's big eyes took in the bowls
and the pans piled high with dough.
outs, seeming a mystery. She knew
OF no local function where food do
nations had been asked for. "What
have you cooked all those for?" she
asked bluntly.
II promised to have them ready for
Roscoe at noon."
Maud Trevor flushed at the mention
Of Alice's brother, but exclaimed: "Is
he to eat all Of those?"
"Oh, no; he Is coming here in his
lying machine from the forest pre-
serve signal station. OF course YOU
have heard about the ship caught in
the ice eight miles out in the lake?'
And then, as Maud nodded affirmative
ly: Its held fast among the foes
and can't bulge, and between it and
the shore it's a foaming field of loose
cakes. They couldn't reach it by tug
or patrol boat, and the crew wigwag-
ged the water tower yesterday for
help. There's a friend of Roscoe's
named Ralph Wharton aboard, and for
that reason and because the crew may
be suffering from want of food, Roscoe
telephoned that he was coming to the
rescue. The town has got ready a
lot of fresh and salt meat, flour, sugar.
milk and butter land Roscoe suggested
that contribute bag Of my famous
doughnuts, as he calls them"
II guess I'll stay and help You pack
them," suggested Maud, her mind on
Roscoe. "Isn't 1t a risk trying to get
the airplane aboard Of that shipr"
"Oh, Roscoe won't do that" replied
Alice. HE couldn't make a landing.
His idea Is to circle above the ship
and drop the packages on its deck"
Maud had been titivating herself at
Alice's mirror, and was fiuttering
with eageness as the young aeronaut
appeared shortly after noon. He
had kiss for his sister and a sugges.
tive hand clasp for Maud. "Tve load.
ed the supplies down where landed"
he explained. you've got a lot Of
them, haven't your" as he noted the
two pillow cases filled and tied, and
helped himself to some samples from
q plate.
1t was nearly evening when Roscoe
returned from his aerial trip, watched
into the vague distance and the way
back by half the population Of the
town. The details of his venture were
soon popularity known. He had ar
ranged to remain at home for a spell,
his mechanic taking the airplane back
to its starting point, much to the de-
light Of Maud.
1.-THE meats donated landed all right
on the deck Of the ship" reported Ros-
zoe, "but crate Of eggs fell into the
water and was crushed by the ice."
sand my doughnuts7" inquired Alice
anxiously.
"They fell right among the passen.
gers and crew. and there was a great
scramble. The crowd stood munching
at the delicious dainties until left.
The ship Is caught between two i'm.
pense foes and can't bulge until the
wind changes"
It was the next afternoon when Ros.
coe came home from down town. 1.-THE
ship got to port here" he announced,
"and the passengers and crew are eel
ebrating their rescue. They've got
horns and drum. and they are
serenading the butcher, the baker and
the candlestick maker, who treated
them so generously. and those dough
nuts, Affect They'll be here soon"
Here they comet" cried the excited
Maud. as blares and booms rent the
air, and a few minutes later, in pro.
cession, there came marching down the
street a merry, mixed group.
Ralph Wharton was profuse In his
praise anent the delicious doughnuts,
and persisted In wearing his souvenir.
The double pair passed delightful
evening, and young Wharton was in
vited to remain as a guest until the
ship was repaired.
It took two weeks to do that, and