Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-04-08

ready for a hungry guest. At the
back a counter ran the width of the
room, with sandwiches and pies un-
der glass covers n a bright coffee
urn steaming suggestively at m end.
Behind it through an open door was
a view Of the kitchen. neat. handy.
crude, but all quite clean, and
through this door stepped a sweet
faced woman. wipine her hands on
her Bingham .->pn and coming to-
ward them with a smile of welcome
as il they were expected guests. 1t
was all so primitive. n yet, there
was something about it that bore the
dignity of refinement, and puzzled
this girl from her sheltered home.
She was almost embarrassed to make
her inquiry. but the hearty response
put her quite at her ease. as if she
had asked u great favor of another
lady in a time of stress:
I'm SO sorry. but our, rooms are
all taken" the On waved a slen-
der hand toward the long side of the
Don and Ruth noticed for the first
time that a low partition ran the
length ofihe room at one side with
doors. Mechanically she counted
them. eight of them, neat. gray
painted doors. Could these be
rooms? How interesting! She had
a wild desire to see inside them.
Rooms! They were more like little
all the way to the ceiling. A vision
of her own spacious apartment at,
home came floating in vague con-
trast. Then one of the doors OPP
Dosite her opened as it's occupant, a
quiet little elderly onla came out,
and she had a brief glimpse Of the
white curtained window, the white
draped comfortable looking bed, a
row of calico curtaiued hooks on the
wall. and a speck Of a wash stand
with tin pitche" and basin in the cor
ner. all as clean and new as the rest
of the place. She swiftly decided to
stay here If there was n chance.
Another look at III sweet face. of the
presiding woman who was trying to
make them understand how crowded
everything was. and how many moth
ers there were with sons Who were
going that night or the next, and who
wanted to be near them. determined
her. She was saying there was just a
chance in case a certain mother from
Boston who a written her did not
arrive at five o'clock:
But we ought not to take a
chance" said Cameron's mother,
looking at the faced girl with "a
cautious usefulness. "What could
we do if night came and we had no
place to stas?'
Ruth cast her eyes about.
Couldn't We sit in a couple Of
those rocking chairs all night" she
asked eagerly,
! The Salvation Army woman laugh
ed a~ffectionately as II she had found
a kindred spirit:
why. dearie, 1 could give you a
couple Of cots out here in the dining
room if you didn't mind. I wouldn't
have pillows. but 7 think / could get
YOU some blankets"
Then we'll stay said Ruth tri-
umphantly before Mrs. Cameron
could protest, and went away feeling
that she had a new friend in the wise
sweet Salvation Army in
five minutes more they were seated
in the trolley on their way into the
camp.
I'm afraid your people would not
like you to stay'in such a place." be-
gan Mrs. Cameronidubiously, though
her eyes shone with a light that be-
lied her words.
Nonsense" said Ruth with a be-
wildcring smile, ut Is as clean as a
pin and I'm very much, excited about
STAYING there. It will be an adven-
ture. I've eve known much about
the Salvation Array before, except
that they are supposed to be very
good people"
There might be some rough char
acters-'
Well guess they can't hurt us
with that good woman around, and
anyhow. you're going to stay till your
son goes!s laughingly declared, Ruth.
Well. We'll see What John says"
said his mother with 4 sigh, II can't
let you do anything-questionable."
Please. Mrs. Cameron" pleaded
Ruth, 'let US forget things like that
this trip And just have a happy
time
The mother smiled. sadly. wistful-
~, through a mist OF tears. She could
not help thinking how wonderful ii
would have been II there had been no
var and her dear boy could have had
this sweet wholesome girl for d
XIV.
The Sun wss shining gloriously
when h two stepped from the troll.
Icy ~ the little camp station ana
nk>gs &F}tsE.SuE q NEF54seS.R fe< ~