Greenwood daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1919-1926, 1920-03-27
A LOVING
RECOMPENSE

By RALPH HAMILTON

on the hill, hurrying to shelter from
the pelting snow, shifted the air redo
lent and appetite-inviting with a savOry
flavor, and grew hungrier than ever.
The general store delivery boy. tossing
his package on the rear porch. peered
generously in at a window, slightly
lowered to let out the steam of cook
cry, and saw on a table great bowls
OF freshly cooked doughnuts. noted AL
ice Ford, aproned, ~four-covered and
lovely, dipping and lifting out the tam
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 sakel What are you
up to? Starting a bakery?
pretty nearly" smiled back Alice.
"Therel that makes twenty dozen, w
hundred and forty, and the flour is all
used up" and Alice sat down in a
chair, her dimpled elbows barred. with
q sigh that was restful and satisfied.
biS NsS5 tooh LII tlC wv
and the pans piled high with dough-
nuts, 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
aStcod bluntly.
II promised to have them ready for
Roscoe at noOn."
Maud Trevor flushed at the mention
of Alfce's brother, but exclaimed rs
he to eat all of those"
"Oh, no; he is coming here in his
flying machine from the forest pre-
serve signal station. Of course you
ave 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
lcIcplloleu tlldI lie was cOIl1I1S 10 Ile
rescue. The town has got ready a
lot of fresh and salt meat, flour, sugar,
milk and butter and Roscoe suggested
that | contribute a bag of my famous
doughnuts, as he calls Them"
Il guess I'll stay II help you pack
them" suggested Maud, her mind on
Roscoe. isn't it a risk trying to get
the airplane aboard of that ship?"
"Oh, Roscoe won't do that" replied
Alice. III couldn't make a landing.
His idea is to circle above the ship
and drop the packages on it's deck"
Maud had been titivating herself at
Alice's mirror, and was futtering
with eagerness as the young aeronaut
appeared shortly after noon. He
had a kiss for his sister and a sugges-
tive hand clasp for Maud. I've load
ed the supplies down where I 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
a 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.
"The meats donated landed all right
Oh the deck of the ship" reported Ros-
coe, but a crate of eggs fell into the
water and was crushed by the ice"
"And my d]oughnuts?' inquired Alice
anxiously.
"They fell right among the passen-
gers and crew, and there was q great
scramble. The crowd stood munching
at the delicious dainties until l left.
The ship is caught between two i'm
pense floes and can't bulge until the
wind changes"
1t 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 q drum, and they are
serenading the butcher, the baker and
the candlestick maker, who treated
them so generously. and those dough.
nuts, Alice! They'll be here soon."
Here they come! !" cried the excited
Maud, as blares and booms rent the
air, and a few minutes later, in pro-
c~ession, there came marching down the
street a merry, mixed group.
Ralph Wharton was profuse In his
praise anent the delicious d%oughnuts
and persisted in wearing his souvenir.
The double pair passed a 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
Wharton was glad. and so was Alice
The last evening of his stay, Alice, by
request, made some of the now doubly
famous dOughnuts.
Tn going to take my souvenir to
my mother" observed Ralph, ian ash