The Red Cloud chief., 1921-03-31

young nad ned from the irkSOTnp tasks
which had roughened the hands and
bent the backs Of their parents. That,
briefly, accounts for the fewness and
the stiffness above referred to.
Early In 1917 the village was
shaken by alarming and astonishing
news. True, the sinking Of the Lusi-
tania and our own enlistment In the
World war and the German successes
on the Russian frontier had, In a way,
prepared the heart and intellect of
Bingville for shocking events. Still.
these disasters had been remote. The
fact that the Gilligan sisters had left
the Crookers and accepted an offer OF
one hundred and fifty dollars a month
from the wealthy Nxons Of Hazel
mead was an event close to the foot
lights, so to speak. II caused the news
Of battles to take Its rightful place In
Of this event In stores and on the
street corners; II was the subject Of
conversation I'm sewing circles and the
Philomathian Literary club. That
day, the Bings whispered about II ut
the dinner table between courses until
Susan Crowder sent In a summons by
Martha Featherstrnw with the apple
pie. She would he glad to see Mrs. J.
Patterson Bling In the kitchen imme-
diately after dinner. There was mo-
ment Of silence IN the midst Of which
Mr.. Bing winked knowingly at his
wife. who turned pale as she put down
her pie fork with a look of determine
ton and rose and went into the kitch-
en-. Mrs. Crowder regretted that she
and Martha would have to look for
another family unless their wages
were raised from one hundred to one
hundred and fifty dollars month.
"But, Susan, we all made an agree
ment for year." said Mrs. Bing.
Mrs. Crowder was sorry, but she
and Martha could not make out on the
wages they were getting-everythng
cost so much. If Mary Gilligan, who
couldn't cook, was worth a hundred
dollars month Mrs. Crowder consid-
cred herself cheap ut twice that figure.
Mrs. Bing, In her anger, was in
cllned to revolt but Mr.. Bling settled
the matter by submitting to the tyr
amy of Susan. With Phyllis and
three of her young friends coming
from school and party In prospect,
there was nothing else to do.
Maggie Collins. who was too old
and too firmly rooted in the village to
leave II. was satisfied with a raise
of ten dollars a month. Even then she
received n third of the minister's sal
airy. His wife being swell Teddy
who had no time for wurruk, sure the
boy was no sooner married than he
yelled for help" as Maggie was wont
to say.
All this had q decided effect on the
economic life of the village. Indeed,
Hiram Blenkinsop, the village drunk
gardens for number Of people. de-
manded an increase of a dollar a day
in his wages on account Of the high
cost OF living, although one would say
that It's effect upon him could not have
been serious. For years the historic
figure of Blenkinsop had been the des-
tination and repository of the cast-off
clothing and the worn and shapeless
shoes of the leading citizens. For a
decade, the venerable derby hat, which
once belonged to Judge Croker, had
survived all the incidents of his adj
venturOus career He was. indeed, as
replete With suggestive memories as
the graveyard to which he was wont to
repair for rest and recuperatlOn In
summer weather. There, in the shade
| of locust tree hard by the wall. he
was often discovered with his faithful
dog Christmas--a yellow, mongrel,
| good-natured cur-lying beside him,
and the historic derby hat in his hand.
lie had persevering pride in that
| hat. Mr.. BlenkinSop showed sur.
| prising and commenduble industry un-
der the stimulation of increased pay
| He worked hard for month, then
celebrated his prosperity with night
! of such noisy, riotous JOY that he
| landed in the lookup with black eve
| and broken nose and an empty peck
ct. AS usual, the dog Christmas went
with bin.
When there was loud yell in the
streets at night Judge Croker used
TO say, ITS Hiram again. The poor
fellow is out a-IIiraming."
william Snodgrass, the carpenter
gave much thought and reflection &c
the good fortune of the Gilligan girls
If hired girl could earn twenty-five
dollars week and her board, a skilled
mechanic. who had to board him
self, ought to earn mt least fifty. Sc
he put up his prices. Israel Sneed
the plumber raised his scale to CORE
spond with that Of the carpenter. The
prices Of the butcher ard grocer KEEP
pace with the rise of wages. A periot
of unexampled prosperity set In.
Some time before, the Old Spirit OF
Bingville had received notice that it'
services would no longer be required
1t had been an industrious and faith
full Old Spirit. The new generation die
not intend to be hard on 1t. The!