The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-01-20
A Noble Purpose
Bv MARTHA NJ. WILLIAMS

began, frOwning angrily. "The audac-
ity of that girl! What business of hers
is it. I'd like to know. how we raise
money-when it's as plain as pike
staff that we need it so badiy:
I'VE certainly do need it," Sister
Nora retOrted. Look at that :" sticking
out her foot in ragged white SILK
stocking. give dollars a pair for any
thing decent to go with pumps. ~
like to hang these wicked profteers !"
"Shut up, fool =" Mrs Gray flung
back coarsely ''The more money they
make the easier 1t Is to get our share
of it. But don't you dare go shopping
extravagantly till this Haywood girl
blows over. wonder who. II anybody.
Is behind her"
Suppose we investigate her--ask
Peterkin about her? We can make out
he's her sponsor; you know he brought
her up from the station in his car"
HE wouldn't have done it but for
the big rain" Mrs. Gray complained.
Peterl<in. otherwise Peter Linfey,
ESQ.,, for all his guileless countenance.
was lawyer enough to know cross
examination when he met 1t square in
his path, however skillfully 1t was dis
guised. The recognition made him sud
denly alert.
He had not thought much about
Rena Haywood. except that she was
soft-spoken and decidedly easy to look
at.
Rena sensed as much from the look
in her eyes, the tone of her voice-and
rejoiced silently that things were fall
ing ont so well. She was beginning a
difficult enterprise-success in it meant
more than mere money profit-though
she did not affect to despIse that side.
Her managing editor had said: "Go
after the pair of goshawks in petit
coats that are plundering small town
folk in the name Of sweet charity; If
you get the goods ton them, or even a
promising lead. wire John Smith, care
this office. Pork is rising'-and leave
us to do the rest
Since Peter had given her specially
in charge Mrs. Bigby had talked to
Rena as familiar friend. Thus she
had come to know all about the drive
for devastated Mesopotamfa that Mrs.
Gray and sister Nora were conducting
at a breathless rate.
Both talked we'll. Nora could cry
beautifully when she begged for the
poor hungry babies.
Swift and canny workers, the sisters
banked all money, and almost Instant
drew drafts on it, payable to the home
office in distant city. Cash, they ex-
planned, was needed for the shipment
away Of supplies.
The drive industry was on its last
legs. Even with new wars and devas-
tations a stated public was not likely to
give up. Wherefore it behooved Sister
Nora either to get rich husband or
to find a man who would pay roundly
to escape being that person.
Straight matrimony was of course
preferable-rosy visions Of it had
danced before them until Rena Hay
wood appeared.
She had fetched in by way Of intro
duction a fat check from the richest
and stingiest man in town. 1t was
open sesame to their financial methods.
Rena listened, jotting things down in
her notebook, with believing eyes and
an infantile smile.
They moved Mrs. Gray to say ten
tatively at their next encounter-after
Peterkin had failed to give up any in
formation: "My dear girl, we love your
enthusiasm and Observation-Disclosures
you're such a baby we really must look
out for you. It isn't enough to work
for noble purp0se-wOrkers must get
a living same as the rest Of the world.
Now it happens you can help us mag
nificently. You see-we are pressed
for time-this town has done fairly
still 1t is way below it's quota. And
we are dated up in lot Of other towns
now if we can only get the 5000 we
lack-why we can go on, and possibly
give you the same chances in the other
places we offer you here"
"What cfances" Rena asked. Mrs.
Gray almost whispered: If you'll get
check for that amount from Peter.
Linley welt give you a third-no wait
ing to bank it either-and we won't
use his name-just announce it from
the platform, An Unknown Friend"
"You would really do that?" Rena
interrupted.
certainly; it's hardly more than the
usual thing" Mrs. Gray answered ca
gerly. 1--WE might make 1t half, If you
bring in the check this afternoon"
Nora, looking at her sister over Rena's
head, nodded, saying inaudibly, since
both were expert lip readers, make it
half outright" and smiling trium-
phantly. Rena> was, after all, turning
out a providence. Peter was sweet on
her. Confronted with his own check
for such sum, as evidence of grounds
for breach of promise, he would never
risk going to -extremities. And once
he had settled he would be as good as
an annuity. Here her meditations were
rudely interrupted. Peter had come in.
| Rena was asking him plumply for the