The Red Cloud chief., 1921-04-28
CHAPTER THREE-continued.

Indeed II was the tin soldier. who
stood on his little shelf looking out
OF the window, who first reminded
Bob OF the loneliness and discomfort
Of the coin. As a rule whenever the
conscience OF the boy was touched
Mr.. Bloggs had something to say.
1t was late In February and every
the oldest inhabitants of Bingvllle
could not recall so severe n winter.
Many families were short of fuel. The
homes of the working folk were IN.
sufficiently heated. Money In the bank
had given them n sense Of security.
They could not believe that It's magic
power would fail TO bring them what
they needed. SO they had been care.
less of their allowance Of wood and
coal. There were days when they
had none and could get none ut the
yard. Some men with hundreds OF
dollars In the bank went out into the
country at night and stole rails off
the armer fences. The homes of
these unfortunate people were raw
aged by influenza and many died.
Prices at the stores mounted higher.
Most OF the gardens had been living
Idle. The farmers had found II hard
to get help. Some Of the latter. in
deed, had decided that they could
make more by tcaming ut Millerton
than by tolling In the fields. and with
less effort. They left the boys and
the women 10 do what they could with
the crops. Naturally the latter were
small. So the local sources Of supply
had little 10 offer and the demand up-
on the stores steadily increased. Ger
tain OF the merchants had been. in n
way, spoiled by prosperity. They were
rather Indifferent to complaints and
demands. Many OF the ~storekeepers,
irritatcd. doubtless, by overwork. had
lost their former %politeness. There
were days when supplies failed to mr.
rive. The railroad service had been
bad enough In times of peace. Now.
II was worse than ever.
Those who had plenty OF money
found II difficult to get a sufficient
quantity of good food, Bingville be.
Ing rather cut of from other centers
of life by distance and n poor railroad.
Some drove sixty miles to Hazelmead
10 do marketing for themselves and
their ne'ghbors.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. Patterson Bing,
however, In their luxurious apartment
at the Waldorf-Astorla hotel I'm New
York, knew little Of these conditions
until Mr.. Bing came up late In March
for n talk with the mill superintend-
ent. Many Of the sick and poor suf.
fered extreme privation. Father O'Neil
and the Reverend Otis Singleton of
the Congregational church went
among the People. ministering 10 the
sick, OF whom there were many. and
giving counsel to men and women
who were unaccustomed TO prosperity
and Unqualified wisely to enjoy II.
One dav, Father O'Neil saw the Wild.
Ow Moran coming into town with Il
great bundle of fagots on her back.
"This looks n little like the old coun-
try" he remarked.
She stopped and swung her fagots
TO the ground and announced: at do
that an may God help us! It's hard
times, Father. In spite o. all the mon
ey, It's hard times. 1t looks like there
wasn't enough to 60 '%round-the ships
be takin' so many things to the old
country"
"How Is my beloved Shepherd9" the
good Father asked.
'Mother o. Godl The house Is that
cold, he's been layin' abed for n week
an Judge Crooker has been away on
the circuit"
TOO bad" said the priest. 1--WE
been so busy with the sick and the
dying and the dead l have hardly had
time to think OF YOU"
Against her protest he picked up
the fagots and carried them on his
own back to her kitchen.
He found the Shepherd I'm a sweater
sitting up In bed and knitting socks.
"How Is my dear boyf the good Fa-
ther asked