Arizona republican., 1921-12-25
MOTHERS THINGS THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY STORY
 A COMPLETE NOVELETTE,

Sharlot Hull was showing Mrs. fall afternoon. Sharlot had just fin ished housekeeping and Mrs. Saver cool had come in with a neighbours curiosity to see how she had made things look.
 There's Mis- Hull's gray cape and bonnet hanging there on the hall rack just as they used to when she was alive" Mrs. Savercool said as they paused in the hall. You might think she'd just stepped out for a minute. I cant see that you've changed thing from the way she kept it, Shar- lot"
 T haven't" Sharlot replied. She was a small, dark woman of 39, who looked singularly younger with her smooth cheeks and warm brown eyes. Becoming clothes would have made a pretty woman of her, but at the moment she was nothing much to look at. for she wore a faded cap and apron and a frayed old black coat buttoned up under her chin. The coat was made necessary by the chill of the house. for Sharlot had to econ omize in fuel as in everything else.
 Mrs. Savercool, who was ponderous in her furs, looked at Sharlot smil- ingly. "You do beat all,'' she said.
 Mrs. Hull has been gone Il years and if she was to step in this minute
 she'd know just where to lay her hand to everything she left. It's her
 house yet just as much as it ever was.''
 "Of course it is." agreed Sharlot.
 Mrs. Savercool paused as she was about to descend the stairs. But if you wanted to, you know, you could rent part of it." she suggested. "Since the new factory came in places to live in are at a premium.I dare say
 you could get s20 a month for what
 room you've got to spare. And you've got a big attic so you could pack everything nice as need be. Seems kinda foolish for you to be working out when you've got a house that would support you"
 Sharlot flushed. 'If did what you say it wouldn't be home 10 me any more, either mothers or mine" she said. of course, I was only her adopted child, just as Amos was"-a catch came in her Voice-"bnt she was a real mother to me. the only one I ever knew. and now that she's gone 1 her memory is all I've got in my life. 1 And I mean to preserve that as Ions as I can Why. I'd work my finger nails off, cried Shar1ot. passionately. | "before I'd let strangers into her l house or change one thing from the way she liked to have it.''
 You've paid for your bringing up, all right. You're a good girl.' said | Mrs. Savercool with some feeling. ] She went upstairs and paused before an open door. This was Amos room wasn't ite I suppose you i haven't any idea where he is.' | "No,' Shariot sighed.
 "Amos was a Driscoll,, Mrs. Saver
 cool said; and when you've said that you've said all anybody need to know | I always wondered at Mis- Hull talk | ing him, but she had a big heart Well. it was too bad. He was nice i looking boy. She studied his picture
 an instant. ''He don't look much like | the Driscolls, but then you never can tell" she went on. Good forehead and all that, but still he must have been all Driscoll under the skin or he'd never have run away from Mis | Hull. She was a good woman.
 suppose being brought up so witf | Amos he got to seem almost like youl
 own brother, didn't he?"
 "Yes," Sharlot said. She. too, was
 looking at the spirited boyish face 1T | the fading photograph. She re- membered so well the day he was missing Amos had brought home z stray dog He was crazy about dogs but Mrs. Hull hated to see one go by 1 in the street even, so she told hin 1 that he would have to get rid of thu animal. Amos had kept Spotty hid den for two days in an old shed at tht back of the lot: then she had found
 out and let the dog go when Amoi ] was at school When Amos came