The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-07
LIVE GOOSE
BY Adeline X, Phe!an.

ANOAAAO - MOA0As
Copyright, 1922. by Wheeler Syn
dictate, Inc.)
Thanksgiving was only a week
away. Elfnor Bradford, setting her
table against the mornings hurry,
sighed deeply. She had just been
upstairs tucking in the rosy twins
and their threadbare clothes and
shoes badly in need Of repair had
given her a twinge at the heart.
Little Lisbeth hardly knew what
Thanksgiving meant, but the boys
certainly would be disappointed if
there was no turkey.
ut won't be much Of a Thanks
/ giving this year." she remarked.
Don't say that" reproved John.
"We have each other, the children
are we'll, and it won't be long be-
fore l can save enough for the
rainy day." ;-z
THAT awful BILL" began Elinor.
John drew from his pocket a roll
| of bills. 1--we cashed the bonds,'
he explained. 81 didn't see any
| other way. l knew that bill would
, worry you until it was paid. Youn
have at least that to be thankful
for"
you've been awfully good,
john" she murmured. her eyes wet
with tears, as she thought of Johns
helpfulness. Had he not met the
expenses of her mothers long ILL
ness without a murmur? The ex-
%perienced nurse, necessary toward
the last, had been a serious drain
on their resources. From time to
time Grandmother had helped the
young couple generously. There's
no danger of my bank falling" she
used to say with a smile, yet never
said which bank she patroniyed.
When she was finally stricken with
cerebral hemorrhage she had tried
vainly in the broken fragments of
words left to her powers to tell
them something. Elinor was sure
1 it was about the money, but they
never knew. She had almost for
gotten their need of it in the loss
of her beloved companion.
Well, they had worried through
somehow. Neither John nor she
had minded doing without, but 1t
was hard on the children.
The following day Elinor started
to the undertaken with her money
to pay the bill. YEARLY she picked
her way in the crowd. They jostled
and pushed her as she hung on the
swaying strap in the car. At last
i, she had a seat. She could not seem
to get her mother out Of her mind.
This would be their first Thanks
giving without her; how they
should miss her! She looked out
of the window. that the people
might not see her eyes, full of
tears. The windows she passed
were bright with holiday sugges-
lions, turkeys and cranberries and
greens-not for them, this year.
There! She had almost gone by
her stop with her day dreaming ;
her giving in to troubled thought.
At her destination she opened hel
lbag to take out her purse. Her
face went white; the world seemed
slipping from beneath her feet
The purse vas gone! Johns mon.
ey, the money for which he had
worked SO hard! She remembered
now when she had been jostled in
the crowd. Her pocket had beer
picked!
She stood there in 4 daze until
she realized that people were star.
ing at her ~ they passed. What
would she do? Fortunately, heI
car ticket Was stfll In her bag; she
could at least ride home. All the
way back she turned the matter
over IN her mind; she would carr
the missins money and pay the bill
Without Johns knowledge Of ths
loss.
Two hundred dollars! She al.
ready took in sewing. but-with he1
homework and the children to LODI
after It would take q long time be.
fore she could save that. Shey
work longer at night-but theI
John would begin to fuss AMI
question.
She stopped It the little corner
grocery store to purchase the rnea,
ger supply for, their evening meal
May / charge TT" she asked tim
idly, ~ this vas not her wont
i~6ure," smiled the grocer. .Ant
don't you want To order vo1rr TN