The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1922-04-07
HIS BEST COAT
BY JULIA A. ROBINSON.

call it a failing, that she wanted to
help everyone in need, in fact, to feed
every tramp who came to the door
begging for food. A very lovable fail
ing it was, and no one could find the
heart to blame her.
May had managed her father and
mother, and brought them into her
way of thinking, but with Harold it
might be different.
"If l marry you, Hal" she had told
her lover, you must let me keep on
with my charities just the same.
agreed" he laughed, with admiring
eyes. Il only ask that you do not run
me into the poor house."
you know / would not do that" she
pouted. "Ill just give away what is
mine, out Of the allowance you give
me, and the old things we do not
want"
Sure thing!" he returned.
Things went smoothly for May after
she was married. Her husband was
devotion itself, and life was happy.
II feel real lonesome" she confided
TO her husband. Don't they have any
tramps in this part Of the town."
"Well, really, I like that !" he re-
sented, with pretended anger. Lone
some when you have me? Amt 1 as
good as any tramp"
There, Hubby, you know 1 didn't
mean that. You're the best husband
ever was, but you know 1 can't give
you cold victuals and old clothes"
"Well 1 should say not" he chuc-
kled, and the kiss he gave her assured
her she was forgiven.
1t was not very long, however, be-
fore the tramps found her out in her
new quarters. 1t does not take long
for them to learn who is ready to help
them. One by one they came to her
door, and she was happy once more
in the thought that she was doing good.
One day a very poor looking man
came to the front door. He was old
and thin and stopped. His clothes were
almost threadbare and it was a cold
day. May invited him into the kitchen
and gave him food, which he ate with
a relish.
'If you had an old %overcoat, lady !"
he suggested. 1.-THE wind sweeps
through me in this old coat and my
lungs are weak"
He gave q hollow cough that showed
he spoke the truth. Her kind heart
was touched. She must find a warm
coat for the man there must be one
about the house somewhere.
May did not know very much about
her husbands wardrobe or what he
did with his WORKOUT clothes, but she
would look. No doubt she would find |
one tucked away in some closet that '
she could give to this man who needed
1t so much. Where did her husband
put his old clothes, she wondered, for
she did not find them lying about in
as great profusion as she could have
AT last she opened a closet in a back I
hall. There it hung, the very thing!
The old coat she had been looking for.
Joyfully she took it from the peg.
There was a good deal of wear in it
yet, she noted with satisfaction. 1t
you'd keep the man warm all winter.
The tramp was sincere and profuse
n his thanks, and Mays heart glowed
IS she watched him depart, warmly
lad in Harold's old coat.
Lets go to the movies tonight" sug-
,ested Harold, after he finished his
upper. want to go?"
ooh, yes!" cried May. "Id love to
O.! How good you arel
AS they were about to start Harold {
aid: 81 think I'll put on my overcoat; {
cold. l haven't worn it this sea- :
on" :
He went out of the room, but soon
anne back in CONSERVATION.
"Been feeding any tramps today?" =
e asked.
"YeS, one poor old man. He was ]
Did and hungry, and half sick, too" S
well, he's helped himself to n.y. best
inter overcoat for thanks" Harold's F
Dice was stern and May felt a little
your best %overcoat! Oh, Hal" she
ammered.
eyes. l hung it in that back hall !
oset. He must have slipped in and If
ken it while you were preparing his n
iinty food" His voice was bitter.
May trembled. Halls best o%vercoat! T,
nd he was angryl What would he o.
to her If she told him? Yet she i,
uld not have the tramp blamed I'M "
silly. She covered her face with her
nds and burst into tears. A
"Oh, Hall" she sobbed, sit wasn't "
e tramp. He didn't steal it-I-I- OF
We it TO him. But I thought it was &c
| and that you'd thrown it away" en-
She shivered, expecting angry words M
r%eproach. of