Paragould soliphone. (Paragould, Ark.) 1918-1950, 1922-08-16
MOTHER SLIPS
BY ELIZABETH M'NAUGHT
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Il don't think she's as pretty as
Billie Bunts," Isabels voice was tense
and positive In defense of her favOrite
screen star.
"Oh, ! don't know" and 1sabels
twin sister, Bess, shrugged a dainty
shoulder. you think there's no one
quite so pretty as Billie Bunts, but
there are others
Tom, the elder brother, young stu
dent of twenty, stirred uneasily but
soon settled back into his accustomed
calm, his mind absorbed in the latest
best seller. Father dozed in his chair,
glasses in perilous juxtaposition with
his nodSing chin. Only mother was
awake, alert and interested, intensely
so at the mention of the Bunts name.
"Well when you girls begin finding
explode"
"why, mother, Ellie is perfect
peach"
peach nothing! Haven't / known
John and Molle Bunts all my life?
And if you think they could produce
anything pretty or"
ooh, splash" in unison, 1--WE aren't,
discussing the Bunts up the street nor
their Billie. We mean the movie star"
Mother relapsed into a very, very
rigid silence But in the hours that
followed and next day, her mind was
not at all rigid, it was making most
unheard-of decision, and the following
evening, about potatO-peeling, time,
found her ordering a well-chosen, IL
meager repast in well-known cafe
terra in the heart Of the city. suel
Yes, she vowed she would find out
for herself what it was that the girls
liked in these moving pictures for,
quite frequently, had come the eve
ming message over the wire, Don't
keep supper for me, ma, I'm going to
the MOVIES
The woman passed quietly into the
darkened auditorium and dropped
nervously into the nearest vacant seat.
She gazed spell-bound at the screen
and her eyes moistened with SYM
pathy as she became familiar with
IllC NltiSSltuOSS vi At WOItll uDOut iiSA
own age who, after life of hard
work and struggle, was now facing
the poorhouse.
With mother, the words "poorhouse"
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF
the kind she herself had been guilty
Of, were synonymous. She felt fW
her purse. Horrors, it was gone!
In flash, she was on her feet,
blindly making her way toward the
exit. 1t did not occur to her to APP
proach an usher or the desk; home
was her one thought.
She approached the girl presiding
over the turnstile in the subway.
"Tve lost my purse, Miss" meekly.
The girl eyed her suspiciously.
What's that dangling from your
arm?" The young woman snapped
out the question as calmly as IL alb
sent-minded customers were her spe-
cialty. The distressed woman glanced
at her arm and there swung her
purse as airily as young imp.
In a more composed state of mind
she continued home, quietly let herself
in and stepped expectantly to the
kitchen. The usual well-ordered
kitchen was now rather pathetic in
it's array of dishes and pans, piled
high and unwashed, and the air was
reeking with the extra warmth of a
forgotten gas oven. In the dining
room the two girls were stretched out
full length on the floor, absorbed in
paper pattern of coming gown, and
Jimmie. the young pride of the house,
slept comfortably, dressed even to the
boots. In his small bed. Mother de-
tected the remains of tears on his
grimy cheeks and her heart re
preached her.
couldn't you girls put your little
brother to bed one night without leav
ing him in the state he's in and break
ing his heart besides? And l bet you
forgot his prayers" 10 f..
The girls were aroused. aiIson't
mention that kid to us, mother; 1t
took the combined efforts of dad and
Tom and US to get him as far ,as we
have. and we nearly had to call on
the neghbors."
Gee, what a kid" added Bess, in
her more quiet, yet positive voice.
"And where's your father and
Tom?"
Both gone up to Bunts' for little
game"
did they have anything to eat or
have they gone to Bunts' for that?"
Anything to eat" Indignantly,
"well we guess we had the best sup
per ever, Beans and frankforts, and
sausages for Tom
"And griddle cakes" Bess inter-
posed. 1--WE baked them decided turn
ing them too bothersome, monoto-
nous"
And lots of fun" giggled the BEAM
ing Isabel. "All scores are now paid.
You know, mother, when you are
around we have to behave, but dad
doesn't care"
snow, if you please, where were
you?"
Mother laughed nervously.
"Come, do tell"
"If you please, your mother has been
to the movies"
"To the movies." shrieked Isabel,
the twin, who had talked first and