The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-05-11

out to her. She was q sort of charity
case, but I'll bet she wasn't the only
one In the congregation. Monday and
Tuesday she was real int'rusting
Wednesday she was just $3.50; Thurs
day she was on the decline; and by
Friday she'd run down entirely. Fri
day and Saturday she was a pretty
fair listener" Mrs. Penfield laughed
Blessed If 1 didn't always call on
that woman long the first of the week
sometime"
You're mighty encouraging to q
Teller that's had a hit-or-miss life
Car'line. I'd always wished some
body'd worked out a few things for
me. Oh, by the way" he added, as
he smoothed his hair before the small
mirror that hung by the cupboard. 81
ordered a sack of sweet potatoes this
morning. They'll come sometime to-
day. 1 got 'em turrible cheap, cause
they're whales-too big for fancy
trade. But 1 thought mebbe you
could use EN-"
ooh, Just grand" cried Mrs. Pen
field. "Td as soon have OUTSIDE pota-
toes as any other kind, and they're
what we need most. You be sure to
come round to supper tonight, Uncle
Jerry. Well have sweet potatoes
that Crink brought yesterday. It'll
be grand spread"
YES" acknowledged Jerry Winston
gravely, "I'll stake my life you'll make
them youngsters b'lieve It's Thanks
giving, but"
giving" she interrupted placidly.
Were awful lucky to be well nour-
ished all the time
Jerry Winston said nothing. He
took up his hat and whirled 1t alb
sently round and round. The habit
ual twinkle had died out of his eyes,
leaving them gloomy. During several
moments of silence he watched Mrs.
Penfield sprinkling clothes and rolling
them into tight compass with final
slap from her palm to encourage
capillarity.
Finally he reused and opened the
kitchen door. 81 wish 1 had a settled
income," he muttered He jammed on
his hat and went out.
"Poor man, wish he had" thought
Mrs. Penfeld. "It's hard on him to
cut loose and not get tied to some
thing again. Land, got to be careful
not to feel hurt cause he can't talk
1t over with his own niece; but trying
to force a feller's confidence is bout
like prying cocoon open with knife
1 amt going to care; I'm going to
expect-and I'm an awful good ex-
pecter. Besides, l got a heap of won
derful things to think about"
1t was true that several high points
had recently been reached by the Pen
fields. For one thing, Crink had been
promoted In the grocery business, be-
ing paid now In a small amount Of
cold cash for his two-hour service in
the late afternoon. he was also still.
on the inside ring In regard to bar
gains in vegetables, groceries and
meat bones, and continued to bring
in supplies that represented a sharp
saving to the family. Crink had
visions of being able to support the
household before many years, and
already he was swinging In and out
Of The Custard Cup with an engaging
air of haste and responsibility.
Lettie also had distinguished her
self-by a week of flawless behavior.
Whether 1t was because Of greater
effort or because Of fewer alluring
temptations, no one knew; neither
was anyone so unfeeling as to inquire.
The glory Of the achievement threw
the lower rungs Of the ladder into
kindly shadow. At last Lettie had
been arrayed In the pink sweater and
the white hat Of Turkish beaver and
had gone to church. And again no
one sought diligently for the motive
lest 1t might be found. Many motives
which result In creditable actions viii
undergo Instant disintegration II they
are exposed to the light, and no risk
was run by any Penfeld.
1t is not to be supposed that Lettie,
having won her victory, was inclined
TO underrate It's value. For weeks the
outfit had been the
pinnacle of her hopes and the bitterest
element in her failures; but when 1t
was hers by honest record. she car
ried off the situation with great non
chalance. Her black eyes glowed with
deep fire; her face was irradiated;
but her manner was set In the last
notch of jauntiness.
Jimmy" she had cried, upon her
return from church. "These toys sure
beat the world for class. 1 didn't
see anybody dressed niftier. and got
the SWEETEST feelings inside me. Seems
like there amt nothing / couldn't do
II / had the clo'es for it."
Mrs. Penfield smiled at this naive
of unchanging feminlnity.
'sNow that you've begun, hope you'll
keep right on wearing that sweater
ev'ry Sunday. 1t was easy, after all,
wasn't itY"
"Oh, dead easyi" confirmed Lettie,
with a careless gesture that repudi-
ated weary weeks Of abortive en-