The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-12-06


WIN involuntary surprise. Mrs. Pen
neld smiled. but mnde no explanation
experience in wealthy family had
given her this knowledge, but she al.
lowed the information to stand alone
as Mrs. Weatherstone would have
DONE
I'D only just begun to iron tbe
hangings," continued Mrs. Penfield
presently. She held up a length Of
rose silk embroidered in a scattered
design OF self color. Mrs. Weather.
stone stripped off her glove and fel,
or the material. She shook her head
Il wouldn't have believed 1t could
be done. It's marvellous. Do You
mean, Mrs. Penfield, that you washed
this and the spread in the water. ms
you would white embroideries
Land, no. I'd have ruined 'em that
way for sure. washed 'em with
bag"
with "a Did you say bag?"
Yes, like this one" Mrs. Penfield
produced from the cupboard small
bag of muslin. half filled with a soft
substance
Mrs Weatherstone felt of that, too.
but was still puzzled.
rs 1t something that Won buv3,
Mrs. Penfield laughed. "Oh. no. I
make 'em myself. It's mixture of
grains and"
Stop" cried Mrs. Weatherstone.
throwing up her hand in a gesture Of
quick authority Don't you tell me
what's in it,
"Why not? I'd just as soon you'd
know as not
Don't you tell me-or anybody else
Don't you tell soul what's in it,"
Mrs. Penfield gazed at her in silent
bewilderment.
"You remember what say. Keep 1t
to yourself"
II don't see why" said Mrs. Pen
field slowly. Its just something !
worked out. and it's been wonderful
for the chiidren's dresses. / can keen
gingham as bright as ever-if 1t ain'r
faded to begin with. stumbled on il
first by accident, and then l expert
mented till got the right ingredients
and proportions and"
That's just It," nodded Mrs. Wealth.
erstone, land you've worked out a
method that is ahead of the CONNER
cial methods. You keep your own coun-
sci till talk with man know who
owns chain of laundries. I'll have
him come to talk with you"
A lash of gratitude lighted Mrs
; Penfield's brown eyes. "Oh, If it could
he worth somethlng" she stammered
"I never had thought Of that. And I
thank you. always knew You were
kind.'
Mrs. Weatherstone's glance Travelled
briefly around the bare kitchen; rest
ed on Lettie. who had followed silent
Iy; skipped to Thad. who had padded
in from the yard. =. She bit her lips
ms II an unwelcOme conclusion about
her own thoughtfulness had forced It's
way into her mind.
I'm sorry was impatient. Mrs
"enfield," she apologized, as they went
1ack into the llving-room, but never
uTpuIllpu Nou NCit s' .7i'
was fastening her scarf as she spoke.
"Oh. gdo wait minute. please
begged Mrs. Penfield THAT sounds
like Crink's whistle He'd be so glad
TO meet you y
Crink came in at the big door. Crink
in the turned overcoat, pulling off his
shabby cap. Lettie and Thad in hell
thin cotton, were dressed according to
the sunshine and the really mild trm
perature: but Crink. coming in contaci
with the outside world. was dressec
according TO the calendar month of
January. nomlnally winter.
"This Is Crink." said slrs. Penfield
nroudly. "Crink. amt 1t grand to see
Mrs. WeatherstoneT
az should sayi" Crink stepped for
ward eagerly. 81 wanter thank you fo'
this here oyercoat. Gee, it's "A dandy
IT was pretty good last winter, hui
now't Pennies turned 1t, amt nobody
got better"
"You turned Geraldine's coat :" mur.
uured Mrs. Weatherstone. "Why. !
never should imagine IL wasn't new.
Drawing on her glove, she became gra-
ciously conversational. "Crink. my
dear, is 1t possible that you and Leftie
are twins? You're about the same
size, but your coloring is so differeoti
mo. am, we amt twins. I'm most
ten. but don't know how old Lettie Is
What would you say. PenzieT'
81 expect Lettie's younger" smiled
Mrs. Penfield. ''Only a few months
likely. And you know we're guessing
more or less bout your age, too. 'proH'
innate agesll do very well for all three
of you. There's heap Of things more
important"
Mrs. Weatherstone paused with hei
fingers on the clasp Of the glove she
had been about to fasten. Her DARK
eyes were full of inquiry. but her lips
were polite.
Mrs. Penfield answered her expires
sion. "They weren't mine at all origin
ally. IL lost my own"