The Glenwood post., 1923-09-06

ehln9s. And we always have lots to
eat-that is, all except last week. and
then-then we got along. But that's
the only time. We always have grand
spreads-two kinds to ev'ry meal, and
sometimes" He caught warning
glance from Mrs. Penfield and stopped
In confusion.
"Golly, what're you folks talking
about?" burst out Lettie with violence.
who ever thought we didn't have the
swellest eats? Best chow on the Coast
Never was anybody like Penzie.
Lordy, she's got me solid. I'd die
fore I'd get h'isted outa here. You'd
just oughter-"
children = children" reproved
Mrs. Penheld, who by quieter, more
unobtrusive means had been unable to
check this torrent of gratuitous expla-
nation. I'm 'shamed of you"
Mrs. Weathersone made no comment
on the intimate revelations. She gath
cred up her muff and moved toward
the door.
"Will the hangings be ready tomor-
row, Mrs. Penfield? Then I'll send for
them; you won't have to fold them so
much in that case. And I shall speak
to Mr.. Crashaw. I'm sure he'll come
to see you. Good-by-and Happy New
Year" With charming smile she
stepped down to the warped board that
took the place Of front porch.
We'll all 60 out with you," shouted
Lettie. "And come again whenever
you can. won't you? It's been awful
int'rustlng, seeing You"
The three children trooped after her,
prodlgal with entertaining comment,
delighted with the gracousness of her
response. After she had stepped into
the car, they stood watching, hand in
hand.
"Remember us to your daughters.
won't you?" beamed Lettie, in cli-
mactic ecstasy of pollteness.
"Yes, thank you" returned Mrs
Weatherstone, not to be outdone.
In the moment before the car start
ed, she looked again at the three chill
dren, in their made-over versions of
clothing that had come OUT of her
household She was unwittingly re-
sponsible for the appearance which
these three eager mites of humanity
presented to their little world.
MAY the Lord forgive me-" she
thought, 'for what l have done to the
innocent!"
In The Custard Cup the afternoon
continued to be unusual. To her in
tense delight, Lettie was invited to
vited with that spontaneous Informal
ity that is dear to the heart of every
youngster. The rest of the family were
at home, lingering around the table.
when an emergency call came from
Mrs. Enslow's. The baby had met
with an accident painfully connected
with the hot stove.
Crink was dispatched to the drug
store for soothing remedies. Mrs. Pen
field agitated out of observance of
her customary after-supper regime,
was inveigled into permitting Thad to
hunt up his chum, Timmy Catterbox.
She left the table as 1t stood and hur-
ried to Mrs. EnSlOWS.
Half an hour later, when the baby
was relieved, Mrs. Penfield went back
to her interrupted routine. She
switched on the light and began clear
Ing the table-stopped in the act Of
lifting plate. Her eyes had fallen
on u chair overturned on the floor of
the living room. A slight thing, but II
had happened while she had been
gone. While all the family had been
gone!
Her heart stood still as she thought
of the money which she had failed to
deposit that afternoon. More than
two hundred dollars! 1t had totally
slipped her mind In the excitement Of
the Enslow catastrophe. She dreaded
to look in the suitcase Seconds passed
chair, paralyzed by dread. At last she
nerved herself to investigate. The
front door was stlll locked, but the
back door had been left open, that the
children might enter when they re-
turned.
'iie went iHlb lne DeuToolu. AhS
suitcase was on the floor. The rickety
old fasteners We're undone.
The envelope of bills was gone. So
was Gussle Bosley's package.
Mrs. Penfield sank back on the floor
by the suitcase, faint and sick. Her
blood seemed to have stopped. The
room whirled. She was hanging over
chasm black ruin. =.
Crink came in.
where's Thad, Penzie7 Amt he
here?"
"Thad!" repeated Mrs. Penfield, still
In daze.
Eyes. Hen Timmy were playing in
the Catterbox back yard and Thad
came home for his spools. T1mmy
waited for him I'LL Mrs. Catterbox
called him In. He spoke to me outa
the window"
my goodness! We must find him
right OFF. Time he went to bed, any
how. It's most dark"
They went through the house, look