The Glenwood post., 1923-06-07

SYNOPSIS
CHAPTER Living in a barn, con-
vsrted into a dwelling. Mrs. Penfield II
manager of an apartment building known
as the "Custard Cup" originally "Cloister
Court Her income is derived from laun-
Dry work. her chief patron being Mrs.
doratius Weatherstone, whom she has
nnSer nnS seen seen; Lying with er are nev
ahe has adopted They call her "Penzie."
Thad tells Penzie strange man was in
curing for her under her maiden name.
CHAPTER ia tenant, Mrs. Gussie
Bosley, induces Penzie to take charge OF
. package. which she does with some
misSiVinSs.
> CHAPTER lII.-Searchihg a refuse dump
for things which might be of value. Crtnk,
q his steel. He takes her to Penzie. and
1etue is adopted into the family.
Lettie looked down, as II she were
seeing 1t for the first time. Il dunno.
I always take N'rythins."
"What forr'
slave to-"
"Whyr'
"Get beat il don't"
"Beat7 Who beats your
"Womep live with"
DO they beat you often?"
"All time-ferce" Lettie's hard
ened Indifference was more eloquent
than plethora Of details.
Crink stared at her with a new eY'
preston, Of wonder and Incredibly.
he was acquainted with hardship.
with privation, with eternal searching
for odds and ends. but he had been
saved from cruelty.
And II you take things home-do
you get beat up thsn7 he pursued.
"Nope. Not except when somep'n
else goes wrong"
A picture flashed across Crink's
mind-Penzie. with the comfortable
arms. the love that never failed.
With his wide stare entangled in the
black eyes still defying him savagely,
he slowly lifted one hand, then the
other.
Take It," he said shortly.
The small girl was amazed. "You
giving 1t upT'
He nodded. 'Take 1t along" He
showed the wheel toward her. ~
don't get beat"
yeah, you don'tI" she jeered.
"Where you living str'
Briefly he told her. In the telling,
q startling thought popped into his
mind. "Mebbe Penzie'd like you,
too," he finished
Lettie's lips curled.
He continued. She's int'rusted in
kids that don't intrust nobody else"
This subtle fattery was allowed to
permeate Lettie's consciousness be-
fore Crink overlaid 1t with further
contribution.
Were going to have stew for sup
per-"
Lettie gulped. Her armor had been
pierced in weak spot. She had had
nothing to eat since breakfast-and
that meal Of exceeding sketchiness.
You come long to supper and let
her look you over" he proposed.
''Dld you say stewr'
"Uh-huh."
'Meat in itT
-Uh-huh."
as it an honest-to-goodness inviter'
"Sure."
LAY down, cut you In twoT
Crink took the oath.
"I'll CO." she shrieked. "You can
have all the junk here" She swung
her arm wildly and rose.
Drink did not move; he was well.
nigh paralyzed with strange glimpses
into a life far darker than his own.
Get up" she shouted. "You little
ninnyl I'll lick you II you go back
on 1t now. Rattle your bones
lively"
When they had gathered up the
surface treasures, Crink escorted Let
tie through vacant lots and friendly
alleys to The Custard Cup-even tc
the high privilege of the back .dool
entrance.
"Penzie,' he shouted. plunging into
the lean-to In high excitement. "Pen
zie, look what I brought you. It's
Ten-Second Lettle."
Mrs. Penield set down her fatiror
and turned to see what she had un
expectedly acquired. A pair ol
bright black eyes stared back at hel
unwinkingly cut Of small sun
Drowned face.
'rBless my soul |" exclaimed Mrs
Penfield genially. "Ain't this nice
Come right In, Lettie."
Lettie did not move. Her expires
sion was oncommittal-the hard
wary expression of over-experenc,
estimating, preparing for possible
combat. Her curly black hair framet
her face In ragged waves. Her pres
entation gown was Of the SIMPLEST
one-piece garment, obviously intended
to close in the back, but long sine,
refusing to close Mt all. Finding thii
hindrance to untrammeled action
Lettie had faced the garment nbou
and laced 1t down the front with Bit
of twine, making use of the origlna
buttonholes and accidental perfora