The Glenwood post., 1923-05-31
CHAPTER u
The Sealed Package.

The Sealed Package.
The wide door of Mrs. Penfleld's 8
house admitted one without circumlo-
cution to the main room, always with
irreproachable propriety spoken of as
'the living-room." Never did apart.
ment more constantly earn Its name.
By night it was the sleeping quarters
Of Crink and Thad, when the two long
packing-boxes were turned out from
the wall and revealed themselves as
hunks; by day the narrow lean-to
kitchen was continually spilling its
activities through the door. With en-
forced stylishness. the Penfields even
ate in their living-room.
The furniture was exceedingly
scarce; but the walls, through patient
accumulation, were rich with diver
Aon for the observer. Crink's con-
nection with the grocery store and his
prowling about for cast-off treasures
had established avenues of vivid
adornment. In a prominent position
hung bunch of bananas with a
young Apollo about to cut OF las
Sious speSllHeH plCluIe So real sllc
as to give the visitor start young
ladies with Venus complexions and
gowns such as The Custard Cup had
never seen In the fabric, smiled gra-
ciously at well-spaced intervals; in
the corner vigorous old man. who
personally proved that tobacco is con-
ducive to longevity, urged the be-
holder to invest Immediately in Ell
Jugilo cigarettes. The time would
come when Mrs. Penfield would have
to combat this Injunction. but In the
Interim she had not had the stoniness
to bar so remarkable a work of art
from the corner into which 1t exactly
fitted.
Parallel with the living-room was
Mrs. Penf1eld's bedroom, so called be-
cause she slept there. 1t contained no
bed in the conventional acceptance of
the term, although at one end an old
mattress was supported on three po-
tato boxes. 1t was a mattress that
deserved no greater honor, being of
yielding and treacherous nature, and
having on more than one occasion
abandoned its duties and INDUCED in
utter collapse. The clothing of the
family was contained in apple boxes,
brought home by Crink and nailed to-
gether to form cupboards.
Above these looms was loft once
used for hay but now entirely cut
Off from the ground floor. 1t could,
however, be approached by ladder
on the outside-and was so ap-
preached by Crink during winter
rains, when 1t was the last resort for
drying clothes.
1t was September. The California
were warm and bright, not yet edged
with the crispness of fall. Crink be-
ing in school, Mrs. Penfield was man
aging alone.
She had taken up her basket Of
clothes and started for the yard
when the bell rang. This was strictly
In accordance with the usual routine,
because Mrs. Penfield rarely finished
anything without interruption. She
put down her basket and went to the
door.
Good morning, Mrs Bosley. Come
right in"
A young woman stood outside. She
was carefully groomed, smartly
dressed, striking in appearance with
out being exactly pretty. She and
her husband lived in The Custard
Cup, but no one could understand
why. They were apparently free of
all responsibilities and devoted them
selves to good times; in short, they
were everything that the other men,
hers of the community We're not.
81 can't stop, Mrs. Penfeld. I'm
going downtown, and / wondered II
you't let me leave this package with
YOU. It's got a few trinkets in 1t,
and I'd feel safer"
Mrs. Penfield hesItated. II hain't
got any safe place." she said slowly.
"nnd I'm in and out"
Gussie Bosley broke in eagerly.
You needn't feel any care about 1t.
Nobody'd take 1t. but I've got feel
lng-Td rather leave 1t here. put
newspaper round Il, so 'twouldn't
look of amy value whatever" She
passed over small package.
Mrs. Penfcld took 1t with some re-
luctance and carried 1t into her bed
room. She was accustomed to all
sorts of strange requests, but It was
the first time she had been nsked to
Rnnrd vnlunbles.
II expect she thinks nobody'd look