The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-12-06
oh. But they are related Z.

MIS-. Penheld waved her hand careless
'y' In rather correct indication Of the
vague beginnings which all three had
had
fou-adopted-three children?" ex.
claimed Mrs. Weatherstone.
Why, yes. 1t wasn't nothing. j
wanted to, and I could as wells not"
AIRS. Weatherstone. looking at the
other woman across vast gulf of eco
nonic disparity, smiled gently. "Yes.'
she said, in low voice, "you could"
Crink was uneasy There was some
thlng In the Interview that ne did NOT
understand. He felt the undercurren,
OF unspoken thoughts and could only
ihier that his beloved Penzie was he
ing criticized. He caught Mrs. Wealth
erstone's glance, keen. swift, darting
from the vivid pictures on the wall to
the packing boxes, to the few strnIght
chairs, to the bare spaces around the
room where furniture most convent
emily might have been.
Yes repeated Mrs. weatherstone
softly, you could"
Crink plunged into defense. "You
don't understand, Mrs. Weatherstone,"
he said earnestly. TT amt bit as
you're thinking. We get along fine
honest. we do. I earn some money
now, and lot Of old vegetables and
things. 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 a 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. Penfield, 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 shall speak
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'l all go out with you," shouted
Lettie. "And come again whenever
you can, won't you? It's been awful
int'rusting. seeing you"
The three children trooped after her,
prodigal with entertaining comment,
delighted with the graciousness Of her
response. After she had stepped into
the car, they stood watching. hand In
hand.
Remember us to your daughters,
won't your" beamed Lettie, in a ell
mactic ecstasy of politeness.
"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 have done to the
Innocent"
In The Custard Cup the afternoon
continued to be unusual. To her In
tense delight, Lettie was invited to
have supper with Mrs. Sanders-in-
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
was inveIgled into permitting Thad to
hunt up his chum, Timmy Catterbox.
She left the table as 1t stood and hur-
ried to Mrs. Enslow's.
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 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 dollarsl 1t had totally
slipped her mind in the excitement OF
tha Ensloyy cete sfroDhe She drpad ded