Shoshone journal., 1923-04-20
CHAPTER |
Mrs. Penheld, Manager.

Mrs. Penfield's house had originally
been a barn: but II had chanced to
come up In the world as Mrs. Pen
field went down, and they had met
and Joined forces to make a home
where none had been intended. The
only feature which had not suffered
change was the main door, a huge
sliding affair that precluded front
windows and was like no other door
for blocks around, belonging to the
type that had gone out with the prac-
teal passing of the horse.
If fortune led you that way. you
performed an operation on small
crank similar to grinding the morn
Ing coffee, a bell tangled. and In no
time AT all the big door creaked aside,
and there was the plump figure of
Mrs. Penheld. Her brown eyes had
look Of youth that belied the iron
gray OF her hair; and the cheerful
curve Of her lips gave you a welcome
that preceded the words-because
always she asked you to "come right
in." Your name, your business. were
secondary matters; you were first of
all human being and therefore in
teresting.
II was Monday afternoon. Mrs.
Penfeld had started the second wash
Ing of the day, when Crlnk returned
from school and bounded into the
lean-to kitchen.
Goodness mel" she exclaimed In
dlsmay. Look what you've done.
and those are the last stockings you
got to your name !"
Crlnk twisted his spine obedIently
and looked down with every appear.
ance Of surprise. "Geei" he said. 1T
must ha been when I clumb that
fence"
II could most have guessed IT,"
agreed Mrs Penfield mildly. "Folks |
make lots of trouble for other folks
leaving their fences so careless"
She examined the stocking with criti-
cal eyes II was full OF crisscross
runs. each representing a previous
mishap and materially lessenIng the
total capacity. ~ can't never mend
Il again. Crink. IT'D. strain right
out"
The boy glanced up In alarm. "Say.
Penzie. you don't mean l gotta stay
n"
She laughed. Land, mol Amt no
natter OF stockings going to stand
tween you and society. Crink. You
ust watch those clo'es. that they
Iont boil over. and III make you an
'ther pair In two SHAKES"
From an apple box In her bedroom.
irs PenfeId produced a pair OF long
lack hose which had once been the
roperty OF q maid employed by a ,
ertain Mrs Horatius Weafherstone .
ut which had been handed down !
rom lis original stratum until Il had !
lund further level OF usefulness !
J the household OF Mrs Penheld :
with practical skill she sliced on :
le Neatherstone garments al The
male. saying the mendod feet FOR n
the stove. and divided the a
~ into unequal portions. the nar \
'~ss cat Tor 1had. the wider Tor n
rink. staying the severed edges or a
10 latter With STOUT thread. she n
'mmsa them ~ receive ihs rubber a
10 which would hold fhe stockings h
ioH the tops - rinss WON shoes. u
Aqnlinaily, Ms penneld Nns man n
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