Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-07-05

own private dressing room at one side
of the waiting room. There's warm
water In there Take your time and
don't get discouraged" he told the
boy. "You can't get all that CRIME off
the first time Mildred's keen eyes
observed, too, that In place Of the rags
and leather that Tony had worn In
lieu Of footgear he now wore stout
pair of new shoes, and in place Of the
mems socks that had left his legs
half bare he now wore pair of good
ribbed boys stockings.
When Mildred went into Mr.. Ben
sons office she noticed the remains Of
footgear In the waste basket Then
Mildred began her request for the
vacant position, and before Bill Ben
son had made any definite answer to
her question the Italian boy, his face
shining with the effect of soap and
water and his hands very red and
much improved, timidly appeared at
the door.
you can have the rest of the day
to yourself, Tony" said the principal.
L.
Now get tube Of vaseline, don't for
get the name, and rub your hands with
1t tonight-and Tony" he said as the
boy started for the door, sdon't let
any one know where you got the
shoes. You needed them and now you
have them. That's ALL"
That evening Mildred telephoned to
her uncle.
1--WE got the job" she said, start
In at work tomorrow. The situation
up there seems interesting but / don't
think you figured 1t out right"
BY the end Of the spring, after the
busiest four weeks of the whole year,
Mildred told her uncle she was not
yet ready to make her report. "But /
have been keeping my eyes open and
by next autumn can tell you. You
may be surprised"
'sThen Benson Is going to let you
keep the job?'
II don't know" said Mildred. "But
may find out lot this summer" and
that was all the meager satisfaction
Mildred would give her uncle.
Then the first day Of September
Mildred appeared In her uncles of11ce.
She looked rather fustered-very
pretty as Uncle Tenny thought. In
fact it had never occurred to him that
his niece was pretty at all.
I've come to give my report in the
case of Bill Benson, said Mildred just
as her uncle was getting ready to say
something by way Of compliment.
''Then you've found out" said Uncle
Tenny, showing interest. 'He has
some reason for holding down that
job up there-?''
YES" said Mildred deliberately.
"He has. What tell you is confiden-
tial, because he told me confidentially,
and perhaps ought not to tell you at
all-under the circumstances. But l
can trust you. Bill Benson was reared
in that rotten ward, as you call it. He
went to the public schools and was
taught by teachers under principals
who got their jobs through political
pull. He found out thing or two
about your glorious board of educa-
ton. Something happened won't
tell you about 1t now--but it was
something that people don't think ever
does happen in the schools in this
country in this day and generation
somehow he'd get an education, and
that somehow he'd get an appointment
in the public schools and get to be a
principal and on up to the top, and
that he'd spend his energies as a man
to clean up just such schools as No.
"a. So he worked and almost starved
to get through second-rate college
and then played politics with the
bosses up there to get his appoint
ment. He did play professional base
ball, but that's no disgrace, and he did
get his appointment through the ma
chine politicians. But all the time
he's been working with the purpose Of
real reformer. 1t isn't just School
"a he wants to help, or just the
schools in this city, it's"
Mildred Harold's cheeks were glow
ing and her eyes danced fire as she
raised her young voice higher and
higher in defense of Bill Benson.
Uncle Tenny had interrupted her at
the last
Hold on there, niece" he said. 81
guess you've got the dope about Bill
Benson, all right. I'm glad he's only
visionary, not crook-but how did
you get his condolences? How
"You don't suppose he would want
to keep things back from me?' ex-
claimed Mildred "Why before he'd
even proposed to me-"
Uncle Tenny wilted In his chair, but
there was an expression not of dis
pleasure on his face.
$50 you're going to marry your die
tionary?" he said. "What shall my
wedding present beY
"Your help and influence in getting
Bill appointed as district superin-
tendent," was Mildred's prompt reply.
He's been principal long enough.
There's lot he can learn about the
school system as q superintendent