The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-11-01

slowly. 'e'''
MRS. Penfield gave him a sly glance
Dut made no comment. 1t was hay,n.
ming to dawn upon her that incl
Jerry admired Prudence Hapgood-
that he regarded her as a super,,r
peing, worlds removed from the sor,
OF existence which he had known
Before her he was sometimes shv al.
ways awkward, always self-conscious-
ne. the nonchalant, self-possessed
Jerry Winston-and yet he STAYED nv,
Mrs. Penfield wondered.
Certainly Prudence was different
from anyone else in The Custard Cun
She was like quiet little rowboat
that had strayed from its moorIngs
and had fioated into group of varie.
gated craft. Always gentle and
friendly, she yet had the slightly
aloof manner of one whose thonphts
are turned often inward. So far
from being modified by her surround
ings, she had brought her own world
into them and kept 1t intact. Her
carefully preserved silk gown; the
fine old lace around the neck and edg
ing the sleeves; her sweetly sad
poise; the calm expression of her
eyes-these set her apart from her
neighbors, intanglbly but undenlably
She had brought bit of crocheting
Mrs. Penfield got out her sewing
Jerry Winston nervously proffered
some "reminiscences of the Oregon
woods-in the interests of pillow
tops; Lettie was quietly cutting pic
lures out of an old Weatherstone mag.
azine. Conditions were ideal for a
congenial confab-when like a bolt
out Of the blue, word came that Mrs
Enslow's baby had been taken ILL.,
Would Mrs. Penfield come at once?
OF course she would.
You entertain Miss Hapgood," she
reTinded her household, with a part
ing wave of her hand. I'll come back
as sOon's can"
No one knew upon whom the mantle
Of hospitality had fallen. Uncle Jerry
became more communicative about
trees and out-of-doors, strangely easier
now that his niece was gone. Lettie,
however, understood that the honors
were hers. When Penzie was away,
surely she was the next hostess in
line. She put aside her pictures and
directed her mental energy to the
question of hospitality.
Talking amt much good" she said
to herself. watching Uncle Jerry, who
was expatiating on the value of Ore
gon pine WED oughter feed her.
Folks don't think they've had good
time to your house less they've ct"
This decision was cemented by the
fact that Miss Hapgood had treated
Crink and Lettie to cake a few days
before. 81 gotta feed her somepn. !
Just gotta" She sprang TO her feet
and stole into the kitchen.
She stood for some time, thinking
Without looking, she knew there were
no treats available in the cupboard; ;
neither was 1t permissible to take SELF
help liberties between meals. She
would have to begin at the beginning.
Crink was on the back steps, Whit
Ting pieces of wood which would
some time, with slight infusion OF
Imagination, be put together as
steamboat. Lettie approached MIN
with utmost ingratiation.
SCOT any money, Crink?' she In
quired gently.
"Well-er-why you wanter knowf
He looked up In shrewd caution. Inc
fact was that he had money; and al
though individuals have had more
none ever felt greater responsibiill!'
Since he had been paid in cash by Mt.
Drake. Mrs. Penfield had presented
him with an old purse and had above"
him TO carry in II a sum never eN-
ceeding twenty cents, usually IN MS
small change as provided by the
United States treasury. Inc 'ei!
,oosest of this loose change ne eouiu
spend without supervision up TO anu
Including ten cents week. larger
Investments were subject to decision
in conference. Crink's pride had
reached dangerous proportions ne
was even glad that the purse was oiu
II looked more as though his finaneial
axnerience reached gratifyingly into
the past Moreover, by keeping the
inside pocket of the purse stulieu
with chips from the kitchen woodpiie,
he was able to give the impression ol
abundant resources beyond the
amount which he chose to spehu NJ
the moment. . u
"Iet me have some money, Crink'
Lettie begged. "I need 1t awtul' anu
know you're most rich man
He was flattered, but not WHOLLY y,
orsrcome "what do you want 1t forf
Che told him. "And we've gotta De
horspitle, Crink Penzie said 10 a, ue,
and it's a good chance to make hef
happy" usros,on
After considerable persuasion
or,nk's will became enfeebled' and ne ,,
handed over two cents. to match .ne
two which Lettie had already Au'
mitted she possessed. ,..,,o
"c,ory bel" triumphed Le..ie, ',,
.cr,nS vou're all to the good. NO"