The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-18

well. Had I better make that pay ment on the house today? If I do there'll be nothing for coal"
 The harassed look came back into Mir. Caldwel's eyes and his shoulders bowed a bit more.
 If I hadn't missed so many days work That and the doctors bills have set us way back. Do what you think best. From now on I'll keep going-guess I was babyish to give
 "Yo1 babyish !' scorned Mrs. Cald. well, as she fondly kissed her husband and sighed as she watched his tall, stopped, awkward form go down the street. 'i"
 If only he could get out to his brothers farm for six months without a thing to worry over-and if I could prove to that selfish, conceited daugh- the family, I'd think my life was worth while.' .-la
 Mrs. Caldwell did her dishes almost as though she had a spite against them. Then she put on a befeathered henna- colored, shapeless old velvet hat of Els telle's. which sat rakishly on her head, and started for the real estate office. The home must be saved. They could wait a week for coal. Also she would mention to Mir. Hinkle that the house on Fourth avenue was the kind Mrs. Avon, her frined in a neighboring sub urb, had said she was thinking of buying.
 She had to wait half hour ill the office before MT. Hinkle came. The place proclaimed a modest prosperity. On Mir. Hinkle's desk was a blatant motto about seizing opportunity by the forelock.
 Well. Mir. Hinkle makes his money from the money other people spend. The Avons or some one else will buy that house and then"
 Mrs. Caldwell left her thought sus- pended in midair and caught her breath. It seemed that opportunity was fairly shaking her shaggy forelock in her very face. No wonder Estelle had told her she no brains.
 When short, fat MT. Hinkle came puffing in a minute later, Mrs. Cald- we'll, instead of producing her bills for the payment on the house, hurled at him: What commission do you give people who put you in the way of buy CTS?
 What do you think Tommy Jones had done but gone and-s set up an office for himself!" complained Mfr. Hinkle. "And he knows as much about my busi- ness as do myself, and now he's got my customers to let. them put his big sign on their property, and where's my business?"
 Keep your own business--beat him to it" advised Mrs. Caldwell, straight hoI thinking of the forelock waiting to be seized.
 Sell those houses before he has a chance to-
 Bring me the people to sell them to!'' snorted Mir. HinkIe.
 At the same commission Tommy Jones got?" asked Mrs. Caldwell.
 For the first time Mir. Hinkle seemed actually to see Mrs. Caldwell.
 "Sure!" he said with derisive grin.
 Let me take your. car for a couple of hours?"
 Say, do you mean business? I thought it was a joke" Can take the car?" If you know how to run it, only you'll have to excuse me, Mrs. Cald- well, but if you're going out to repre- sent this firm, then it,really is my busi- ness-that hat--I'm afraid it would drive business away.'
 All of the mornings resentment and hundredfold more toward Estelle en- gulfed Mrs. Caldwell. But with the forelock in mind she got new grip on herself.
 "oh, this old thing!" she said air fly. Just happened to pick it up when 1t should go into the stove. Til drive home and dress and you'll hear from me in a couple of hours. Of course l can drive. Didn't brother Tom teach me when he stayed with us?"
 It was the middle of the afternoon when Mrs. Caldwell drove up to the office where perturbed and red-faced MT. Hinkle was, anxiously awaiting her, for he had been berating himself for an idiot ever since he had seen the tail of his car disappear; he caught his breath at the sight of Mrs. Caldwell. She was dressed in, aAfiew blue suit of Estelle's. As it was loose and short for Estelle, it was almost a fit and gave Mrs. Caldwell quite an air. Also she had put on the new small blue hat with sweeping quill which Estelle brought home the day before. As a finishing touch she had thrown Estelle's treas HGk kN NIC .u.G .