Evening star., 1924-07-20

| arrangement Marthy sullenly ac-
Quiesced. She would have to do the
housework now. which was no more
to her liking than the realization that
Shug would permanently pocket the
. money for their daughters board.
Next day Selma 10 sought out Lige
Tuttle, woods foreman for Pruitt
Brothers.
I'm lookin' for job" she an
nounced bIuntly.
Sorry" Tuttle answered brusquely
"but all our cooks are niggers."
Cooke" was the scornful answer
II amt astin' to be no cook. 1 want
shore 'nough work"
Tuttle smiled patronizingly. "Wha,
can you do:"
"Scrapin', dippin' or hackin'," was
The confident answer.
your Tuttle laughed softly
why, that's a mans work. It's
hard"
ANY harder'n brakin' bull yearlin's
to the yoke: Err splittin' rails an
breakin' new ground?"
Mean to say you've done all that~'
81 most bardaceously have"
Labor was scarce at the time. Tut
decided to take a chance.
Whats your nance" he asked.
"S'liny Joe"
! What else?"
1t was the first time Selma Jo had
ever been asked her surname. She
| felt the blood rush to her face.
whats your last name?" TuttIe
| repeated.
The answer came almost inaudibly,
"HudsilL"
"Shug Hudsilrs young 'un?"
How kin I hep it," the girl burst
out passionately. "If you'd a been
borned Hudsill, you'd halter be one,
too"
Don't get mad, child" There was
something in the spirit OF this strange
creature that Tuttle respected. 81
wasn't amin to low-rate you none
just because of your daddy. Come
here tomorrow mornin' and I'll try
you OUT
Selma 10 found that the work was
hard. The dry. slippery pine needles
underfoot made walking itself a task.
She carried a heavy bucket into
which she dipped the raw gum, emp
tying the bucket when filled into bar
rels scattered about the orchard
From sun-up till sunset and later she
toiled, foolishly happy. What she
was undergoing was the prelude to
real existence. as she saw il. What
better, she asked herself, could any
strong, healthy girl desire than a
steady job dipping turpentine, for
which she was paid real money:
Occasionally passers-by, strangers to
the vicinity. amazed at seeing a girl
engaged in such unusual work, would
pause to ask friendly questions. The
first hush Of pleasure that this gave
Selma 10 was quickly erased by the
bitter after-twang of reflection. These
people were kind because they did not
know she was Hudsill
While with practice she developed
skill. it was three months before she
had saved the money she needed. The
ginsham dress had been laid aside
for her. But a beautiful dress above
a pair Of bare legs and feet would
never do. Then, too. she would need,
besides shoes and stockings, a hat.
THE day came at last when she
| Sooid IHdhe neE purchases. With
her arms filled with bundles, she
started out joyously on her three
mile walk home.
A half mile from the commissary
| she paused indecisively at a cross
roads. The right-hand road. leading
| to Shoafwater River, meant the
lengthening OF her journey full
| mile. But the river, with its promise
OF a cooling plunge, enticed her. AS
she stood hesitant she observed 2
stranger approaching on horseback
He reined in his horse and hailed her
"Evenin', little sister. Live here
abouts?"
Down the left,hand fork a piece
Who air you?"
/ I'm Holmcs-sheriff Of the county >
lnstnctively the girl drew back
| what air you wantin' O. me?
amt done nothin'.'
Lord bless you, little sister" the
sheriff laughed. I'm not after YOU
Thought maybe as you live round
here you might tell me something
want to know"
| Gently been committed in the bay-
shore country, ten miles distant. Cir
cumstances pointed to the guilt OF
two men who had been arrested. AS
Stunning that the murderers had passed
through the Hudsill section en- route
to or from the scene of the crime, the
sherin was seeking evidence to prove
| this.
| Selma 10 recalled two men who ha d
passed that way whose description
fitted those charged with the murder.
! Sheriff Holmes was elated.
| Would> you like trip to East
| view?'' he asked.
| "Eastview?' Selma JOS heart
| skipped beat That's town. ain.t
| it-whare the railroad trains is ato"
Yes We'll want you there a week
! from today" The sheriff filed in a
blank subpoena and extended it to
the girl. Look me up in the court
mousse soon as you get to town."
Selma JOS announcement that she
was going to court created a furry
at home until Shug learned why she
had been summoned. Then he
breathed easily.
When the day dawned Selma To
assembled a lunch Of corn pone and
| side meat, filled small bottle with
molasses. and, dressed in her new
fnery, set out on foot
The new shoes began to pinch. She
took them off, tied them together bv
their strings, and slung them over
her shoulder. The stockings were
rolled into balls and stuffed into her
| pockets.
| Late in the afternoon she batbed
her feet in brook just outside Of
Eastview and donEed shoes and
stockings again.