Evening star., 1924-12-14

- He was born to management as
the sparks fly upward, was
Flora Janney. She never cried
~ unless there was a real reason
and then she did it in a bust
nesslike way-just a few short, sharp
dry-eyed walls to notify the world of
her wrongs. Oh, she was good
baby, model baby, If ever there was
one.
And she was a good little girl. She
Kept her little pinafores clean for a
miraculous length of time and played
happily with any sort Of makeshift
toys. And when that dark shadow
which was her fathers presence en-
tered the home, she was utterly silent,
keeping out of his sight and out of
reach of his heavy hand. Osceola
Janney was tyrant and brute, de-
spite a certain dashing handsome
ness that made women look after him,
whether he was walking steadily or
mot, and most usually he was not.
Perhaps 1t was the memory of that
dashing youth that he once was that
made Mrs. Janney burst into wild
tears on the night word was sent
from hospital that he never would
come home again to abuse his wife
and child. Flora was years old
when that happened and she cuddled
against her mother
Don't cwy. mother" she said pro-
tectingly. "Sno use to cwy."
Old Miss Carmine, the roomer on
the top floor. heard her and said ap-
provingly. Listen to that child--now
she's got sense
Things went more smoothly after
the dashing OSceola returned no more.
The roomers stayed longer and the
old city house, which was tied up
h. L,- \
not be sold, brisked up little. Flora,
at the age of 7, was doing errands com
petently. And when she was S she
could sweep the pavement and dispense
clean towels to the roomers. Also she
had insisted on having neat dotted
swiss curtains for all the front windows.
When Flora was 3 Mrs. Janney
decided to marry Mr.. Pentz. the first
floor front. a bald-headed young old
man. not in the least like the lament
ed Osceola, He had been head sales
man in the ladies' department OF the
Ready Cash Shoe Emporium ever
since the Ready Cash had such a de-
partment. He would never rise any
higher, but it was doubtful if he
would ever fall any lower, for he was
a good salesman and deservedly pop
ular.
Since he was a man and in business,
d I.
had frequently demanded his advice.
Mr.. Pentz gave her the best of his
help and counsel. and in gratitude
she insisted on sewing ON buttons,
darning his socks, looking after his
laundry-delicate attentions Of a
rather intimate nature, these, and
bound to suggest to the receiver
thereof the comforts and pleasures of
family life.
GO Mrs Jann.y became Mrs Pentz,
and she and Flora no longer lived
IN the basement. but moved upstairs
and inhabited the whole first floor of
two rooms and bath, which was, to
Flora's young mind, very grand
way to live, indeed. Flora was fond
of Mr.. Pentz and affectionate'y called
him "Pentzy," having declined to call
him father Hes lot too much
nfcern father was to call father"
she said firmly when her mother
suggested 1t.
But when the first Pentz baby ar
e. rived Flora became an adult with
mission. To see her rolling little
Emmeline's carriage down the block
to the green triangle of park, to OBJ
serve her air of conscious superiority,
was domestic drama on a high scale.
When year later young Clifford
Pentz made his appearance. Emme-
line became even more wholly Flora's
but presently she had taken on
C1iffy. too. Clify now rode in the
carriage and Emmel toddled be-
side 1t, and Flora managed both
handily. She was IL and getting tall
for her age and her instinct for man
agement was increasing every min
ute. Pentzy and her mother never
thought of having family conclave
without Flora-and the child's judg-
ment was surprisingly sound. espe-
cislly on matters financial. They had
the roomers. to be sure, but the
neighborhood was rather running
down and prices of rooms with 1t.
There was Mr.. Pentz's salary,
steady asset, but the house needed
many repairs. Besides. there were
more babies. After Emmeline and
Clifford, arrived in due course of
time Marguerite. Lester and Violet.
Flora washed and dressed. fed and
ruled the five youngsters with great
capabilty. smooth justice and a de-
voted affection. She was far more of
a refuge and a strength to them
than their mild father or their
feather-headed mother. They courted
her approbation-they were obedient
to her Mudder and fadder might be
openly houted-but not Flora.
BY the time she was through high
school she was a better executive
than any woman on the block. The
placidity of her childhood had stay
ed with her and so had the pink
cheeks. Her brown hair was gold
feoked and alluring. She was straight
and slender and, IL not so very tall,
she was tall enough. But the plain,
dull clothes she wore denied what
beauty she possessed.
No one will ever know the epic of
savings that went to make up Flora
Janney's tuition for the business
school which she presently attended.
At first 1t was just a savings" but
after a while 1t became q college
fund" The matter of banks paying
interest having been made clear to
her in a certain arithmetic lesson