New Britain herald., 1926-07-10

for her.
 "I' ,t's the matter with him 9" Jimmy whispered. and Merry shook her head and shrugged her shoul- ders.
 They sat there on the bottom step of the stairs while Helen phoncd for Dr. Bateman and looked at each other with wide frightened eyes.
 "I should think you TWO could find something to do instead of sitting there like bumps. on a log.." Helen said to them sharply, as she brushed by them on her way up- stairs. Cant one of you call Cassie mp and ask her 10 come home?"
 But neither of them stirred, They just sat there with their arms around each other and listen ed to the dreadful snoring sound that Dad made as he breathed.
 It was th, first time there had ever been 6 serious illness in the rambling old house.
 "We just can't afford 10 get sick" Mou had often said in her l firm way. Its money in our pockets to keep we'll" And she saw to 1t that they all wore rubbers when 1t rained. stayed in bed when they had colds. and seldom had enough rich food to upset their stomachs. "I wish Mons were here now, Merry said as the sound of Dads difficult breathing became louder with every moment.
 She got up and went out on the front porch 10 look for her ana there shs vas coming up Chester street with her arms full of bundles.
 "Whore have you been?" Merry asked her, running 10 meet her. Mons gave a half-ashamed ht- tie laugh. i've been downtown. she said. "I took back that per fume that your Dad gave me on our anniversary, and changed it for some things that I needed. Whit do you suppose he paid for it? Ten dollars! Ten dollars TOT perfume for me! exchanged for mothbaIs and one of those cedar bags to put our winter coats in" They had reached the house now. Merry was trying to sore" up her courage to tell her mother about Dad when Dr. Bateman's car flew into the driveway ana stopped,
 Mons turned and stared at it. browning.
 "who called inc doctor? Is someone sick" she asked. and Merry saw that her chin quivered as she spoke.
 pad" she began, but Mons did not wcit to hear the rest of her sentence. She dropped her bundles down on the seat of the porch-swing and slammed the screen door behind her as she rushed into the house,
 How do you do, Doctor?' Mer- rv greeted the old doctor as he cane ID the steps. "Pll take you right up 10 my father"
 As they reached the head of the stairs Mons w.,s just opening the door of the darkened room.
 "Dearest-' Merry heard her say. and she wouldn't have be- lfeved tho- tone like that could have been wrung from her mother. In it was love and fear and heart break.
 The doctor followed Mons into the room where Dad lay, and the door closed behind them.
 Merry saw then that Helen and Bill Hepworth were standing be- side the hall window. Bills arms were around Helen and her head was buried on his shoulder.
 It was not until that instant that she realized that the sound of loud and heavy breathing was no longer coming from the closed room.
 There was a curious, unearthly silence in the house.
 Merry did not need to have any one tell her what had just hap pened. She knew that Dad was dead.
 There is one comfort in being poor. Poverty doesn't give people much time to brood over their troubles.
 And so it was with the Locke family.
 The girl spent the morning after Dads death dyeing their dresses black and borrowing mourning veils from Mrs. Jones and from Mrs. Ellsworthy, a widow who lived across the street.
 Less thtn week after the fu- neral they were faced with the immediate and pressing necessity for money. Now that Dad was gone, "as-ie was the only wage earner in the family. and she was used to spending most of her sal ary on herself.
 Thank goodness, you're through with your business col SC and can go right to work" Mons said to Merry one night when they were sitting alcne in the dining room. The parlor and living room still smelleC of the funeral flowers. and Mons couldn't bear to sit in them.
 Merry knew that the moment she had been dreading for two weeks had come. She knew that she would have to confess to her mother, t last, thct she had failed in Ter speed tests and would have 10 take part of her typewriting course over. She braced herself for it.
 "Moms--'' she began in low tone, and as she said it the sound of the front doorbell pealed through the dark house.
 Sho ran to answer it. A man stod among the shadows of the front porch--a man in gray suit. hin, at ho c,,r1,ctonp tba