Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-26
THE EVENING STORY

rying any Of this stuff away This
is a crime-stuff like that piled up
in the Community House I'd think
people would b. ashamed to donate
junk Ike this" Ben made a wide
gesture. disgust in his eyes.
'Ts that so? Well, YOU might Just
recall that the men were pretty cool
about meeting the deficit and wom
en-where do women get money 10
give? To most of the women
around here IS looks like q legacy
Five dollars without any place 10
put 1t, that is They have housa-
keeping money. yes! But with that
they are always contriving TO make
$40 do the work of SIC and pinch
enough out here and there for club
dues, gifts for their husbands birth
days or some toy for the Riddles now
and again. It's no fun for us TO
collect old junk like this and try to
sell IT, but what else can we do?
Every woman has some old table or
dress or book or pair of shoes that
she can no longer use. And the
poor people OF the community are
glad to buy an old dress for 90 or
80 cents-then make 1t over for play
clothes for the youngsters"
Ben went on his way and closed
the contract almost mechanically
Ben was thinking. on the way back
TO the office he suddenly swerved
the little car. stepped on the gas
feed and grinned
y half-hour later. with a basket
over his arm. he walked into the
First National bank and strolled
into the cage marked Private"
You're President Martin OF The
First National Bank, take it?" he
grinned, speaking to the man behind
the broad mahogany desk.
Martin lifted his head and smiled
as he saw Ben. Shoot. I'm the
man." he said Cheerfully.
I've got some little rags and tags
here that want $500 for" remarked
Ben. indicating the basket on his
arm.
Your wants are simple, Benny.
my lad" murmured Martin, leaning
over to take a look into the basket.
Have you two or three police pups
In there or just gold nuggets?"
No. no." protested Ben, nothing
like that. Just junk stuff that /
don't want any longer. Old stuff
that's no good. you see. This pipe
wrench, for example won't hold
pipe any more. It's sort of lost its
grip on life. This patching outfit for
automobile tires is minus the glue.
and so you can't use IT very we'll
not at all. to be frank about It. This
was good hammer once but IL has
no handle. You could put a. handle
in If you wanted to- wouIdn't
mind. All want for the lot is
$500"
Martin laughed. 60 on with
you, you worthless scamp" he grin
ned. shooing Ben toward the door.
We got work to do-if you haven't.
Bring your jokes down to the Com
munity House. where we can all EN-.
joy EN- i"
That's just it," said Ben seri-
ously. You call it a joke? I cali
1t pitiable. The girls are holding
Community House. Runlmage sale
that's what they call 1t. ia call
1t rubbish sale and the truthful. ONLY
nate to hurt their feelings after ali
the work they've done dragging the
stun together. They've got a lot OF
stuff like the stuff In this basket
Want to get $500 out OF it. Fat
chance. eh?"
Martin reached for his check
book. Here's fifty OF it-go do
your stuff to some OF the other
fellows. It's good. that's what il
| ANNN0 jO LlliiC 10 go around
any more before lunch time. He had
another appointment to keep and q
sale he hoped to close. At lunch
| time he took his basket to the Mems
Lunch club. He re-enacted his LITTLE
monologue. He was greeted with wild
applause. When the basket was pas.
SEQ around for inspection and incl.
dentally for the reception of checks
1t was found to hold $500.
AT the Community House that
night there was gala affair, eve
have sold practically everything"
Elsa reported. Everything, In fat
except little glass showcase thai
Mrs. Main sent 1t. Her husband had
II IN his Jewelry shop
We can use it," Ben announced
very solemnly he arose and mt
INTO the showcase his little basjFet
Inen he lettered sign:
This Basket of Rubbish Sofa +,,
Eight Hundred Dollars"
The Community House OF North
town never held another runnnaee
sale. When money was needed he.
always passed Ben's basket around
again. "i'uhu
tcopyrtsht. 1927
The End.