The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-03-15

to be pleasant and conversational.
for she was fond Of Sally. In her
own way. "She has yellow curls.
though I suspect her mother. who
has just died and who was Z stock
company actress. used peroxide on
It. But still it's yellow and It's
curly, and We have 1t least = hun.
dred applications on file for little
girls with golden curly hair"
'Thelma," she whirled severely
upon tho eight-year-old child.
whats this in your bed?" Her
broad. heavy palm. sweeping ex.
pertly down the sheet-covered iron
cot, had encountered something.
piece OF broken blue bottle.
Tits NINE" Thelma quiz.
cred. her tongue licking upward to
catch the first salty tear. II traded
my broken doll for It. ! look
through It and It makes everything
look pretty and blue" she explained
desperately, In the institutional
whine. "Oh, please let me keep
It, Mrs. Stone!"
But the matron had tossed the
bit Of blue glass through the near.
est window. you'd cut yourself
on It. Thelma," she justified her.
self in her stern voice. "I'll see II
I can find another doll for you In
the next box Of presents that comes
In. Now, don't cry like . baby.
You're = great big girl. 1t was
just q piece Of broken old bottle.
Well, Sally, you take charge Of the
new little girl. Make her feel at
home. Give her q bath With thak
insect soap, and make a bundle Of
her clothes and take them down to
Miss Pond
She lifted her long. starched
skirt as she stepped over one Of
the scrubber's puddlcs Of water,
then moved majestically through
the door.
Clara. the nineyear-old orphan.
stuck out her tongue as the white
skirt swished through the door.
then turned upon Sally. her little
face sharp and ugly with hatred.
"Mean old thing! Always but.
tin in! Cant let US have no fun
atall! Some other kid'll find Thel.
mas sapphire and keep It offen
her"
1T isn't = sapphire" Sally said
duly. her brush BEGINNING to de.
scribe new semicircles ON the pine
6oor.. "It's like she said-just a
piece Of broken old bottle. And
she said she'd try to find you .
doll, Thelma."
"Y0u said it was q sapphire, Sal.
~. You said 1t was worth millions
and millions Of dollars. It tCds .
sapphire. long as you said It was.
SALLY" Thelma sobbed. a. grieved
for the loss Of illusion az for the
loss Of her treasure.
II reckon I'm plumb foolish to
80 on play.acting all the time,"
Sally Ford said DULY.
The three little girls and the
16-year-old mother" Of them
scrubbed in silence for several
minutes, doggedly hurrying to
make up for lost ting, Then Thel-
ma. who could never nurse grief
or anger. spoke cheerfully:
Reckon tho new kids gettin' her
physical summation. When I como
into the 'sylum you had to nearly
boil me alive. N Mrs. Stone cut
Of all my hair clean to the skin.
N 'en nobody wouldn't 'dopt me
cause ] looked like SIGH scare
crow. But I got lotsa hair now,
amt I, Sal.lee?''
''Oh. somebody'll be adopting you
lirst thing you know, and then I
won't have any Thelma," Sally
smiled at her.
"Say. Sal-lee." Clara wheedled. :
"why didn't nobody ever 'dopt you?
I think you're awful pretty. Some.
times it makes me feel all funny
and cry-ey inside. you look so aw.
full pretty. When you're play act.
In" she amended honestly.
Continued on page ten)