White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-11-01
CHAPTER I

The disarmament conference.-the hg-
ures, and quotations, and simply ire
mendous big words" said Ginger Ella
In q discouraged tone. "Oh. here's
little bit Of column about the Elks
May day fete and beauty pageant"
She settled herself to read with
snug little f1ounce of eagerness.
"You may skip that" said her "a
Their. 1--WE know all about the beauty
pageant"
His daughter sighed resignedly. II
suppose you want Lloyd George and
the Communists, although 1t does not
look very churchy to me-"
She read patiently, In low clear
voice, paragraph after paragraph, sit
ting on the couch beside the reading
lamp, little, eager and slim-with
eyes that just would wander, despite
her best and most daughterly tnten-
lions, from the stupid newsprint to
the simply fascinating goings-on In
the opposite corner of the wide room,
where Marjory, the pretty twin. love-
Tier than any picture, stood on low
stool, like goddess lifted up, with
her bevy Of worshipers at her feet.
while down on their knees before her,
were Miriam, the brainy twin, and
Helen, who was quite old and engaged
to be married, and Miss Jenkins 4
clipping stray threads here and there,
kucking, patting and pulling, In vain
endeavor to add greater charm to her
girlish beauty.
But although Ginger's eyes would
wander, the memory Of her father,
sitting still and limp, so patient, In
the big chair at her side, his kind
eyes closely bandaged, quickly brought
her own straying orbs back to the
onerous news. By rights. 1t was
Mlriam's Job to read the papers to
her father. But Miriam, being a
twin to Marjory, would naturally wish
to assist In preparing her to win the
Elks' club beauty prize.
"'And this In spite Of the frank
warning of President Coolidge that
the United States will regard any
such move with extreme disfavor."
finished Ginger, with flourish.
"Here's paragraph on Mussolini and
God. In my opinion 1t would look a
lot smarter If you took that lace off
the shoulders entirely. On, excuse
me, father, I'm SO sorry. Here's para.
graph on Mellon cutting the tax
meon-three hundred billions, no mil
lions-Well. 1t doesn't interest US
either way. Oh, here's lovely write
up Of the buffet supper that is to be
served at the Elks' club fete at ten
o'clock-bouillon, chicken sandwiches,
tomato aspic-"
Reverend Mr.. Tolliver smiled indul-
gently. He might nor see, but what
father but could feel the wandering
eyes and the truant thoughts of six
teen-year-old daughter on the eve of
a beauty pageant
''Put the paper up now, Ellen. I'm
full of news. Suppose you play little
bright-eyes for me, instead, and tell
me what is going on over there. with
all that shipping of scissors. and oh
Ing and ah-ing."
"Oh, fatherl" Ginger doubled her
self up rapturously. Unfolding both
her slim knees In her arms. "Oh,
father, 1t is gloriousl Marjory-hon.
estly, father, Marjory is so pretty it
doesn't seem possible. Miss jenkins
is down on the floor with Eve pins In
her mouth, and her dress pulled up
over her knees to keep from soiline
tt"
Miss Jenkins, with guilty haste. GOV
cred the offending members.
"They weren't her best ones-the!
had Isle tops. But saw silk ruff
de, just the same. You're really miss
Ing quite a lot, you know" continued
Ginger wickedly. YOU'D better TAX
those FIVE pins out of your mouth
Jenky dear, If you're going to gas
like that"
Only Ellen dared TO call the sedat
spinster "Jenky." ana even she did
only In her more trrepressible nc
ments, when she was most thorough
Ginger Ella. It was sixteen year
ago, at the birth Of this same Eller
that Miss jenkins had first come int
Intimate contact with the parsonag
household, then in another pastOratt
And upon their later transference I
other charges, she had arranged he
small matters and followed after then
living her own life, keeping her ow
small home, teaching In the primar
schools for livelihood, but keepin
In close and helpful touch with tn
Tolliver family. to which, in its Ell
tirety, she had given all the stored-u
love Of her lonely heart With Hele
and with the twins, she remained I
the end firm and unyielding. BIZ
she was from the beginning surpri'
lngly pliable in the hands OF tn
wheedlesome Ellen
''Well,' Ginger went on. "she
wearing Helen's engagement ring, an
Miss Jenkins old gold chain Eddy
mother gave her perfectly split
lace handkerchief, and she has on m
silk-to-the-top stockings that Mr
Morris gave me-"
For five days. the modest rOllive
household had simply fermellted wit
excitement over the Elks May da
fete and beauty pageant. The 10
livers, without exception. knew thu
Marjory was absolutely the preftie'
thing in the Middle West. hlnny otht
residents of Red Thrush Iowa. rea
lied 1t also. But just pre,tiness vi
DOT enough to win this beauty priz
One required an admission ticket tt