Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1930-05-01


dark suit opened the pouch, and lifted
1t high, pouring out little stream of
letters upon the table.
Then, for the first time, the third
man spoke.
"DO you claim this mail?''
S"Why, Of course. Pm the only q.
TOlliver there Is. e. stands for
Ellen"
"Wait minute, wait a minute,
now. You claim this mail, do you?
You acknowledge that it is meant for
your You admit this before wit
nesses?"
"Be careful, Ginger" interposed
Eddy Jackson quickly. seeming trouble.
Don't say anything. Don't commit
yourself"
"You keep out of this, young man.
Well, miss, then you"
"Why, Of course l claim It," said
Ginger quickly. "It's all right, Eddy,
it's for me. Why, I've had lot just
like It," She smiled disarmingly at
the postman. "You know" she added
significantly.
swell, you all hear that" said the
third man, in snarling low voice.
"She claims it. She's the one we're
after"
Ginger turned surprised, wide, inno-
cent eyes upon his face. She did not
speak.
swell, come across now, miss. Give
us the goods. Where is this here
hOme-parsOnage home for the blind,
you call it? I don't see any signs of
it,. His voice was low and ugly.
Ginger smiled nervOusly. swell,
but you see, this really is it. Fathers
blind, you know, and this is our home.
And the parsonage, well, this is the
parsonage. Everybody in town knows
that"
"Yeh, l know all about it, and a
pretty slick game, call it. But
guess we've got the dope on you, right
enough. Getting money under false
pretenses-that's what the law calls
your home for the blind. Using the
mails to defraud, that's what the law
says. Penitentiary business, miss
that's what you're up against"
mo, oh, no. It is true-it really is
true. It is q home for the blind, for
one blind-father."
Begging, Ell? Well, you've got to
have q license in this country, even
for that. Oh, we know your game,
kid. We're on to you all right. We
expected an alibi- Shut up" he
shouted to the shocked old postman,
who had endeavored to interpose a
word on her behalf. "YOu shut up,
and keep out of this" He turned to
Ginger, and caught her arm in a rough
grasp. "COme along, now, and no
more monkey business"
Eddy was slow young man, slow
to wrath, but the sight Of the great
red hand on Ginger's slender arm
gOaded him to action.
"You take your hands off that girl ]"
he shouted, springing across the room
with a blind violence that sent two
chairs spinning away from him.
"Hush, oh, hush," begged Ginger.
"Eddy, don't! I'm not hurt. Oh,
don't let father hear you'll Oh, please
hushw
"Bring out your old man-bring out
the whole nest" beloved the officer
furiously. "We'll clean house here
while we're at It."
Ginger turned despairingly to Eddy
Jackson. Eddy, make him hush
Fathers eyes A shock will Oh
Eddyv'
The officer, pulling himself away
from Eddy's restraining hand, caught
her shoulder with a grasp that flung
her half to the floor, and Eddy, driven
entirely reckless at the sight, leapet
upon him.
But Mr.. TOlliver iE the small ad
joining room had heard the unusua
uproar N his quiet home, heard Il
first with surprise, then with rising
Indignation. With~one bound he en-
tered the living room, and instructive
i ly, as In crisis one who has beer
accustomed to clear vision for man!
years Is bound to do, he tore the pro
tCCS1hS OuhuuSSS iiohi ihS CyCS uht
dashed them upon the floor.
"Sir," he cried, what do you mear
by such conduct in my house? Eddy
come away from him. / will attend t,
this myself. Ellen, come here to me
But Ginger had forgotten the dis
grace that yawned at her feet. ha,
forgotten the home for the blind, tn
threatening Jail. She looked at he
father, and she saw only his face, saw
his eyes, dark-circled, brilliant, bu
clear and steady in their gaze.
Father" she whispered, and he
whisper was a song. She crept towar,
him timidly, as one half afraid, he
hands outstretched, sob In her throa
!, -"Oh, fatner-yOu-see-m
Startled, instinctively, as one VIII
has shielded bruised thing for man.
} weeks will naturally do, he dashed hi
hands shelteringly across his eyes
} But he removed them at once, an,
stared back at the girls glad whit
face.
"Why, so do" he muttered. .Yes