White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-03-07
CHAPTER xII-Continued

forgotten the home for the blind, the
threatening Jail She looked at her
father, and she saw only his face. saw
his eyes, dark-circled, brilliant but
clear and steady in their gaze.
"Father," she whispered, and her
whisper was song. She crept toward
him tinlidly, as one half afraid, her
hands outstretched, sob In her throat
sob, father-yOu-see-m
Startled, instinctiveiy, as one who
has shielded bruised thing for many
weeks will naturally do, he dashed his
hands shelteringly across his eyes
But he removed them at once. and
stared back at the girls glad white
face.
"Why. SO 1 do" he muttered. Eyes,
| do"
Ginger flung her arms about him.
.Oh, darling. how wonderful Of you"
she cried. "How stubborn of you !
You always go just by contraries,
don't you? They said shock would
blind you forever, and instead It has
made you WELL Oh, darling, let them
take me to Jail, don't care bit.
Il is worth It'll
The poslman, in depths OF self -abase
ment, was torn between Joy for his
pastor and shame for his own share
in this humiliating scere. but Ginger
and her father were momentarily
transported far above the mere nun
dane annoyances of common life. The
Inspector, studying them all. was puz-
zled. It might be a ruse-but It did
not seem to be ruse.
"See here, there's no mistake, Is
there? You are D. Tolliver, aren't
you? You do claim to be the treasurer
IF the parsonage home for the blind?"
Eyes, claim II all admit every
thing, and Pm glad OF it. But there
isn't any blind. any more. Go on,
take me to jail l never thought of
using the mails to defraud, because
really, It wasn't fraud. Father was
blind"
''You see, she doesn't realize what
she has done," argued Eddy stoutly
'ElIen," her fathers voice was low
and shocked, "do you mean 70 tell me
that you-solicited money for a home
for the blind"
Ginger flushed crimson, and swiftly
paled, but she did not finch. "Yes,
did, father By chain letter. And
It went like wildtire. Ten cents apiece
Tha1's why paid everything in dimes.
Eddy"
.'But, my child 1t is-almosl steal
ing"
'Oh, father, no. Doesn't It say in
the Bible that the servants Of God
are to get what they need? And you
know we did need IL l'
'Rut ElIen-it 1as plain begging"
'Well, all church work Is. COllec
tons are begging. And is 1t any worse
to take money, If you can get 1t, from
publicans and sinners, than from
stewards and trustees7''
'There's at least q full bushel OF
mail al the Office" interrupted the
Inspector.
"a bushel OF dimes!" she CALCULATED
"And IT'S got to go back where 1t
came from Everv GEM Of it." But
even the inspectors severity had re
Taxed somewhat. Now guess we
can Fix this up, II you. sir. will 60
bail for I, that she .lnesn't start any
more funny business.
I'm afraid you'll have to 90 down
with u.s. sir. There's deaf Of red
tape to go through with. And the
money 10 send back
II will come al once. IL am 50
surprised-sO shocked" stammered the
confused father, 81 can't tell you how
sorry | an never dreamed that
Ellen, II you had told me- II you had
asked me-"
"Oh, father, l-only wanted to help
you. Il Wait minute!"
She ran quickly up the stairs, ana
In the hallway above they cunid hear
her nervously quick movements. us
she balanced the ladder against the
wall, and pushed open the trapdoo,
to the attic
Il can't Imagine how she came to d.
such thing" uI,logized the troubled
father anxinusly. But she meant all
right. She was so eyger to take care
Of me-"
"Uh. she's just kid," assented the
inspector. awe all know what kids
nre."
Ginger's feet were pounding down
the stairs again, and they awnited her
coming In silence. She crossed the
room and stood before the Inspector
slim and slight. but with straight
shoulders, as one willing to bear the
burden OF her wrongdoing.
"Hcre!' Into the hands Of the AS
dolls trunk and II was heavy "lt's
the rest If the dimes" she explained
Il don't know where they came from
burned the little wtiire angels
mean The letters And spent iOts Of
the ifnes. tU, foi ever so man! things
dresses. and stockings and even food
These are all thai are left"
We'll. new said the Inspector
awkwardly. II don't rightly know what
to do with This but reckon ia bet
ter take II along. Will you come. slri
we have car"
Il Will go with you" offereo Hiram
Buckworth.
YOU'D better wear dark glasses.
luther" cautioned Ginger. sYou
mustn't see too much too soon. And.
rficer. II anyinDdv bas to go TO inf.
don't yOu take him. You come and
,et me-"
'sDh nbbOdyYi have to go 10 jail
Wen fix this up. And yOu Will prom