The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-01-31
CHAPTER xII-Continued

-
aSir," be cried, s'what do you mean
BY such conduct In my house? Eddy,
come away from him. ! will attend to
this myself. Ellen. come heFe to me.
But Ginger had forgotten the dis
grace that yawned at her feet. had
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, bur
clear and steady in their gaze.
"Father," she whispered. and her
whisper was song. She crept toward
him timidly, as one half afraid, her
hands outstretched, sob in her throat
--"Oh, -you-see-mel"
Startled, instinctiyeiy. as one who
has shielded bruised thing fcg 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 | do" he muttered. Eyes,
do"
Ginger flung her arms about him.
"Oh, darling, how wonderful of you"
she cried. "How stubborn of you'll
You always go just by cOntraries,
don't YOU? They said shock would
blind you forever, and instead 1t has
made you we'll Oh, darling. let them
take me to jail, don't care a bit,
1t is worth 1t 7"
The posrman. In depths OF selfiabase-
ment, was torn between joy for his
pastor and shame for his own share
in this humiliating scene. but Ginger
and her father were m0mentarily
transported far above the mere nun
dane annOyances of common life. The
inspector, studying them all. was puz-
zled. 1t might be ruse-but It did
not seem To be ruse.
'See tere. there's no mistake. is
there? You are g. Toliiver. aren't
you? You do claim 20 be the treasurer
of the parsonage home for the blindY
"Yes. claim II ALL admit every.
thing and I'm glad OF it. But there
isn't any blind. any more. Go on
take me to Jail | never Thought of
using the mails to Gefraud. because
really, ii wasn't fraud. Father was
blind"
"Y1n see. she doesn't realize what
she has done" argued Eddy st0utly
"IIllen." her fathers voice was low
and shocked. '"do you mean 20 tell me
that y0u-solicited money for home
for the blind"
Ginger flushed crimson. and swiftly
/ did. father BY Grain letter And
it went like wiIdfire. Ten cents apiece
That's why paid everything in dimes.
Eddy"
"But, my child. it is-almosi steal
ing"
ooh, father. no. Doesn't II say in
the Bible that the servants of God
are to get what they need? And you
know we did need il r
"Isut Ellen-if vas plain begging"
SWELL all church work is C0llec.
tions are begging. ana is 1t any worse
to take money. If you can get it. from
publicans and sinners, than from
stewards and trustees?'
mail al the office" interrupted the
inspector
"A husllel OF dimes r.. size calculated
"And it's got to so buck where II
came from EyerN cen. of it. BuI
even the inspectors severity mad re
Taxed somewhat. Now guess We
can fix this up. II you sir. will go
bail for II THAT she doesn't start any
more funny business.
I'm afraid you'll have to 90 down
with US. sir There's a deal of red
tape to 90 through with. And the
money 10 send back
II will come at once Ill am SO
surprised sn shocked stammered thu
confused father Il can't tell you hnw
sorry | IN. never dreamed that
Ellen. II sou had told me. Il you had
asked me-"
'tlh. father. l--Only wanted TO help
you = Wait u minute I"
She ran quickly uh he stairs. anu
10 the halfway above they cuilld hear
her uervuusiy quick movements as
she balanced the iahder against the
wall, anu pushed open the trapdooi
to the attic.
Il can't Imagine now she came to d.
such u thing up0losizeti the troubled
fulliei anxinusly ''Rni she meant all
right She was SO eager to take care
Of me"
.'sph. she's just a kid." assented the
inspector. 1--WE all know what kids
are
fingers feet were pounding down
the stairs again. and they awaited heI
voming In silence She crossed tile
room and stmd before the inspector
slim and Slight, Dul with straight
shoulders. as one willing to bear the
burden OF her wrnngdning.
"Iiere!' into the hands OF the as
t0nished inspector she pressed an old
dolls trunk. and II was heavy ITS
the rest 81 the dimes, she explained
II don't know where they came from