The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-11-13
Burning Potatoes
Gave Them Away
n rOpONA prMuNcTON

(Ga by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.l
(WNTJ 9eryiceN

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a T THE sound Of footsteps In the
\ front yard, Mrs Martin looked
out Of the window just In time to see
the top Of q straw hat disappearing
to the porch below.
Great land, Madge, It's that col
lector again as sure as I'm alive" she
whispered to her daughter.
Madge put 4 warning finger to her
fresh young lips and tiptoed over to
her mother. keep real quiet and
he'll think we're out" she said.
Tense and silent they waited for
the peal Of the doorbell. 1t came at
first timid, then loud and strong, then
long and persistent.
After q while the doorbell was
silent but they were not rewarded by
glimpse OF straw hat retreating
gateward and terror seized them when
the rhythmic squeak Of the porch
swing below told them that their Wis
itor had settled himself comfortably
for the afternoon.
"WeIl stay right here till he leaves,
II It's midnight" said Madge dsAantly.
as she noiselessly seated herself on
the bed and began basting hem.
"But I've got so much machine work
to do," complained Mrs Martin.
Cant do 1t now. Here, you can
unpick this sleeve. It doesn't set"
She tossed the garment toward her
mother and they worked silently for q
while.
Ninety dollars is too much for the
old machine anyway" said Madge at
last. "If I'd been here I never would
have let you sign for 1t. / could have
bought you good one for forty-ive.
Maybe so, Madge, but I wouldn't
have anybody know we were trying to
get out Of paying the balance for any
thing. Folks would think we were
crooked Besides, / paid $75 on 1t
and 1 don't aim to lose It." She passed
a worried hand over her forehead.
An hour or more passed thus in
silence. Madge was busy and con-
tented. her mother hungry, but silent.
Suddenly the girl dropped her sewing
and exclaimed in tense whisper:
Mother, what do I smell1"
Liant It's the potatoes put on to
boil" said Mrs. Martin, starting
toward the door. But Madge restrained
her.
Here, Til slip down." She quickly
unbuttoned the strap of her shoes
and, slipping out Of them, hurried
noiselessly downstairs.
A suffocating odor greeted her and
as she approached the kitchen the
smoke was almost alarming. Mrs.
Martin, glad Of the chance hurried
down behind her daughter. What had
once been potatoes was now only q
few bits of char giving forth smoke
like soft coal engine.
1.-THE beans are burnt up, too," said
her mother, grabbing another odorifsr.
Gus kettle from the stove. Ws'll never
get these pans cleaned as long as we
live"
"Sh-h-h-h," warned Madge moving
toward the sink with her pan.
Suddenly they were alarmed by the
sound Of scurrying feet In the hall
and stood transfxed at the sight Of Z
terrified young man. Upon seeing the
two women, he stopped short.
"Oh-ah-I- -er-um," he said lamely
'I-er-thought the house was on fire
and believing no one was at home
took the liberty Of coming in.''
Madge dropped the potatoes and sal
down on her feet.
"I-oh-I," she stammered
Ignoring Mrs Martin the young mar
went over to Madge and took her nmr
hands in his.
You knew all along was out or
the porch, Why wouldn't you receive
me? When a man comes over two
hundred miles to see girl, 1t isn't {
very nice welcome to leave him wait
ing outside for nearly two hours. L
you have anything to say, Madge, say
1t now. think you owe me an Ok
planation. What were you afraid o.
and why were you tiptoeing arount
with your shoes OFF,"
Madge blushed. She had hoped b,
hadn't seen her feet.
'Look at me-" he commandet
severely. "Why did you do it,"
Suddenly her face relaxed and sh,
was q pathetic shy little girl strug
Cling with a painful confession. 81
didn't know it was you, Jimmy. hon
est. I thought 1t was that hateful oil
Willingham man. He's been cominl
here every day and can't stand him
so I told Mother I simply wouidn'
see him again. IL hate him" Sh
was on the verge Of tears.
Jimmy's arm slipped protectingl
about her. "Next time he comes hang
ing around here tell him you're en-
gagged to Jim Hastings" he said.
"All right, I WILL" she answered de
murely, land now ] want you to NEE
my mother. This is Jimmy Hastings
mother. You know told you abou
meeting him when I visited Elizabetl