Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-01-04

awfulness that smothered poor peo-
pie like a black blanket?
Why didn't poor people ever get a
chance in the world? All they asked
was a chance to work. And they
didn't even get that.
And the family would be set out
on the sidewalk tomorrow.
Back to that point her thoughts
went from wherever they strayed. Out
into the snow. And none of them
had anything warm to wear. They'd
probably all catch cold and be sick
and then how would they pay doc
tor bills? While Bethna stayed in
the nice warm Jail, her poor family
would be huddled there on the side
walk, ferezing to death!
Oh, would the night never end?
Bethna gave up trying to sleep, and
prowled the small space of her cell
like Gagged tiger.
But the night did end at last, and
with it came breakfast. Even pris-
on breakfast was something to be
thankful for, although tears fell into
her tasteless oatmeal as she thought
of her poor family.
And then, on the heels of her
breakfast came the newspaper report
er waving a paper at her. There, on
the first page, was her picture and
a huge caption.
WHO GAVE THIS GIRL A FUR
COAT?
Below it was her story from the
moment when the pay envelope was
snatched from her hand utnil the re-
porter had found her in the Jail. And
on the inside pages was picture Of
the poverty stricken tenement where
her parents had waited for her to
bring home that pay envelope. There
was picture of her in the fur coat
behind bars. And the story ended
with an appeal to the two men with
spats and canes and boutonnieres to
come and substantiate her story that
they had bought the coat from a
street peddler and given it to her.
Otherwise, the paper explained, the
girl was facing a Jail sentence for
possessing stolen property, and a pos
sible additional sentence for theft,
if that could be pinned onto her.
Bethna read that with eyes dilated
with horror.
Butt didn't" she gasped pain
fully. 81 didn't"
Don't you worry, sister," the re-
porter told her cheerfully. "I'll get
you out of this. Trust Darl Fursten.'
"Wh-who's that?" asked the girl
grasping at straws.
"Yours truly" grinned the reporter
thumb in the armhole Of his vest
"And I won't be doing myself any
harm doing it, either"
81 hope not" she said family, too
concerned with that awful threat of a
prison term to really give him much
attention.
And she hadn't done thing! Some
body else had stolen the coat. Maybe
the peddler. Somebody else had stol-
en- her pay envelope and got her into
all this. She hadn't done a thing!
Oh, how could such awful things hap
pen to perfectly innocent people?
Listen, Bethna," the reporter was
saying. "Listen. I'm going over and
get picture of your family being
evicted land if those two swells turn
up, you keep 'em here. Hear?"
"What can 1 do?" she almost wall
ed. They'll be out there-free-a
I'm behind bars.'
"Use your sex appeal" grinned the
reporter. "Vamp 'em. Give 'em a
sob story. 1 don't care how you hold
'em, but don't let me miss 'em.
Hear?"
"I'll try" she promised, not under
standing in the least what he was
talking about, but pinning her faith
to his promises.
After that nothing more happened
for long, long time. Not until the
reporter came back with news of her
family. They had been evicted at 9
o'clock, just as the landlord had threat
ened, and they were huddled there on
the sidewalk with their pitiful poss-
essions, just as Bethna had pictured
them during the long night hours.
"Boy! Did I get swell story!
And what pictures!" gloated the re-
porter. 81 can keep this story alive
for week with what I've got!"
But Bethna only burst into tears
That reporter was glad it had hap
pened! She thought he was good
friend-and he was just enjoying
it. Half Historically she babbled &C.
cusations of cruelty at him.