The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-09-30
CHAPTER XXVI

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 buse, using her name.
 CHAPTER XXVI
 iJpstairs in the room which had | sn hers for eight days huth
 5odson was getting ready to
 i've. She was debating a ques-
 n of ethics with herself. Could ss conscientiously take away with lYsr the clothes Penny had turned er to her?
 G.No, I can't" was her first de- Aon. "They really belong to
 hse women of St. Stephens urch who held the rummage :. To take them would be like A saling from the church itself"
 Then common sense overrode ~ siics. T need them to keep me <. .3rm and decent. To save myself fr3m pneumonia and help me to r job. If St. Stephens Guild giad them to sell they'd turn around ft.d use the money to help some nsedy and worthy girl exactly 4e me. So why all the fuss?
 Yes, I'll take a few of them. N5t the evening clothes, of course. Nat the navy blue satin, though give my head for that one. Just tf.e knit dresses and the suit and a couple of felt hats. I'll take an sssra pair of shoes. too, besides tfs oxfords on my feet. Those are tils things need"
 The thin sunshine of the early q. 5rning had disappeared and the aav promised to be damp and ex- ( 3dingly raw. Thankful for the | rmth of the fur-trimmed sport suit, Ruth put it on. She pulled 4 felt hat jauntily over her left eye.
 "Now I think I'll carry a couple af books, so I'll look like a col ssge girl beating a ride" Once, enen riding with John McNeill, n . had seen girls asking for rides and from the little college wtich lay 20 miles away. No one Lad seemed to think less of them g1T their boyish independence Ysfy nice-Iooking people picked them up.
 As she had no suitcase, Ruth used a heavy cardboard suit boa from Bertha's storeroom. It ex- actly held the extra clothes. She tied 1t with a stout string. And then there was nothing left to dc but gather up her box, her purse and the two books which she hat selected as appropriate.
 They'll be Duncan Hunter'i gift to me-" she thought, "fol saving his life!" She knew tha he was still sleeping. My strang est adventure of all," she decided thinking of last night.
 But there was yet another ad' venture in store for Ruth Wood son before she should pass through the blue door into the world again As she descended the last step o the stairway and stood cautiousl. listening to Penny's heavy footbal in the kitchen, a girl came throusi the dining room door and confront ed her. The stranger was as grace full as a tiger and wore a browl tweed suit, a loose fur at her necl and q small brown hat. She hal gold-brown hair and dark eyes Her features were breath-takingl. perfect.
 Ruth noticed all this. She als noticed that the girl had been eat ing her breakfast. She carried toasted roll in her hand. It mus be Elaine Chalmers, of course Ruth said, Good morning."
 Elaine said, "Oh. Leaving u so soon?"
 Ruth thought, in panic, "Wh did this have to happen to me! She looked at Elaine Chalmer pleadingly. She thought, If onl she'n let me go and not badge me"
 It was too much to ask, ( course. Fate never had let her O easily. Elaine said, You've bee using my name, I hear. Like 1t?
 Ruth forced smile. Its pretty name and it's helped me or a lot. Thank you for the use ( it."
 "You're not welcome" Elain replied coldly. She laid the TO down on the hall table an dainty wiped her fingers on brown and white sport handkei chief. That done, she looked z Ruth with cool detachment. Sh remarked, "T gave Penny quite start when I arrived this morninl No wonder"
 "No wonder" Ruth echoe' For & moment she was carrie away by the drama of the thin She wished she might have see old Bertha's face when 1t hal pened.
 Elaine said, "It seems foolish ( you to leave when our friend Joh McNeill is in Washington" Sf watched Ruth's face closely, hoI ing to discover how deep the otht girls interest lay. At breakfa Penny had said, in response to question from Elaine, "Mr. Joh and his mother went to Washing ton sudden-like Monday eyenin.'