The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-07

apron. Her voice no longer hys-
I terical was controlled for her daugh-
ter's sake. II had belatedly occurred
TO her that Treasure was in no con-
ditiOn for such a scene as this. SO
she forced herself 70 speak calmly.
IF she leaves I 90. too" she said.
Her husband laughed.
"Oh, yeah? We'll. you try it," he
retorted, and walked into the living
/ room.
Ellen put a finger to her lips as
If to caution Treasure not TO speak.
Turning. she went TO the kitchen
and came back a few moments later
looking excited, but she made no
explanation. Instead, she closed the
bedroom door and began to put a
few things into Treasures suitcase.
What are you doing. mama?" the
girl murmured.
Ellen shook her head and whis-
pered, Don't ask any questionsl"
She Slipped a coat over Treas
ure's night gown, picked up the suit
case and said. Come on, honey!
We're leaving"
But, I can't go like this"
yes you car. It's only a little
ways"
In a fog of bewilderment Treas
Ure staggered to her feet and into
the living room where her father
sat reading. Her mother fol-
lowed with the suitcase. Refusing
to believe that Ellen would carry
out her threat he permitted them
to leave without saying a word
but he went to the window and
watched them going down the
street.
Taking her to a neighbours" he
thought.
And for once he was right. They
had turned in at the O'Flaherty's
so ne returned to his paper and
waited for his wife to come back.
But Ellen did not come. She
was busy putting her daughter to
bed in the little bedroom Mrs.
OFlaherty had said they could
have for nothing until they had the
money to pay her.
I know all about it." she said,
rolling her big eyes\ and pOddlng
her head. Everybody on this
street knows how he's mistreated
you"
Treasure, teeth chattering, said,
"Supposing he follows us?"
He won't dare" Mrs. O'Flaher-
ty assured her. He knows my
Mat is on the police force. Just
let him dare show his face around
here"
ELLEN unpacking the suitcase,
L. said nothing. No matter what
happened, her mind was made up.
Treasure needed her and nothing
Mike Mcclure could do would make
her desert her. Not even if he
kills me for it," she thought.
When he sent the 10-year-old Pat
to tell her to come home and get
dinner she said: Tell him I'm not
coming" and Mike, knowing that
all Mrs. O'Flaherty had said was
true let it go at that.
She'll be back" he told his dumb
founded children. Get busy now,
Mary, and fix something to. eat"
But Ellen did not return. Instead
she went with Mrs. O'Flaherty to
a nearby settlement and applied for
houseWork. 1t was spring and there
was housekeeping to be zone, so lit
tie by little Ellen managed to earn
enough to pay for their share of
the food.
The Don rent would have to wait.
But Mrs. O'Flaherty, whose heart
was as big as her house was little,
gathered them under her motherly
wing as if they had been her own.
She had received more than
favor from Ellen in the past and
it did her good, she said, to see that
bully of a Mike Mcclure get a little
of what was coming to him.
Meantime Treasure, wrapped in
her mothers protection, began to
feel better. She felt as if she were
suspended owe a bottomleSs pit
into which Ellen'S loving arms would
prevent her from falling. All hope
of Anthony'S returning had gone
now. Although sometimes she
thought. Maybe when he is 81.
q" then she would remember
his face as it had looked the last
time she had seen him and realize
there was no use deceiving herself.
She told herself she would have
to learn to live without him and
for her mothers sake she did her
best to be cheerful. When she was
feeling better there were many lit
tie tasks she could do to help while
the older women were away.
She even went home occasionally
when the house was vacant and
prepared for the children food she
knew Mary was unable to cook.
Ellen, also, went back and forth
when Mike was not at home, clean
ings things up for them. Although
they had often hurt her with their
contemptuouS words and insolent
manner she had no desire to punish
them for something she began to
realize was partially her own fault.
I should have stood up to him
long ago." She thought.
Little by little she transferred
everything of her own into the room
she shared with Treasure and one
day, hoping to interest the girl, she
brought the spangled tarlatan cos
tune which had belonged to her
grandmother.
Remember the day you wanted
to dress up in this?" Ellen asked
smiling.
"Of course I do and the letter or