The Coolidge examiner., 1937-11-18
CHAPTER H-Contlnued

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There were lights in the second
story, and dim light coming from
the transom over the front door; but
it was a long time before anybody
came and then the door was opened
but few inches over a sturdy door
chain.
Who's there?" asked a sharp
elderly voice.
Does Miss Margaret McLaren
live here?" asked Greg.
mo. She certainly doesn't. Not
any more!" said the sharp voice.
Il told her this morning that she
needn't come back tonight whining
around for me to let her in. She
can't step her foot inside this house
again, not till she pays me the three
weeks rent she owes me. And if
It's her suitcase you've come for
you can't have it till the room
rents paid"
Greg was still for a minute, con-
sidering.
Il didn't come for her suitcase" I"
he said. ~ was just trying to look
up some of her friends. but 1t
doesn't sound as if you were one. I
had thought it might interest you to
know that she had an accident this
afternoon and she's in the hospital
unconscious now"
Accident! Humph! Well. they
needn't try to bring her here.
don't intend to take care of any sick
people. l got enough to take care Of
my roomerS. I'm sick and old. All
I've got to say is she deserves what
she gets. Anybody that 'ud give up
a perfectly good position just be-
cause she couldn't stomach the man
that employs her deserves to get
down and out. These aren't any
times to be so squeamish about
Jobs. What d'you come here for any,
way? Because you aren't likely to
get it."
mo. so l see," said Greg indig.
nantly. We'll. suppose happened
to come to pay her rent?"
who are you, anyway" she
hissed. Il never saw you with her.
Why should you pay her rent?"
I'm only a friend and you new
er did see me with her. but might
pay her rent just to save her hav-
ing to listen to you when she is able
to come back again. How much
is her rent, anyway"
ITS S15!" said the woman, bel
ligerently, land I won't come down
a cent for cash. either!"
rs that all?" said Greg amused
ly. We'll. I'll pay it if you'll make
cut a receipt in full to date"
I'm not unfriendly." said the
woman, but we have to look out
for ourselves. We have to live! /
suppose you can come in. If you're
really going to pay" She eyed the
roll of bills in Greg's hand greedily.
She wrote the receipt painstaking-
ly and handed it over. Greg folded
it carefully and put it in his pocket.
AS he walked out the door and
down the street Greg was thinking
of his clean little shack on the hill
side with the whispering pines all
around. Somehow there was some
thing terribly desolate and dreary
in this rooming house. And was
this the place where the little white
faced girl had lived? For how long?
he wondered.
But then, of course. the pocket
book might not have belonged to
her. Or even if it had the letter
might not have been hers. He
couldn't tell thing until he found
out if Margaret was really her
name.
When he reached his room in the
hotel he took the letter out of his
pocket, half reverently, and opened
it.
1t was only torn haf-sheet of
cheap notepaper, and just a few
lines written on it at that, no name
signed, either. 1t read:
Dear Child-Sam Fletcher is 60
ing down to the village, so write a
line to let you know the money came
safely. Your Grandfather says,
Bless the child and tell her not
to send any more now. Well make
out. Get yourself good warm win
.er coat. His knee is a little bet
ter now, we think. Don't overwork.
Lovingly.
GRANDMOTHER.
"P. Sis that man you work for
Ill right? It kind of worries me
What you say about him. Maybe you
etter try for another job"
Well, there wasn't any help here.
% date except the blurred post
mark, and no name of the town or