The Coolidge examiner., 1937-12-23

desk and surveyed with satisfaction
the great stack Of finished work.
you've worked good!" he said,
nodding his approval. II guess
you'll make the grade without a
helper eff you can keep it up day
or so longer. You better go home
an get yer dinner now"
Margaret looked up with weary
smile.
Gould you" she began hesitant-
ly. would you be willing to let me
have just a little money tonight?''
she asked. Il have been out OF
work for several days"
Sure you'll come back tamor.
ra?"
"Oh. yes. I'll come back" said
Margaret.
Fifty cents do ya?"
"Oh, yes. thank you!" she said.
He flung a 50-cent piece down on
the desk beside her half reluctant
ly. 1T amt my custom Ia pay till
the works DONE" he said grudg-
ingly, but seem you done pretty
good I'll chance it. Now. tamorra
I'll have the stamps here an well
mail these, see, an then get an
other batch off in the afternoon
mail. Eff you work as good the next
two days as you done today, there S
a dollar bonus in it fer va, see?"
The color flooded into Margaret
pale cheeks. But she tried to an
swer meekly, Thank you" put on
her brave little red-feathered hat
and went out into the dark street,
gripping her so cents in one hand
and her thin pocketbook in the 9TH
er. Somehow it never occurred to
her to put her money into the pock.
etbook. She knew she must use
some of il at once or collapse. and
she hurried down the dusky street
searching for a cheap restaurant.
A bowl of soup. a cup of coffee.
It didn't cost so much! She looked
wistfully at the change. IL only
she could find cheap bed and have
a good nights sleep, but she must
have breakfast. There was barely
enough left for a meager breakfast
and perhaps a sandwich to eat at
noon. She mustn't indulge in a
bed. The railroad station would do
tonight
So she dropped the few small
coins into the inner pocket Of her
purse, never noticing how thick the
pocket containing the letter from
her grandmother had grown since
last she saw it. and hurried away to
the station.
She found a corner in the big
outer waiting room and sat down,
resting her head back and sleeping
fitfully for a couple of hours.
Then suddenly she became aware
of burly policeman who kept walk
ing back and forth, looking in her
direction, and panic seized her.
She started up and looked at the
big clock, noted that it was al
most midnight An official was call.
ing out a local train and she went
as if in answer to the call.
Out in the trainshed she mingled
with the crowd for a little and then
found her way back by another
door. and entered the ladies' wait
ing room.
She sat for long time behind q
big post. anxious lest that police
man should trace her. Finally she
went into the inner room and founc
a rocking chair unoccupied. But
about two o'clock the porteresS
came and touched a woman on the
shoulder, told her that her train
! was called, and she arose hastily
and hurried away. Then Margare
with a furtive look around slipped
into her place on the couch anc
stretched her weary limbs ou
straight. All, how good this was!
She awoke suddenly to find the
porteress tapping her on the shoul
der. She looked up out of haze o.
pain and loss of sleep, not know
ing where she was.
There is a sick woman being
brought in," said the porteress