The Coolidge examiner., 1937-12-23

She was taken sick on the train.
Would you mind getting up and let
ting them put her here? She is hav-
ing a heart attack"
Margaret arose quickly and found
the early dawn was stealing in at
the windows. The woman was
brought in looking ghastly in tie
mingled light of night and morning.
Margaret hurried into the wash
room and dashed cold water in her
face. Every muscle and nerve was
crying out for rest and relief, but
she remembered her job and took
heart of hope.
She went out again and sat in
one of the rocking chairs with her
eyes closed till morning was fully
come and it was time to go and
hunt a cheap little excuse for break
fast.
For three days and nights Mar
garet went on in this way, with only
broken scraps of sleep here and
there in some public place. At the
end of the third day she finished the
last envelope. stamped the last
stack of circulars, and looked up to
see her employer standing before
her with a few grimy bills in his
hand.
You done good!" he said.
Here's the rest OF your money what
you amt had, and your bonus. We
got no more use for you just now
Any time you come round and SEQ
that card in the window you come
in. You're sure of job. See?"
Margaret saw. and her heart
sank.
Wearily she put on her hat and
went out. 1t had turned cold and
she shivered in her little fall jacket
that matched her suit. It was al
most dark and she felt as if she
just must have a real bed tonight
Perhaps that Travellers Aid woman
she had read about in the framed
certificate on the wall of the sta
ton could help her to find a cheap,
respectable bed. But first she must
go to the postofice. There would
surely be letter from home.
So Margaret went to the post Of
fee and found letter from home
She cried all the way back to the
station.
She sat down in a rocking chair
in the ladies' waiting room and
read her letter before she even
stopped to get the food which she
needed so much.
My Precious Girl" the letter be-
gan.
I'VE are In great distress because
we have not heard from you in FIVE
whole days. We do hope you are
not sick or anything. And it is rather
hard not knowing just where you are
located. Just write a postal card.
I'll wait. l know I'm a silly old
fool worrying about you. But you're
the only child we have left, you
know.
'And now I'll have to tell you
some bad news.
"You see. Elias Horner came in
the other evening and told US he
had to have his money. Not just
the interest, but the whole mort
gage money that we borrowed a
few years ago. 1t comes due just
after Thanksgiving and l guess
there isn't any way out Of it. OF
course, your grandfather has writ
ten to an old friend who used to
know a lot about mortgages, to
find out if there is any way we
could get a new mortgage with
someone else. But he isn't count
ing on it much. He's been going
ahead planning just as if we'd lost
the farm.
I'VE had figured that we could
sell the furniture-you know a lot
of it is real old and is said to be
worth a good deal of money. And
the farm implements ought to bring
something. And then there is Su-
key. A man has offered $50 for
her.
I'VE thought if we could get to-
gether ST 900 perhaps Elias Horner
would accept that now and let the
mortgage run another year or two.
ITO BE CONTINUED