The Washington times., 1938-08-06


wizened. Her hands were as dirty
as her clothes, and practically all
of her garments came out OF
trash cans.
TRASH-CAN LIVELIHOOD
In her later years she made a
career of trash cans, starting from
her one-room abode each morning
early with a big, old-faShioneo
string bag with handles at the
top and trudging through the
streets after ash cans, boxes and
barrels set out for the trash col
lector.
In the course of some 20 years
of this activity she not only sup
ported herself and the dog, but
made some money, though nobody
knew quite how much and few
suspected that the Surpl u S
amounted to anything worth
thinking about.
! Mrs. Spragg even got the hang
of restaurant garbage cans, and
thereafter never bought any food,
except for an occasional delicacy
for Tilly.
Ella cared for Tilly more than
anybody else in the world, and she
got to thinking that her time
would come soon, and she must
make provision for her dog.
Sounds kind of sentimental, but
she had reason to be devoted to
the dog, since she was her one
friend, except for Mrs. Potter,
who, like herself, was ekeing out
her last days in one-room place
IN the same building.
She also was fond of Ella, and
Ella, out of recognition for kind
Red6es to Tilly, practically kept
Mrs. Potter in trash-can clothes.
Very good quality, too, some of
them were. Ella gave Mrs. Potter
her better finds.
Elias room was in the center of
Che district whose trash she cov-
cred, and she walked her beat,
never using subways or buses,
though once, when she had found
a diamond ring, she took a taxicab
to another district to sell it. Not,
however, for some time.
The ring reminded her of her
youth, when strange to say, she
had been beautiful, and for a
while, greatly loved. 1t reminded
her of wealth she might have mar
ried, had she not been fool. And
1t reminded her of the way her
hands used to look, small, and
pretty, and white.
SAVES ALL HER MONEY
So, for several months, she wore
the ring at nights, alone with Tilly
in her room, and watched the
stones flash as she fondled Tillys
head.
But finally, Ella sold the ring,
atiSfa t orily. She added the
money to an account she had in
an East Side bank. 1t was a check
ing account, and she frequently
put small sums into it, but never
drew any out.
In an envelope she kept her pass
book showing her deposits, letter
to Mrs. Potter, telling her what to
do about lilly in the event of her
death, and check, signed by Ella
Spragg, but not filled in as to
amount.
It was drawn to Mrs. Potter.
Mrs. Potter knew nothing of all
this. She had little suspicion that
Ella Spragg had any more money
than it took to keep her. Ella had
kept her in the dark purposely, be-
cause she wanted to try her faith.
Elias two children, for instance,
were worthless. She had slaved
to rear them, alone, from the
time they were babies. For 20
years she had cleaned in hotel
for men, at first earning only $40
a month-and that was when the
two Of them were babies. But
later, she made as high as SIT a
week on wages, and times being
good, there were amazing tips.
Ella saved. Her two children
grew up and married and left her,
but one day she fell i'll of pneu.
monia, and word being sent to
them to come quickly, they came,
eager for just one thing. Momma,
they reasoned, must have saved
considerable money. Where was
1T? She had pneumonia, and
likely she would die. They'd get
theirs.
They got it. Thousands of dol
lars Of it, saved through sweateo
brow and tireless application tc
Job; through penury and thrift
and pain. 1t was packed into
glass preserve jars with lids
screwed tight. The insides of the
Jars were painted green, to hide
the money.
BROOD SPLITS FIND
They found it in an old suit
case under the bed. And whilt
she lay unconscious, they divided
it between them and got away.
But she lived, after that, TO
81 years. She became old, ant
grimy and bent. But her do
loved her, and Mrs. Potter wa
her friend.
Both Tilley and Mrs. Potte
EenSed, when Ella became i'll, tha
she would die this time. Tilly &c
q haunted look OF worry in he
brown eyes, and Mrs. Potte
would stand outside Elias doc
listening before she went in
hear If Ella still struggled fc