Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1942-09-24
Soap Wrappers
@o@
By LUCE A. O'BRIEN
Mcclure syndicate-wNU service.)


swollen eyes no longer reflected des-
perate courage. They were dull with
hopelessness.
For three hours the village chief,
his assistant and Mrs. Hard, the
mistress of Birch Clump, had tried
by every means to make the girl adj
NIT taking Mrs. Jerome's expensive
compact. The vanity case was on
the dresser. Jennie had tidied up.
The case was gone.
"That's the thanks / get. took
you from an institution and for two
years treated you grand. You re-
pay me by stealing from a guest.
My tourist trade will be ruined"
At first Jennie replied mildly:
"Why, no, didn't take Mrs. Je-
rome's compact" I'll be sent to
Jail, thought Jennie. What of it?
Jail's no worse than the institution,
or here.
Suddenly remembrance stabbed
Jennie. Her secret! She sobbed:
Don't send me away"
She just couldn't leave Mrs.
Haard's. Mrs. Hard was hard.
And it was no cinch being the only
maid in a tourist home.
The past summer Jennie had
stopped wondering for life had
smiled upon her. She was in love
with bronzed god who drove a
truck.
Their first meeting occurred the
day before the Fourth. HE was buy
ing gasoline at the general store adj
joining Birch Clump. Jennie was
atop the stone wall, shipping ram
bier roses. Her foot slipped
HE reached the wall in one bound
and caught Jennie in his strong
arms. watch your step, kid. Scis-
sors jab you? Yep. Here" HE pro-
duced an unfolded, green-bordered
handkerchief and bound up the
bleeding scratch.
'Th-thanks," gasped Jennie.
A week Jagged. Then Jennie saw
the truck numbering up the hill. She
waved frantically, jumped from the
wan-and sprawled fiat on her face.
Brakes grated. Jennie was lifted
up, oh, so gently! HE inquired
laughingly: "You practicing tum-
bling acts?"
Jennie, oblivious to scraped palms
and scratched nose, held out care
fully laundered handkerchief.
HE grinned. ''Too bad nice la
dee washee hankie" HE told Jen-
ME to moisten the handkerchief and
then he applied the dampened cor
ner to her bruises. Wild joy pos
sessed Jennie. She seized the hand
kerchief, stammered: Next time
you 60 by" and fled.
Two weeks dragged by. No more
roses. Jennie's heart sickened, then
sang, for one glorious morning up
the hill flashed the fairy coach. That
night, Jennie daringly sneaked out
to her first date with Curly.
The memory of succeeding rap
turous evenings kept Jennie singing
at her tasks. Now Jennie sat crum-
pied in a broken rocker. Life
Knocked her.
Just few days before, four tour
llS oSClOS1 oHllC1S lld0
Jennie to aid in their departure.
She was fascinated by their lovely
clothes and lovelier compilations.
''Sit here, Jennie" ordered one,
indicating the vanity dresser bench.
The speaker removed pads from
an open, pink-enameled case. Sub
shutting cotton, she busted Jennie's
heart-shaped face with scented pow
der; smoothed dabs of orange paste
into rosy flush; outlined a Cupid's
bow mouth.
''Th-thanks," stammered Jennie.
How could she keep beautiful-for
him-without a compact? Wait.
Where had she seen one? A shining
black case trimmed with sparkling
stones, Haunting a brilliant J.
Jennie remembered ..
Questions and accusations: accu-
sations and questions. The merci-
less grilling was interrupted by a
humping knock and Curly burst in
saying: Jennie, here's your doo-
dad. You forgot" He held out a
UldCh OlSk SOScO Will SlOl6S, =
rampant j holding the center.
''I'll take that. You stay as is"
the chief ordered, flashing his badge.
Mrs. Jerome twittered from the
threshold: Found my compact. So
careless. So sorry, Jennie" She
placed a soiled white bag on Jen-
MES icy knees. ''To pay for your
inconvenience" She fluttered out,
immensely pleased with her gener-
osity.
"Where did you get this case?"
Mrs. Hard demanded suspiciously.
with soap wrappers" whispered
Jennie. "I'd been saving them since
! came, to get warm sweater"
"You took my soap Wrappers
began Mrs. Hard.
81 took them from the waste bas-
ket, after you threw them away"
sighed Jennie.
''My property continued Mrs.
Hazard.
"You skinfint," blazed Curly,
tails too good for you. You worked
this kid to death and half starved
her. What about her back wages,