Show kWAE i iii 1 1 By CLARK WESTON THINGS went along smoothly with the William Haiga Halga so long longas as the exchequer lacked not In lucre But nut when in the early part of If 1930 Old Man Depression gained almost complete possession of the USA U.S.A. and William Halg's Halis Income was wee reduced from per annum annum an an- num nom to per annum then annum then things weren't to co 0 pleasant The Halga weren't used to such poverty They became irritable Its It bad enough Mrs Haig was saying laying one bleak fall evening to have m my allowance cut to one hundred hundred hun hun- dred Bred a week let along having to Set get alon along without a personal maid Its It's Its It's Its It's humiliating Your allowance said ald Mr Haig Halg looking around the edge of his paper composes Just one-half one of at the total income Your lack of econom economy is 11 most alarming Beginning tomorrow you ou go 0 on 73 per per Mrs Haig Halg looked as though she ahe were about to burst burat a blood vessel She might have had bad not at that moment the front door bell rung The They listened while the maid opened the door allowing a blast of cold air to circulate the spacious living room Mrs Haig shuddered and then cocked her head bead as a thin voice came trailing in from the hall Would WoOld you mind please said the voice If U I 1 were to use your telephone My husband is sick and and Of The maids maid's voice cut In with a n blunt refusal Mr Haig Halg glanced at athis athis athis his wife then lifted his voice Let her use the phone If U she likes Laura She cant can't hurt it it Mr Haig Halg turned in his chair as ase the e hall doorway and a woman entered a small woman with a tattered shawl thrown over her shoulders a a woman whose face was drawn and white from the cold She paused just inside thedoor the thedoor thedoor door and said oh as if U embarrassed em em- Mr Haic nodded toward the telephone tele tele- phone I The William Haigs couldn't vet very wen well help hearing bearing the conversation though the they tried politely not to And when the little woman was through Mrs Hai Haig looked up and smiled at the little womans woman's thanks The little woman paused for a moment allowing her eyes to towander towander towander wander about the room and finally Mrs Hai Haig said You think its it's pretty Its It nice said laid their visitor Her tone was faintly wistful Nice and warm The little woman gazed wistfully at the fireplace No she said slowly No we haven't any wood And Robert Robert Robert-he's he's hes my husband husband- Roberts Robert's too proud to ask the town for tor help You see she see she seemed ashamed of the admission weve weve always been able to buy wood b be be- be fore tore But nut now Roberts Robert's sick and we must have bave some William Haig laid down his pa po- per Youre Mrs Morgan arent aren't you you Yes Yes sir And youve you've lived in Maplewood how how long two Thirty years next month And youve you've been paying taxes all aU that time Yes Ye We house used to own our you know Now Now Now- Mr Haig stood up with his back to the fire Mrs Morgan Morgao he said aid I just overheard your conversation conversa tion with the town welfare board I 1 gathered that the they refused to give you any w wood od Mrs Mr Morgan Moran nodded They The said laid Robert was paid b by the mill for working last week But that moneys money's gone one now tor or medicine It seems to me said Mr Haig Halg that this thI town owes you something some something some iome- thing Mrs Mr Morgan Youve You've been beena a good citizen for tor two thirty-two years paid your taxes taus and contributed to projects of a public nature Now you practically beg for money that thatis is ia rightfully your our own Youve You've as much right to it as anyone else Who Id I'd like to know the devil does this welfare board think itis Itis it itis is It seems said William Haig as aa U if you ought to be cared for tor without having to undergo all aU this humiliation That's what counts He frowned Mrs Morgan you go goon goon goon on home and Ill I'll see what I can cando cando cando do with that welfare board In the meantime Ill I'll have our chauffeur carry carryover over enough wood from our cellar to keep you war warr warm f Mrs seemed Morgan-seemed on the point of tears and at sight of her expression ex Mrs Haig Halg came around the divan and placed an arm about the little mUe womans woman's shoulder And Anil while Ordway is bringing over the wood she said Ill ask Laura to see what she can do about finding something to eat Ill I'll also call caU Dr Godfrey myself and ask him to come up to see leo your our hus hus- band I 1 wouldn't worry continued Mrs Haig about being warm and hav having enough to eat from now on When Mrs Morgan had gone Mrs Haig came back to the fireplace fire fire- fireplace place and said without looking up William you ou know It its it's impossible to do anything with the welfare board They're almost themselves and are really doing the best they can can And weve we've promised them food and warmth Well they'll have It Ten minutes ago I 1 cut your allowance allowance allow allow- ance ante twenty five dollars Im I'm restoring restoring restoring re re- storing the amount to your weekly week stipend my dear Where do do you ou want it sent Mrs Hal Haig looked up brightly Humiliation is a terrible thing William I think wed we'd better send it to the Morgans |