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Show The I I Fiction SOMETHING OF VALUE ANNA ES'WILS0N Corner Dad thanked him, but as he got up to go, Mr. Bonelli spoke. "I have a friend coming tomorrow tomor-row and if you drop in you can talk it over with him.' All afternoon Dad polished the coin and when he went down to the studio in the morning the metal in the coin shone. Mr. Bonelli was talking to another an-other man, when he saw Dad he beckoned him in. Dad took out the coin and the stranger glanced at it, but he was really looking at Dad. Dad in his neat worn clothes, was worth looking at. He had lived a good life and all this good living showed in his wrinkled face and clean blue eyes. Mr. Bonelli's owe eyes twinkled. "We find yon have something of value, Dad, after all," be said softly. "The coin was worthless," he continued. "We want to use you as a model for one of the figures on our Memorial. We want to employ you in the studio to keep track of valuables loaned to us. Mr. Twilin-ger Twilin-ger says we couldn't get a better man. The pay is good, well over five hundred dollars for the year's work," he said gently. "You see, Dad, the thing you have of value is yourself. You've been a good citizen and it shines right in your face." THE PORCH was ' broad and sunny, and Elsie placed the big chair where Dad could see the people passing and look across into Barnes grocery store. "You see, Dad," she .said cheerfully, cheer-fully, "you'll be happy here in the sunlight, and you can watch what goes on over there in the store it'll be no time at all until you forget for-get about the shop Goodness knows, a man who's worked until he's sixty-five years old has earned a rest." Dad sank back in the chair and sighed wistfully. "I know, Elsie, and the company I was real nice. Mr. 3 -Minute Twilinger pre-Fiction pre-Fiction sentted me with I watch, and said they were real sorry about my eyes, and hated to let me go. Watch making is such fine work and," Dad finished carefully, care-fully, "there was no other place open in the shop where they could work me in. Mr. Twilinger explained ex-plained about it all before I came away." "Yes," Dad tried to settle himself him-self uneasily, "but sitting here isn't going to help pay for this house, and I did hope to see you settled in a home of your own before I died." He was glad when Mrs. Frisby stopped to talk. She was gossipy and friendly . and liked a chat. "Glad to see you taking a rest at last. Dad. Goodness knows, it was time. I see you've been looking at the sketch for the new Memorial. Isn't it wonderful that a great artist like Mr. Bonelli's been engaged for the job. They say he's been asking for medals to copy on the figures of the war veterans and I'm hurrying hurry-ing right down with this one of Willie's. Dad stared at the sketch of the Memorial, thinking of what Mrs. Frisby had said. Something . of value. Dad went over all his meager possessions and they weren't much. Just his clothes, neat and clean, the watch Mr. Twilinger had given him and that old coin. Dad was confused by the noise and bustle when he entered Mr. Bonelli's studio, but Mr. Bonelli smiled at Dad and took him Jnto a little office in the rear. "It's about a coin," said he humbly, hum-bly, and took out his lucky piece. "Where did you get it, and why do you want to sell it, Dad." It was easy to talk to Mr. Bonelli, and Dad explained about his home and Elsie. THE ARTIST sighed "It might have been valuable once, but it's too defaced now for restoration I'm sorry," he looked as if he really was." I wish 1 could tell you that it's worth something but I'm afraid it's not.' |