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Show MILLARD COUNTY CHRONTCLE. DELTA, UTAH Trr1 S FICTION I The Gentle Extortionist P M i. rr Things have a way of working out for the best and giving you renewed faith in people people like Marty Stone, who fancied himself a pretty hard-heade- d business man, and Doc Howell, who found that Marty's heart was softer than his head, but who couldn't cure the lump in his own throat. tROM my small office I can see 'anyone who passes through the wide front doorway before he can see me. In that brief perioc' I can size up a prospective customer, and that's how it was with Fred Miller. He was small and There was nothing spectacular about him except his tie, but it was an Like a nervous monkey, he batted his eyes rapidly to adjust them to the semi-gloo- of the ga-rage. I had time to catalog him as a cinch for a lot of extras. Seeing me in the office, he came over, hesitating at the door until I said, "Come on in." I stood to shake his thin hand. He had blue eyes that were deep-s-in their orbits; they hung on mine like those of a dog that isn't sure of a kick or a caress. The flesh beneath them sagged into pouches, and his face was deeply lined. He had the unwholesome pallor of a man who spends a great deal of time "What can I do for you?" I asked. "Why," he said, "I want to buy a car." "So do a thousand other people in this town," I reminded him. "I know. That's why I'm here now. I want to get on your list for a fu-ture delivery." Even as I told him it would be at least two years before he'd get his car, the way tilings were moving, I was remembering things that I had heard about him how his home bad been broken, how his wife had taken their boy and gone out to the the way, Mr. Stone, how much will the car cost?" "Hard to say, Fred, right now it sells for eighteen hundred. But you guess with me as to what it will cost two years from now." I'm sure he only half-hear- d me. He said, like he was almost talking to himself, "Eighteen hundred. About what I figured. I'll have it." He wasn't like most of my cus-tomers; he didn't keep harping on me for the new car. Until summer came, at any rate. Then one day he brought the boy in. He was lots taller than the old man, already, and de-voted to him. From then on until th boy went back to the coast, they were in the garage at least once each day, poring over pictures of the new auto, questioning my mechanics, and discussing it between them-selves. Even after the boy had gone back to the coast, Fred would come in and pick up any new literature I might have on the car. I knew what he'd do with it, too; make notes in the margins, write letters about the auto, and send them all on to that boy. Time went along. The wife and my boys went off on a vacation. I never liked going home to ai empty house, so I would put it of to the last minute, and hang around the club till bedtime. That's how I found out that Fred liked the social life and late hours. I sort of figured that ac-counted for the bags under his eyes. But Doc Howell set l'.e right He and I got away for a few days hunt-ing, and somehow on the way to the plugged some wires into a machine, and flicked a switch. "Doesn't seem to worry him. Can you tell me why?" Neither of us knew then, but we got the answer later. When his car was being unloaded at the railway dock, T called him. Most of my customers like to be on hand to get a first glimpse of the car for which they have waited so long. After awhile, he showed up, and I was shocked at his appear-- ' ance. He was walking slow and easy, like the old man he looked to be. His cheeks were hollcw, his sunken eyes deeper than ever. The pouches below them hung away down. But he was surely happy about the car. I told him it would take a couple of days to get it intc shape for delivery. "Good enough," he said, "I expect th.' boy over about then." I never saw Fred again. Doc let me know. He called me. "Come on over, will you, Marty?" I knew from his tone it was impor-tant, so I hung up and went right away. He was sitting in his private office. When I came in, he pushed a bulky envelope across the desk to me. It was addressed to me in an unfamiliar hand. Opening it, I found a insurance policy with me as the beneficiary. The name of the policy holder? Fred A. Miller! I showed it to Doc. "Yeah," he said, "Fred died last night Natu-ral causes, yet he could have lived a lot longer. Only eventually he would become an invalid, and his son would want to take care of him. On the other hand, he could duck out now and leave the lad something. I guess he chose to have the boy remember him as something other than a sick old man." I could see the picture. But you Just don't know what to say in such cases. So I guess I sounded a little irrelevant when I said, "Cars have gone up, Doc. This tw9 thousand won't cover it now." Doc looked as though he were disappointed in me. He pulled out his check book and picked up a pen. "Well, I want that boy to have that car, Martin. How much is the difference?" "Put that stuff back, Doc," I said, "you don't have a corner on soft hearts and softer heads." He grinned then. "I want to share it at least." After old Fred had been decently tucked away and it was amazing how many friends the old boy had I called the kid over to the garage. Doc and I led him to the car. "Here's something Fred wanted you to have," I told him. His eyes were so full he could hardly find the door handle. "And here's another thing he told us to give you." He took the slip of paper I handed him, and I was glad he couldn't read it right then. He only nodded; he couldn't talk, although twice he tried. He put the car in gear and backed out. Doc and I stood on the sidewalk to watch him drive down the street. About a block away, he pulled over to the curb and stopped. My guess 'was that he couldn't see through the tears that must have been tumbling down his cheeks. After all, he was only a kid. I shoved my hands into my pockets and looked at my feet, not talking. For a minute, Doc didn't say anything, either. Then: "What was that you gave him?" My tone was defensive. Hadn't Doc treated Fred for nothing? "You really didn't think I could keep that policy, did you?" Doc's voice was sort of soft and strange when he finally answered. "Fred sure knew a sucker when he saw one didn't he?" He turned and started off. "Now I'm going down to the office and see if modern medicine provides anything for a lump in the throat" If W w ' XJ h W ' i - t MA1 f "Here's something Fred wanted you to have," I told him. His eyes were so full he could hardly find the door handle. coast It was said that Miller had agreed to some fantastic alimony if only she would let the boy come to him for at least a part of the year. He had some tort of minor post in one of the government agencies in town; I knew it couldn't pay very much. I didn't see how he would be able to pay me for the price of a new auto, but two years is a long time and much could happen in the Interim. Anyway, I could al- - ways sell a new car. So I felt around In my desk and finally came up with the list. "What kind do you want? Coupe? Sedan?" "A coupe, please." "With or without wheels?" Fred smiled, tentatively. He wasn't sure whether or not !ie was sup posed to laugh. "I'd like wheels, of course," he answered. "Want to put something down?" "Yes. I'd like to. How much do you require?'' "Suit yourself. Even if you me the full purchase price, it won't bring your car any sooner." He nodded. "Fair enough. I'll leave you two hundred." I took the bills and gave him a receipt Then I asked if he had a trade-i- n. He looked startled. "No, Mr. Stone, I haven't Is it necessary to have one?" "Oh, no. Not absolutely neces-sary." A trade-i- n is still nice to have, though, for there is money in those used cars. "I don't really have a car at all," he explained. "That's why I want this one. My boy will be coming to visit me every summer and he's get-ting pretty big now." His eyes lit up, talking about the kid. "In two years he'll be eighteen and he'll want a car. This is no tov n for a boy if he has to walk everywhere or depend on others for transportation. I plan to have a nice ruto for him when he's ready for it." "Yeah, yeah. That'll be fine." There was something holding back In him when he talked about that kid, and it made me uncomfortable. As though he might talk about him the rest of the day if he had any encouragement. But I wasn't giving him any. "We'll see what we can do," I said, and stood up. He arose immediately. "You're busy," he was apologetic, "and I've taken so much of your time." "Not at all," I said, "come in and see me again." "Oh, I will," he answered, "you'll get so tired of seeing me around you'll want to throw me out. By mountains, Fred Miller crept into our conversation. Doc thought it a shame the ' way his wife treated him. "That woman milks him for every cent he can get. He owes everyone, including me." I thought about all the times I had seen Fred down at the club. Now it costs money to belong, and if one gets into the games very often, that's expensive, too. Fred didn't stack very high with me right then, because I couldn't see how he coulc be broke and keep up the ac-tivities I had observed. I guess Doc read my thoughts. "Don't be too hard on Fred, Marty," he said. "You may not know it but he isn't down there at that club every night just for fun. He has a sort of job; assistant to the steward. I rather suspect he lives on what he makes there, and sends his regular salary check out to the wife, for that boy." He watched the road for a few moments before con-tinuing. "Fred is not at all well. If he would take it easy, get a lot of rest and stop drinking, he might last a long time, but " his voice trailed off into silence. He rarely talked about his patients, I figured he thought he had said too much already. I forgot about Fred after that un-til one fine summer day I found that the next car on my list was for him. But I was dubious about the deal. After all, I was in business to make money; there was a lot of names after his that would be a great deal better business. It looked like Fred Miller was about to get the go-b-at least for a little while. Then that same day I twisted my knee and had to go to Dot's office to get it wrapped. Climbing the well-wor- n stairs, I met Fred coming down. He looked just about all in, and very sad. I thought to myself: "Oh well, what can I lose?" and told him about the car. His face broke into a million wrinkles as he smiled. "That'- - fine," he said, "that's good. The boy will like that." He went on dowr the steps with a lot more life to his tread. I went on up to Doc's. Just to make conversation, I asked him what was wrong with Fred. His answer was vague, as I might have known it would be. "Can't understand the little fel-low; he goes right on doing all the things I tell him are bad, yet he keeps coming in here to have me check him over. All I can do is shake my head, tell him to get more rest and stop burning the candle from both ends." He adjusted a couple of pads around my leg. t " ' I V " w ly 1'V"" 1 - ""Wri;l flflnmmnn rt.liOTMn unf rMiiMim ninnunn- - - HmZM aciivc tuf,ntvir,a ki taaJi,ltl ltllh MUMU! (See Recipes Below) CHERRY FAVORITES FOR A MONTH which is short, February has more than its quota of holidays. Just in case you're en-tertaining for even one of these, I've planned a number of popma desserts from which you can take your choice. Youngsters and oldsters alike will enjoy colorful desserts whether they're for family dinner or a party. You may serve them ice cream, cake or pudding, or pie, if that's your favorite dessert, and it's bound to be a hit. Here are a number of h cherry dessert recipes which may bo used during this month or any other. Starting with a cherry pie filing, you'll find that several other desserts can be made from it Filled cup cakes, cherry sundae topping or a cherry frozen pudding, all are made using the same, easy basic cherry sauce that is used tor pie filling. The sauce may be stored in the refrigerator for later use or for quick snacks when company drops in to call. YOU'LL FIND that canned cher-ries are convenient to use and somewhat lower in price than last year. The iollowing recipes call for water-packe- d cherries. If you use those packed in syrup, re-duce the sugar in the recipe to Y cup. Cherry Sauce (Makes 2'A cups) 1 No. 2 can red sour pitted cher-ries cup sugar . 2 tablespoons cornstarch teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons butter Heat the drained liquid from the cherries. Combine sugar, corn-starch and salt. Sift into the boiling liquid and cook until thick and clear, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; add butter and cherries. Cherry Pie Fil an baked pie shell with 2H cups of the cherry sauce. Garnish with 3 tablespoons shredded coconut mixed with 1 ta-blespoon grated sharp cheese. Cherry Sundae (Serves 4) 1 enp cherry sauce 1 pint Ice cream Prepare the cherry sauce. Divide th.j ice cream into 4 servings. Top each with cherry sauce. Serve sauce hot or cold. Cherry Filled Cup Cakes 2H cups cherry sauce 10 cakes Prepare the cherry sauce. Cut off tops of cup cakes and scoop out centers. Fill with cherry sauce. Serve with vanilla-flavore- d whipped cream. Frozen Cherry Pudding (Serves 6) Vt pint whipping cream 2'A cups all - purpose cherry sauce i drops almond flavoring Whip cream until stiff; fold in cold cherry sauce and flavoring. Pour into freezing tray of mechani-cal refrigerator and freeze until firm but not hard. IF YOU'R looking for other cherry recipes with which to cele-brate any event, you'll like the fol-lowing selection. The first is a deli-cious cookie: LYNN CHAMBERS' MENU Braised Rump Roast of Beef Browned Potatoes Onions Carrots Gravy Bread and Butter Beverage Frozen Cherry Pudding Recipe Given Cherry Dainties (Makes 3 dozen) cup sweet butter , Vi cup sugar 1 egg yolk 1 tablespoon grated orange rind 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 cup sifted flour teaspoon salt Chopped nuts Candied cherries Cream butter, add sugar and cream" thoroughly. Add egg yolk, rind and lemon juice. Mix well, add flour and salt. Mix to a smooth paste. Roll into small balls, the size of marbles. Dip each in slight-ly beaten egg white and roll in chop-ped nuts. Arrange on greased bak-ing sheet and press a piece of can-died cherry in each cookie. Bake ina moderate (350F.) oven until golden brown, about 5 minutes. George Washington Cake (Makes 2 layers) cup shortening Vi cups sugar 2 cups cake flour 4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder teaspoon soda 1 cup sour milk or buttermilk 1 teaspoon vanilla 4 stiffly-beate- n egg whites Thoroughly cream sugar and shortening. Add sifted dry ingre-dients alternately with sour milk and vanilla. Fold in egg whites Bake in 2 waxed-pape- r lined pans in a moderate (350F.) oven for 30 minutes. Put layers together and frost with the folowing frosting and garnish with maraschino cher-ries. Twice-Cooke- d Frosting 2 cups sugar M cup water teaspoon cream of tartar teaspoon salt 2 egg whites 1 teaspoon vanilla Cook sugar, water and cream of tartar to soft ball stage (236F.) Add salt to egg whites; beat until frothy. Place over hot water and gradually add sugar syrup, .Dealing constantly. Continue beating until mixture forms peaks. Cherry Pudding (Serves 8) 1 quart hot milk 2 cups dry bread crumbs 3 tablespoons butter 4 eggs, slightly beaten 1 cups sugar 24 cups red, sour canned cher-- . ries, drained Pour the scalded milk over the bread crumbs and mix with remain-ing ingredients in the order given. Pour into a greased casserole and bake in a moderate (350F.) oven for 45 minutes or until set. V you desire a sauce for the above pudding, use the cherry juice from the canned cherries, sweeten it to taste and thicken with 2 teaspoons of cornstarch mixed with the sugar. Cook until clear and serve warm oi cold. Released by WNU Features. LYNN SAYS: Food Tricks Make Dishes Appealing Did you know that a bit of curry powder in corned beef hash will put it in the elegant class? You can stuff green peppers with the mix-ture for a meal in one dish. Use the tough portions of broc-coli cooked and pured, mixed with cream sauce and hard cooked eggs for a nice vegetable dish. Sliced stuffed olives with cream-ed veal or veal stew add both color and flavor to it. Simple supper dish can be made from shreds of leftpver roast and diced cooked potatoes folded into white sauce, then baked in a but-tered casserole with a topping of grated cheese or buttered bread crumbs. Pork isausage patties combine well with macaroni and for sauerkraut a warming one-dis- h meal. Bake thoroughly. Aspic salad made with deviled ham and hard-cooke- eggs, season-ed with chili sauce, takes on real distinction. RSLSEf AT LAST frYour COTGil Creomulsion relieves promptly because it goes right to the seat of the trouble to help looseiyand expel germ ladeo phlegm and aid. nature to soothe and heal raw, tender, inflamed bronchial mucous membranes. Tell your drupgist to sell you a bottle of Creonmlsion with the understanding you' roust like the way it quickly allays the cough or vou are to have your money back. CREOiVaULSIOri for Coughs, Chest Colds, Bronchitis i ;:cV I I " t :.'fyX''"w'' 1 A$y E4S J Luscious Bran Muffins ... with Raisins! Tasty Kellogg's All-Br- and lus. cious raisins ... a mouth-water- -r tag flavor combination! 2 tablespoons 1 cup silted shortening flour cup sugar 2 teaspoons or molasses baking 1 eBS powder 1 cup Kellogg's All-Br- teaspoon salt cup milk hi cup raisins Blend shortening and sugar thor. oughly; add egg and beat well Stir in Kellogg's and milk. Let soak until most of moisture is taken up. Silt flour with baking powder and salt; stir in raisins. Add to first mi-xture and stir only until flour dis. appears. Fill greased murfln pans two-thir- fulL Bake in a mo-derately hot oven (400F.) 25 to 30 minutes. Make 9 marvelous muffins. 1 71 fiH America's .fif' fj famous natural II FJjfflfi ,Uf j laxatin cereal I fi$ M tm a bowlful today! ltiSAUit' j Y From Your Cough VjpC Duo to a Cola F0 LEV'S Cough Compound .m , 7 lj with Fome, CHICKEN,-LIC- LJj0 Change to SMIQthe M-p-;- S distinctive cigarette with A Nv Not a Substitute Not Medicated f I . iShtiJtOJ. J Sano's scientific process cuts nico- - L. J?ti ' ' tine content to half that of ordinary S'fjoJ, 1 " cigarettes. Yet skillful blending Ljoln ' makes every puff a pleasure. "jjlL'ti I FLEMING-HAL- L TOBACCO CO., INC N. T. J 3 'Average based on continuing testa of popular brands i ASK rOUff DOCTOR ABOUT SANO CGjUffTTFJ J EVEREADy'the battery wiff, 'NINE LIVES! J Just as an active cat.. ... takes a cat nap and .. bounces back with new pep... so'Evereadf batteries S 'mA bounce backy a f ' ' "evereadbatterik longer m f - i f-- L ' . t eg v A-- L t , t . f,Z: "Eveready" braW batteries give When your "Eveready" battel you fresh power when you use cat nap between uses, the chat them; naturally, they use up cal elements in the cell dwelt;: some power when your flashlight fresh energy -r- ecover po-is turned on. ..but- - so that... T r.y.iT,Wiu. ri m: T"v- - largest-sellin- g j H. 4t brand in the KZ?l 'y p'eewhat WfejtlA 1 j .v ' jjl j 'iXty means... why W 1,1 ' ,eria "Nine klWGB Ufl M I A Live," K Jilt Mnti... I. n.j.,,,,,; jJI r When you snap on your flash-- fight again, the batteries bounce Th..-- back with renewed power. That di.tinBrii.proia' bounce back gives "Eveready" National carbon compa batteries longer life! 80 " SC"?Z EVERDy" FLASHLIGHT BATJW More Restful "Darling, let's get married. n "Why the hurry?" "Well, it would put an end to our being just crazy about each other." Hybrids Stranger What is the standing of the Spendmore family in this Native Well, I should say they are sort of betwixt and between. They aren't exactly nobody and yet they aren't really anybody. A Born Poet "But, father, poets are born, not made." , "Write what you like, my boy, but dont blame your mother and me for it." IS bv NANCY PEPPER CLASS CONSCIOUS We like to report your kindness to less fortunate teens in foreign countries- - --because it proves that you teens think with your hearts as well as your heads. Most of you have been mak-ing collections for "Care" paek-age- s in your home rooms, but, as an extra ac-tivity, foreign language classes in lots of high schools are send-ing packages and leuers 10 teens in the countries whose language they're studying. Of course, you must write the let-ters in the foreign language, which is good practice for you and good reading for the grateful teens who receive and answer them in their native tongues. It's lucky for you that Latin is now a dead language, because after you'd written thai "all Gaul was divided into three parts," there would be nothing else to say. |
