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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1938-02-10, Page 2THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1938 THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE ‘IF TOMORROW COMES’ BY AGEE HAYS “You could do the way Warth is going to, You’d fit. You look like a college man. And it would »be fun having you there, John!" But he shook his head. “I’d feel like a duck on a desert. Besides, I—- I’m going out tonight.” Merry looked up quickly. He’d said that as if he didn’t want to ex- plain. He'd said it the way he bad the other night when he had a date with Viola Wiess. But for the sake of Mother, who sat pleasantly across from her; Mother, whose still young eyes were tired, Merry waited until dinner was over. iShe followed John -out the back steps, where he’d gone to tinker with his car. He looked up grinning. “I thought you’d be out." “It’s not that Wiess again tonight, is it?” she asked. And he laughed quietly, “No. One night with Wiess is enough for a lifetime.” “Then—?” He Has a Lead John stopped twisting bolts and moving wires in the engine ad, lean­ ing his elbows on the dustry little radiator, said: “It is about the Nor­ ton business, all right. I’ve got a lead—” His sentence unraveled abruptly and he studied the wrench in his hand. (She waited, realizing how dear he was to her, how much she depennded on him—and she was afraid for him. ‘‘Should she do this?” she begged at last. “Sure. Why not? He grinned and wiped the back of his hand across his cheek, unconsciously leaving a smudge of black. What he was do­ ing tonight was dangerous, but Merry mustn’t know it. (She must not guess Iby the way he looked or by what he said . . . “Will you be late?" she asked un­ happily. “Shouldn’t be. .Don’t see why I couldn't beat you home tonight.” “Do be careful," she whispered, and sped back to the apple-green dress which lay on the bed. IShe surveyed herself a little later in the demure long gown which touched the tips of her small slip­ pers, the short sleeves like two big green balloons on her slim shoulders the smooth ripples -of her golden hair. “Worth will like this! Worth! iher heart sang. (But only a few minutes before Betsy thrust her battered radiator around the corner and chugged to a stop out in front the phone rang. It was Worth. “Darling!” jshe said happily. “'Listen, .Merry,” Worth’s voice was low, as if he were trying to keep some one else from hearing. “I can’t make it over to the 'Commons to­ night. iSorry." CHAPTER XIV Merry turned away from the phone slowly, the light gone from her eyes, the cheery warmth in her heart chilled and as dead as a once-ibriglit fire which has been inundated with cold water. What was the matter with Worth? (Something dreadful. For this beautiful, mysterious ra­ diance between them was a powerful magnate. It was to her. It must be to him. 'One had to fight against its pull, had to force oneself daily to sensible things. When this life which Worth and she had found was pulling relentless­ ly, foolishly, bidding one to break appointments with other people, to neglect duties, to invent absurd reas­ ons for being with one’s love, why should Worth stay away? Was it ■Sue Williams? ■ Reason or no, Merry yearned to :go to Worth now. And why not? just for a minute! John Was coming in the back door, She rushed out to him impulsively. “John!” He smiled. |The flash of frank approval and pride in his eyes ad­ mitting that her loveliness in a dress the color of apple leaves was not lost even to him. But he held up his blackened hands. “Gangway! Clear the road to the washbowl. Unclean! Unclean!" “Merry!” her mother called from the living room. “Come on! Meet With the censor board!” And Merry, forcing a gayety that matched iher mother’s piroutted be­ fore her. “Such a strict censor board" she complained and posed Don’t Count Sheep When You Can’t Sleep Help You To Get That Desired Rest So Necessary To Make You Fit For Your Day's Work with outstretched arms. Mother’s Understanding? Helen, hatted and gloved in readi. ness to leave the house, saw with Mother’s intuition through the emp­ ty gayety, sa the intense hurt in the blue eyes raised to her, looked into the face of her daughter who was no longer a little girl, who in the last few weeks had become ma­ ture and wise. Had it all been this terrible busi­ ness with Basil Norton? Somehow Helen did not feel it was. A great fright did not add depth to one’s beauty, or lend sweet .quiet womanli­ ness to a girl. (Shi remembred the utter radiance on Merry’s face when Worth had been here this afternoon. Worth! That must be it! But what had brought the hurt to those re­ cently sparkling eyes, the sadness so poorly hidden by, pathetic gayety? “My dear, the committee approves the dress!” Helen announced ma­ jestically, a smile twinkling pur­ posefully at the corners of her mouth. “It is the triumph in style and becomingness.” “It was created by the great Ma­ dame Helen of Millington.” Merry courtesied elaborately but the haunted look behind her smile made Helen’s heart ache. “The coiffure, too, is perfect," Helen said touching the shining golden waves which rippled to a soft perfect roll. But,” she tilted Merry’s chin with a gloved hand and looked [kindly into the troubled blue orbs, “the eyes—” Merry glanced quickly away— “also created by the great Madam Helen,” -she supplemented softly as if the interruption might alleviate her embarrassment. Helen’s smile -was very gentle at she. too, looked away in deference tc Merry. “Then I am sure the Madam would be glad to alter any of her work which is unsatisfactory. Perhaps if you would consult her the unhappy lcok in the organs of sight could be transformed to a glowing twinkle.” .Helen had ventured as far as she dared—as far as she felt any mother should intrude without invitation. She waited, yearning toward the daughter who was so definitely dear to her. And Merry hesitated, longing to throw’ herself into her mother’s un­ derstanding arms, to talk about Worth until she had recreated his wonderful presence beside her, un­ til Helen might -quietly .point out proof which Merry could not see, proof that all was well. But already she had caused her mother enough worry, /She smiled softly. “Perhaps some day I’ll take it up with the madam," and then as if she resolutely swept it from her mind, she said cheerily. “All dressed up, ducky! Whither to, this bright night and what the mysterious small -pack­ age under arm?” Helen had caught the hesitation, had followed the swift resolute change. Within her, she stifled a sigh. "The package? Stuffed dates. I’m going to Laura Woodleigh’s She phoned. Wanted me to drop in to cheer her up. The children love stuffed dates." “You ought to know!" Merry was gently, indignant. “You’re always taking them things. Why doesn’t Mrs. Woodleigh realize you’re tired, ducky! Some people—” Helen laughed. “You look- very sweet tonight, my dear. Have a good time!" She stepped out on the porch, wafting a gay kiss as she closed the door behind her. Strange Request There was still time. Just enough time—before Bobby, called—to hurry to Worth’s, to find out what was the matter. Merry wouldn’t need to go in. iShe could wait in the car while John asked for Worth. At least, she could learn if Worth was at home. Maybe she could see him again—just for a moment. Resolutely she ran upstairs and knocked at John’s door. “Ho!” he answered. “May I come in?" “Wait a minute!” His voice came back slightly muffled. In a moment he flung open the door and stood her in clean shirt arid best trousers, his tie in his hand. “IjVhat’s on your mind?” he ask­ ed and she thought she saw a light twinkle in his brown eyes Which had turned to- watch intently his mirrored hand struggling with his tie. “Could you drive me over to Worth Hunter’s for a minute?” she blurt­ ed, her fingers nervously twitching a handkerchief. “Worth Hunter’s?” He looked up at her, frowned thoughtfully, and then went about polishing his shoes, brushing his coat, till she found her­ self helping him In an absent-mind­ ed way, her throat tight with yearn­ ing to- See Worth. “John!” she said abruptly, “have you over felt like this?" “Like what?” He laid down his military brushes and stared at her. “I mean—-did you ever ache to be near somebody and * have your heart beat so fast at the sound of his footsteps that you felt dizzy and—” She extended her hands helplessly. John grinned down at her the way he used to when he was trying to make her smile. “Not his foot­ steps—I never have." he laughed, but something about the serious as­ sent in his eyes told her more than any words he could have said, that John understood. “But what’s this about going over to Hunter’s?” .She told him all about it and felt surprised, herself, that this was the the ’brother whom she .had always considered so taciturn, so unsympa­ thetic. Like Helen, John saw that Merry had, suddenly grown up and respect and pride were in his voice as he said, “Merry! There are so many things you don’t know." (She returned his look i’ranklyi. “Not so many, John.” And for a mo­ ment they were silent. “J mean—there are things you ■know—but you don’t realize.” “Maybe I do realize them,” she said, but she wasn’t certain what he meant. All that she knew was that being truly in love had made her realize many things. “What do you mean?” "Well—” A Brother’s Warning A car horn sounded outside. .From the window they saw Bob Fester in “Betsy” .He was getting out. “I mean you don’t realize you shouldn’t go over toi Hunter’s," John said hurriedly and taking her by the shoulders he guided her downstairs as he had when she was five and they had played train. “Now get on your coat and forget about Worth tonight. Have a good time. Dance a lot.” He went to the door, let Bobby in, and came back. "John! About tonight—4 mean about what you are doing tonight— (She hesitated'—"Whatever is it—be careful. Promise?” "On one condition.” "What?" “That you won't have Bob drive you past Hunters’.” “Mind reader! All right, John. It’s a promise. -Do be careful." That night in the little elaborately festooned alcove above the dancers the orchestra played gay swing rhy­ thms—the orchestra relegated there because the long mirror-like floor of the Commons was crowded with grads and undergrads and with countless freshmen who were to­ night's guests of honor. Many eyes followed Merry and Bob. Many whispers of “Who are the good-looking couple?” Even Merry heard it once as they danced past a group of spectators. Forced to be Gay And Merry was forcing herself to be gay. It wasn’t so hard with Bob­ by a good dancer, with friendly' ad­ miring eyes everywhere one turned. It wasn’t hard after another look at the long, graceful lines of the apple­ green dress. "■Gee, I’m glad I came to Reed,” Bobby said, holding her closer, his eyes glowing. "Anybody ever tell you how wonderful you are?" Anybody? A quick pang of mem­ ory came back to Merry. iShe shut her mind to it. Not Worth. She wouldn’t think of Worth! "Careful, Bobby, I’m only a freshman!!” she smiled. “I can’t start being conceit­ ed yet!” He lingered to press iher hand as another partner claimed her. And everywhere eyes of interest were turned upon her—upon the picture of sheer loveliness which she made. But a great many feminine eyes were turned upon Bob, too and Merry saw him faintly through the flamour which admiring whisipers cast about him. "If it were not for Worth I wonder if I wouldn’t be thrilled with Bobby?” she thought. Looking down at her, then, he mis­ took the tenderness in her smile for a growing interest in him. On the wayl home, he drew her to him suddenly, and kissed her and somehow she sensed that he ex­ perienced the same thrill that she had when she and Worth kissed, and it troubled her. “There was never anything like this,” Worth had said, "Never anything like this between Sue Williams and me.” And be­ cause she felt sorry for Bob, she gave his hand a gentle squeeze which sent his hopes higher. Som'cthing Wrong! It was 1:30 when he left her at the door. John should have been in an hour and a half ago, The little house was very quiet ,She wanted to be ’sure John was tall right. How could she without awak­ ening him? The car! She’d peek into the garage and see if it was there. She could sleep better know­ ing it was, knowing that this strange quiet brother of hers whom she Was beginning to understand and appre­ ciate, was safe. It was a dim, starlit night. The houses as far down the street as she could see were dark' and silent. The street light at the corner flick­ ered feebly. (She walked cautiously down the front steps and back along the drive. {A sixth sense had made her cautious. But she was almost there (before she halted suddenly, little prickles of ice freezing in her veins. There was something in the garage! .Some­ thing- very wrong. 'Something ter­ rifying, Merry stood there, too- frightened to move, wide eyes striving to pierce ,the darkness of the garage filled with something moving, something breathing. Her eyes strained to separate the rivit speed of her heart beats from the small sounds ahead of her. It flashed to her mind that in the garage some kind of human drama was taking place, that she must be visible to any one there. And then, shuddering with terror, she realized that more than one per­ son was in there. There were whis­ perings and silences. Did it have something to do with John? It must have! Clenching her chatering teeth determinedly, she made a desperate decision. She couldn’t stay frozen here! Either they had seen her—or they hadn’t. If they had, it was too late to ride away. If they hadn’t they must be deeply engrossed in the mysterious business which (kept them whispering and occasionally struggling. And, deeply engrossed, they might bear cautious investiga­ tion. Merry managed to step out of her slippers, though she was so weak from fright that she found it very hard to keep her balance. On small silk-clad feet she slipped first to a more shadowed side by the house and then warily, but quaking, mov­ ed upon the garage in much the man­ ner of a small kitten attempting to stalk its first prey. All of the time some strange activity was taking •place beyond that dark open door­ way. (To be continued) •= A QUIET, WELL. CONDUCTED, CONVENIENT, MODERN 100 ROOM HOTEL—85 WITH BATH WRITE FOR FODDER TAKE A OE LUX£ TAXI FROM DEPOT OR WHARF-/250 JOHN REICHERT, ZURICH BUTCHER, PASSES AWAY John Diechert, 63-year-old native of this community, who was widely known throughout Western Ontario died at his home February 3rd. Mr. Deicliert was a partner in the but­ cher firm of Yungiblut & Deiohert. He is survived by two brothers, Jacob, of Zurich and Nicholas, of Detroit, and one sister, Mrs. H. Yungblut, of Zurich. FRIDAY 10 p.m. E.S.T. Stations CFPL - CBL "tS/iecA THESE POINTS • Avoid unshaded glaring bulbs. • Do not place an old fashioned bridge lamp with a tilted shade opposite a player so that the glare annoys him. • Provide general illumination with indirect lighting. Glass bowl lamps properly placed, supply a good quality of light for general seeing, and if set near the table, make it easy for all players to see well. • One or more I. E. S. floor lamps with glass bowl re­ flectors Serve this purpose admirably. Our Lighting Service Department will gladly check your lighting and advise how and where improvements can be made. There is no obligation. Phone . .......................... will go a long way toward solv­ ing your lighting problems. • It is wise economy to keep Spare lamps on hand so that there will be no empty sockets and lack of necessary light. • Use bulbs of the proper watt­ age to give plenty of light* • Phone for a carton today. Exeter Public Utilities MAKE EVERY ROOM A NIGHT! DOCTORING THE <LANzU>IANS Comparatively speaking, there are not so many doctors in Canada as there were years ago, That is, phy­ sicians and surgeons. At the be­ ginning of the century ther was one doctor for every 969 of the popula­ tion. The proportion gradually de­ creased until the latest statistics show one in every 1,034. 'One reason vouchsafed is that the period of training has about doubled, making the course a long and an expensive one, Although medical science has ad­ vanced like everything else, yet the lack of medical service in rural sec­ tions is one of the greatest draw­ backs in the country tod^y. The population has become more urban and less rural in general cliarac ter and it is obvious that, with greater territory to cover and more time consumed in travel, it takes more doctors to attend to the needs of the country than of the city. 'There is one doctor for every 700 or so people in the large cities, but only one for every 1,300 in the country. In England and Wales there is only one doctor in 1,363 of the population and in France one in 1,355. The situation is different in two other very advanced social service countries. In th$ United States there is one medical man in 798,, whereas in Australia there is one in 1,373. About ten per cent, of the Cana­ dian doctors were born, though not necessarily educated, outside of Can­ ada—five per cent, in the British Isles or other British countries and 2B per cent, in the United States, ac­ cording to the -Census Branch of the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, De­ partment of Trade and Commerce. For the world as a whole, milk is probably the main source of farming income. In the United Kingdom, states the Imperial Economic 'Com­ mittee, its value exceeds that of any other farm commodity; in the Unit­ ed States, and even in Canada in cer­ tain years, the value of the wheat crop is less than that of dairy pro­ duction. Girls Leaving Farms Said R. J. Deachman Farmers, said R. J. Deachman, Lib., (Huron North) aren’t getting enough money. He said it loud and long in the House of Commons, and before he finished he suggested, a non-partisan ' way, that the Government should select a group of farmers, provide them with a simple cost-accounting system, and find out exactly what an average farmer dtid make in a year. That is, the Government might find out, barring wind, drought, hail wet weather and a few other little items that made of farming a series of little surprises. Farmers, pointed out Mr. Deach- man, today, have such interesting work. Like potato 'bugs. They never knew what was going to hit them. Is Serious Situation In any event, he emphasized the position of Canadian agriculture was the most serious factor in Canada’s economic position. It must be. -For didn’t the 1931 census report show that there was a decrease in the number of girls of marriageable age living on the farm? "And I want to tell you,” he said, "when the female population de­ clines on the farm, it is a serious factor in 'the social life of the com­ munity. Our women make the social life.” Out of that came his conclusion that the girls of marriageable age were going to the cities, following the higher standard of living that’ the urban communities afforded. The point was, ihe said, there was no accurate information of the depth to which the farmer’s stan­ dard of living had fallen. The near­ est he could get to it was by taking the total income from agriculture, as reported by the Bureau of .Statis­ tics, dividing it by the number of farmers and deducting the more or less theoretical cost of their living. By this involved reckoning, he fig­ ured the average farmer in a year had a net return of slightly under a dollar a day. Should Know Income "Oh, I know," he said, "when you discuss it, they say the farmer ihas his ihouse and his barn and that kind of thing. They say down here, ‘Oh, he’s got all that.’ But that isn’t the point. |The circumstances demand that we should know exactly what the farmer’s income amounts to.” He figured the cost of the econ­ omic survey would be trifling. He suggested tile cost-accounting system might -be applied to 100 or 1,000 farmers'—in ahy event a represen­ tative number. He Relieved it should be applied over a period of two or three yeiars 111 the interest of ac­ curacy. There Were, he believed, branches in the'Ontario Department of Agri­ culture that in association with the’ Federal branch could supervise such an investigation, without the sotting up of additional Government mach­ inery. Established 1873 and 1887 at Exeter, Ontario Published every Thursday jnbrninM SUBSCRIPTION—?2,(1:0 per year ip advance RATES—Fam or Real Estate tor sale 50c. each insertion for first four insertions, 25c. each subse­ quent insertion. Miscellaneous ar­ ticles, To Ren t, Wap ted, Lost, or Found 10c. per line of six word*. Reading notices 10c. per line. Card of Thanks 50-c, Legal ad­ vertising 12 and 8c. pot line. Ib Memoriam, with one verse 50c. extra verses 25e. each. Member of The Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association Professional Cards GLADMAN & STANBURY (F. W. Gladman) BARRISTER, SOLICITOR, &c Money to Loan, Investments Made Insurance Safe-depoBlt Vaults for use of our Clients without Charge EXETER and HE NS ALL CARLING & MORLEY BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS, Ac- LOANS, INVESTMENTS, INSURANCE Office; Carling Block, Win Stree*, EXETER, ONT. Dr. G. F. Roulston, L.D.S.,D.D.S. DENTIST Office; Carling Block EXETER, ONT. dosed Wednesday Afternoons Dr..H. H. COWEN, L.D.S..D.DS. DENTAL SURGEON Office opposite the Post Office, Main Street, Exeter Office 36w Telephones Res. 36J Closed Wednesday Afternoons ARTHUR WEBER LICENSED AUCTIONEER For Huron and Middlesex FARM SALES A SPECIALTY PRICES REASONABLE SATISFACTION GUARANTEED Phone 57-13 Dashwood R. R. No. 1, DASHWOOD FRANK TAYLOR LICENSED AUCTIONEER For Huron and Middlesex FARM SALES A SPECIALTY Prices Reasonable and Satisfaction Guaranteed EXETER P. O. or RING 138 USBORNE & HIBBERT MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY Head Office, Exeter, Ont. President, ......... ANGUS SINCLAIR Mitchell, R.R. 1 Vice-President .... JOHN HACKNEY Kirkton, R.R. 1 DIRECTORS W. H. COATES .......... Exeter JOHN McGRATh ................. Dublin WM. HAMILTON .... Cromarty R. 1 T. BALLANTYNE .. Woodham R. 1 AGENTS JOHN ESSERY ............... Centralia ALVIN L. HARRIS .... Mitchell R. 1 THOS. SCOTT ................. Cromarty SECRETARY-TREASURER B, W. F. BEAVERS ......... Exeter GLADMAN & STANBURY Solicitors, Exeter Cedar Chests AND NEW FURNITURE Also furniture remodelled to order. We take orders for all kinds of ca­ binet work for kitchens, .etc at the DASHWOOD PLANING MILL Shingles & Lumber Buy your Shingles now while the price is right; also White Pine Dressed 10 in. and 12 in. wide at $40.00; Matched Siding, White Pine at $40.00; all sizes of 2 in. lumber at low prices. A. J. CLATWORTHY Phone 12 Granton EZRA PICKARD, CLINTON, SUCCUMBS IN 74TH YE AR Ezra Pickard, a native of Godericli Township and for sixteen years a resident of Clinton, died February 3, in his 74th year, He was educated in the Holmesville Public School, Hq farmed in Goderich Township fot years, Besides ibis widow, one bro* ther, three sisters, one son and one daughter survive.