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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-06-27, Page 4Paige 4--Ledknsw Sestissl, Wednesday, Juss 27, 1979 lomosema „mg.. Acres of Memory BY D.A. CAMPBELL When Windy Perkins sold his old Chevy for scrap to Bert Trotter: the Pantown wrecker, it broke Lizzie Perkins heart. 'Lizzie, under normal circumstances, would have been glad to see the .back of it - it was just one of the many old 'mechanical contraptions which were scattered around the farm, adding to the untidiness caused by a century of the Perkin's famly family neglect. It was not the car's disappearance which upset Lizzie, but what she had hidden inside"`' the upholstery of the back seat. Several weeks of scrubbing floors, washing dishes an..d cleaning windows for the vicar's wife had brought Lizzie a small fortune - $120! This was to be part of her escape money - the means by which Mrs. Perkins could break her ties with her drunken husband and find a new life more to her liking. The very next afternoon, whilst Windy was engaged in one of his drinking sessions at the Redtrees Hotel, Liz ie asked the vicar's wife for 'time off, borrowed a couple of bucks • from her, and took the bus to, Pahtown. All ,the way there, her mind was in a turmoil. She had horrible visions that tr'e car had already been compressed into a neat package ready fpr the melting pot. Perhaps, even if it was still in Pantown, the .scrap man's oxy acetylene torch had burnt away all the unusable upholstery.' The worst fear of all - that the wrecker would not allowher to retrieve her money: After all, he had bought the car and all it cnntainedi She had no difficulty finding the wrecker's place. It was on the main street, and as she made her way through the piles of junk she saw a man slicing up a, car with a cutting torch. When he was aware of her presence, he turned out the flame and pulled his .goggles up onto his sweating torehead. His•face was blacked by grime but it was a handsome face. Lizzie was still able to'espond quickly to her female fantasies. "Are you the man whd bought a car from Mr. Perkins yesterday?", she asked. Bert Trotterlaid the cutting torch down and took a long searching look at Lizzie, through eyes which were accustomed to evaluating the female form. He was not dsappointed".at. what he saw. It was true that the wo rtian was poorly dressed and had seen better days, but clothes never stood in the way of his analysis of feminine charm. She was still'a good looking woinan,- he thought, and built .like a concrete silo! "That's right,", he said, his face breaking into a 'broad grin. "Did I pay him too much for i,t?-. Lizzie stood for a few minutes, embarrassed by the man's searching glance. ' • Wou.ld you mind if I took a look in the car? I think there may have been some old papers left in the glove com partment.' . "Help yourself." Bert told her. "It's over there by that hydro pole -'.do you, want me to go with you'" Thank you; that's alright," Lizzie said_ pastil"". "Don't let me keep you from your work:" Liizziefound the old Chevy, opened the car door and pulled' the back' seat forward.' With her heart in her mouth she felt deep into . the upholstery and . her fingers touched .a paper b.aq. With a stifled cry of joy she withdrew the money bag and as it to reassure herself, took out the bundle of notes. When Lizzie turned away from the car, her happy . face changed quickly to one of guilt - Bert Trotter had been standing behind her. He had, of course, been more interested in the wbman than what, she 'was doing in the car. What she was holding in her hands, however, changed the whole complex of the situation. Lizzie spoke quickly in her defence. "This is mine," she said defiantly. "I worked a long time for it " and believe me,• mister, I earned every -cent." "What you say about working for it might be true. I ain't saying it's not. Legally though, I ain't so sure you can claim it," Bert told her with , a crafty half -smile. "This is something we gotta talk about, you and me, real private like, and perhaps I can make • 1... MAKE IT A RULE... USE WANT ADS, A HANDY TOOL w a deal with yer. The look upon the man's face left Lizzie in no doubt what the deal would be. Sure, she might be considered one of the hicks from the sticks, but she was not altogether green to the realities of life. She read somewhere in the works of William Shakespeare that there is a tide in the affairs of men which, when taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. This perhaps was the tide which the Bard of Avon wrote about, and Lizzie had no intention of missing the boat! When Windy Perkins returned to the farm from the Redtrees Hotel that afternoon, there was no fire in the Stove and the table was not prepared for the usual meager meal. He shouted for Lizzie but there was no reply. A search of the whole house was fruitless and when he had looked through all the buildings on the property, he feared the worst. Windy made a call to the police and informed them of his wife's absence. They told him it was too early yet to assume anything, had happened to his wife, but Windy; -even in his alcoholic remorse, knew different- ly The only person who received any news of Lizzie was the vicar's wife. It carne in the form of a "short..-_ note wrapped around a two dollar bill. The message was brief, asking the Vicar's wife to forgive her for not returning' to work, and thanking her for all her kindness. If fhe absence of Lizzie Perkins caused the tongues to•wag in Redtrees, the disappearance of Bert Trotter was even more of a mystery to . the residents' of Pantown. It was as if he had been snatched from: his wrecking yard by some supernatural power. His tools and equipment lay exactly in the position he had left them and as far as could be seen, he had none of his belongings with him: What was not generally known, Bert was only one step away from bankruptcy and perhaps was -glad to leave the place to his creditors. People who knew Bert well, advanced their own theories as to why the scrap man had beat a hasty retreat. The congenial Mr. Trotter had wrecked'more than cars along the road of his .life - he'd wrecked a few+•narriages too! Whatever became of Lizzie? l' reallydon't know; but one thing is for sure - she must have found a better lifer She never carne back to Windy; Perkins. TOWNSHIP OF HURON GARBAGE COLLECTION • l.. Garbage collection from January 1, 1979 to May 31, 1979 will be on Mondays. From June 1. to June 30 Lurgan Beach 'south. to Ashfield Boundary on Mondays. Blairs Grove north to Kincardine Boundary on Tuesdays. • July and August Lurgan Beach South to Ashfield .Boundary on Mondays"and Thursdays Blair's Grove to Kincardine Boundary on Tuesdays and Fridays. 4. September 1 to September 30 7. 8. 9. • Lurgan Beach to Ashfield, Boundary on Mondays. Blair's Grove to Kincardine Boundary on Tuesday's. October 1 to December 31 Kincardine Boundary to Ashfield Boundary on Mondays. . All garbage must be placed in garbage bags and remains the responsibility of the household until pickup with a limit of 3 to 4 bags per household. , Whena holiday falls on the "Monday. garbage will be picked up on Tuesday or in the months of July and August on Tuesday and Wednesday. Heavy garbage pickup will be July IS. 1979 and August 15, 1979. • OPEN HOURS AT THE TOWNSHIP DUMP November 1 to April 30 Friday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 1 to October 31 Monday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. ... Friday 1 p.m.. to 9 p.m. 1: Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. BLYTH CENTRE FOR THE . ARTS ART EXHIBITION n June 28th - July 28th by Huron County Secondary School Students. to be held at the "ART GALLERY" Next door to the Theatre [Blyth Memorial Hall] The Exhibition made possible through the assistance of the Ontario Arts Council KINCARDINE'S NO. 1 NIGHTSPOT NEXT WEEK This is a band you won't want to miss! JIM- MY'S a former member of the FABULOUS PLATTERS and keeps the memory alive through his performance of such greats as 'Only You' & 'The Great Pretender!' Cover Charge Fri. & Sat. night Proper dress please. We are accepting Age of Majority Card as only proof of age. SUTTON PARK INN Hwy. No. 21 N. Kincardine Ph. 396-3444