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aUtSL^i-: PAGE SIX THE'CLINTON CHRONICLE: CXINTON, S. C Cgiottour at ETESTABLE |.e..p!e.'' s:ii<\ Helen. h };lare mi the crowd niilliiij: nhout h bargain table. “Eiich on,- In seurcli of the very olh Ject I aoj trying to get.” “Impossilbie,” returned good obi Cyrus from over ids hiding of biio dieik. “Some are men and cnMiot b» In pursuit of, tlie artieies on your list.' Helen wanted to retort. “Stupid!” but iaugbed instead. “I don't mean they are looking for step-ins and ted- Idles,” slie returned “But we all want a $5 gift for 40 cents, /in sc tired! 1 gues.s I'll go home.** And went, just like that. She was that kind ot a sudden person, which was wliy Cyrus lovetl her, but had* never founo time and place right for telUng her so. Helen fell Into a waiting jitney. Oh, hut she was a-weary. And how long since the nightmare started? It "began in llie summer, when conscience said slie mustn't crochet what she wanted to crochet, but what would be useful come Cliristmas, Then came the slogan. “Shop Early.” Helen had sliopped early, hut that did not mean she was able to avoid shopping late. The spirit’ of riiri.stnias—love, good will, peace. Where w.'is It? Her eyes closed. , “Detour!’’ exclaimed the driver, as be turned on a side road. He was an “extra” earning for college. During Christinas season be, like the rest of the world, overworked and under- slept After driving IS hours, he had taken this “trick” so the regular man couid go and buy things. All the wives made all the liusbands do the same. Tnerefore Clay Hamilton, who had no wife, drove tlie-jitney. Drove It on and on. Perliaps dozed off. A wheel skidded. Somelliing. careened and something else smashed. “Where can we be?” asked Helen, gazing at a black higliway. The man iftighed grimly. “I don’t «ven know where we are.” he re sponded. Both turned to meet tlie old mnn who huhhiod from the nearest house. “Well.” he cackled, “tliis Is .Middls- ton. tlie town folks forgot. Years ago trains stopped running. We got no garage, no piione, pretty nlgli no In- ■ habitants. Me’n my sister live here ’cause we ain’t able to live nowhere else. .Mrs. Gould is bedridden and her 'daughter stays to take care of her. Come in. You can’t move on tonight, 'wheel all crumpled up. And you can’t walk If you’ve hurt your foot, ns I suspect.” • Inside the quaint house, with his shoe cut off. Clay made apology to Helen. “1 could kick myself,” he said, “foi getting you into such a scrape, I must have dreamed that sign ‘Detour.’ The truth is. I shouldn’t have been driv ing. It’s the—” “Holiday rush.” Internipted Helen, understand, I won’t complain, though a roll of red tissue paper ani May Say It,’’ Returned Helen. “I’m Reconciled.** **ussed everything but Christmas. The r.rxt day came, bringing a blizzard. ITor a little they spoke of a search being made for the jitney, hnt It be came evident “detour” had Indeed been a dream. Never mind. Clay’s ankle was getting better, and Helen felt like a child out of school. In the afternoon the two hohlded and tripped,' respectively, into tlie kitclien entry. 'I'hrough the lialf-open door they saw their hostess and the daughter of tlie hed-ridden woman What was it tliey bent over? Helen’s jiarcel. wiili its bnni'h oi scarlet tissue. Its holt of green ribbon Its sprigs of artiheial holly. But witli what wistful eyes were the women re gardin^ tliese gewgaws. “They say,” whi.sperod Miss Gould, harely touching the pretties wliii finger tips discolored by iodine, "that in lots of places one never has a r.. istmns gift not tied up nice. I r ;:d it somewliere—the wra|>ping is l;.ilf the gift I” * “.Maybe so." said Miss Eliot. "I never had a Christmas present.” “I did have some good times." re turned .Miss Gould. “Iiefore ma took sick. Hung up my stocking and al ways got some llnie tricks. Wasn't contented, though. Used to hanker for a tree.” Helen turned quickly, not to be caught eavesdropping. In the parlor I. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 'Q. S. S. Officers P. D. JOHNSON President Q, S. S. W. C. BALDWIN Vice-President Q. S. S. i For He Pulled Birchbark From Sticks in the Woodbox. she confronted Clay Hamilton wltli the air of one about to reply to a loud-spoken objection. “For goodness gracious’ sake," she exclaimed, “don’t say whatever you were about to. Stop right where you are, and help me. I have to contrive a Christmas present for at least a dozen people, and deck a tree for two. And nothing to do It with—not a thin,g. And It’s already late and night closing In.” liiglit here was where Clay scored above any possibilities of Cyrus, wlio would surely have observed the in consistency. “Let U close,” said he. “The lo<?al shops aren’t closed. They never open! How would a branch off that hemlock we ran Into do for a baby tree?” “Splendlferons," said Helen. Then she wanted to know what became of the wishbone she had seen on ids plate «t dinner? He had saved It. for good luck. And what was It one used to do with a wishbone? Wliy, make a pen wiper, to be sure. So Helen made one. and dressed It In red telt cut from her oversiioe lining. Clay print ed the rhyme: I R. G. WALLACE Treasurer Q. S. S. Q. S; S. To Have Service As Keynotes Once 1 was a little part Of a little hen, Now I'll be a little slave And help you clean your pen. I Quality Service is an organization : of grocers located in Clinton and near by territory, having at present many j retail members, and wholesalers co- ’ operating, it is stated by W. C. Bald- I win, vice-president of Quality Se/vice Stores of Clinton. “The object of the organization,” Mr. Baldwin continued, “is to promote efficiency in'the buying, handling and. selling of the lyoducts handled by these stores. twit of green ribbon aren't very effi cient provisions for an overnight stay. But—doesn’t that coffee smell good?”' “Rather, if It wasn’t that i know fon are anxious to get home ami ftn lab your Christmas preparations, I’.l say, ‘What larks!’” “Yon may gay It." returned Helen. “Fin reconciled. Glory be, there are j no signs of holly In this house,” { “Perhaps.” said the young man, fol ' lowing her mood, though ratbei amazed, “we've reached a land where CSiristmas ends. A test! Miss Eliot,’ addressing their hostess as she en tered with a tray, “Can you tell os the date of day after tomorrow?” “Day after tomorrow is the twen ty-fifth." she said calmly. Then she went out for more food, and Helen, fdnned at Clay,i^agdf^‘4bey were dl<K friends. The tweiitpfltiii of Decern-' ber was just a dafe! , I They had actually got away from, dulstinas. It proved a delightful evening, pro^ luaged at the twe fouug folks dls IL. “Vt has all the earmarks of the per feet gift.” quoth Helen, “for I doubt If any one here ever uses, much less has occasion to wipe a pen.” Then she sent Clay to gather the alder berries reachable from the iKirch Later she strung these for a neck lace on a bit of colored string from her parcel. After the Eliots had re tired she went as eagerly to w’ork as if she had never forsw’orn Christmas. Twisting the strands of hay she made dainty baskets. She also constructe*! candlesticks of cornstalks, trimmed prettily with fringed husks. In the meantime Clay was not Idle, for he pulled birchbark from sticks in the woodbox and borrowing needle and thread from the Eliot workhaskei, sewed tiny hemlock sprigs Into “Mer ry Christmases.” making objects that Helen asserted would be considered "just wonderful” if discovered In u gift shop. All was at length completed, but the two had little time for admiration of their handiwork, since the parcels must be wrapped with all the wealth of the tissue, the ribbon, the holly, and the seals. ‘ And was Helen "tired to death” when all was complete? Nay. stand Ing beside Clay on the little porch, listening to the crackint Ice as trees swayed in the risin.e wind, she felt as If swaddled In the comfort of a great Jo.v. Vainly had she though! herself “sick of Christmas.” At hei first chance to forget, she had worked her utmost to bring holiday to the fj>r gotten town. With dawn, she knew 'the extent of her success. Clay, who bad been limping about, told her that in every house some old biMly with trembling hands was unwrapfdng £ gift sure to be treasured for ye.irs. “And nothing for either of usi,” laughed Helem. Yet a few moments after, when Miss Eliot entered the room, it was te say, “My dear. I never before o<» tlced the pretty ring on your finger!’ Two golden hands claspw. an old fashioned betrothal token, which ‘’Ja.\ Hamilton had from his mother, and because It was always with lili i. Im.! quite provldeDtially taken on detouri ((S: 1*27. WMttni Nvwspascr UstowJ “To reduce costs and pass this sav ing on to the consumers; to arrange suitable displays in windows and in side the stores, and make the stores generally attractive; to run regular advertising in the newspapers, telling housekeepers of seasonable offerings, special price concessions, etc., and also telling of the advantages of dealing with a service grocer such as tele phone service, delivery service and charge accounts. “The organization includes a num ber of the oldest and best known stores in Clinton and vicinity, men who have spent years catering to Clinton homes and who know what our people want, and how they want it, and men who have done their part year after year in building up their neighborhoods, in every possible way. “The name. Quality Service, meaois just what -it says. Prices must of course be fair and reasonable, but a low price means nothing, if quality is sacrificed. Quality will at all times be maintained. The service render^ must be considered, too, when a price comparison is made. “Quality Service Stores deliver the goods on the kitchen table. The house keeper doesn’t have to lose time, or figure the cost of gasoline when buy ing supplies from a Q. S. S. grocer.” Removes Ink On Linen Mellow ^Ilow poured over an ink I stain on linen will remove the spot, j When washed in warm water and i soap both ink and the grease spot will i disappear. We are agents for the well known Sellers I Kitchen Cabinets. They I are strong and well I built, handily equipped Jand finished ip pretty decorative colors, and priced right. PRATHfeR-SIMPSON FURNITURE CO. 7 Stores In Clinton Friday and Saturday Specials - • . ' • ; Many housewives returned to their regular grocer last Satur day to enjoy the benefits of economy and service, the best fro- cery stores of Clinton, Newberry and Prosperity having joined the great nationwide QUALITY SERVICE store system. Hus bands found a new and almosl: forgotten flavor in their Sun day dinner. Everybody seems happy that his fo<^ distributing problem has been solved for this community. There are more than a million housewives trading the QUALITY SERVICE way. Why not you? FILL YOUR PANTRY AT THESE PRICES: LARD 8 LB. Bucket $1.02 MACARONI ^ 20c CHIPSO ^ 23c BACON 16c Lb. FAN C Y RI C E 22c GRITS 5. Pound Limit To a Customer Lb. 3c 5c lOc CARNATION MILK IS EAGLE BRAND MILK 19c Ballard’s Obelisk Flour siSSto, 24 Lbs. $1.33 International Salt, Square Pkg. 3 for 10c Golden Crown Syrup No, 5 Can 36c GRAPE FRUIT 3 for 25c ONIONS Sc lb. 1 IRISH POTATOES 5 lbs. 19c These Merchants Are Members of Clinton-Newberry- Prosperity Group: CLINTON,S.C. Baldwin’s Grocery J. M. Pitts 50-50 Grocery Co. L C. ^land Blakely’s Grocery L. V. Pinson Clinton Mercantile Co. NEWBERRY, S. C. Boozer Brothers R. G. Wallace The Carry ter ia S. 0. Nesley S. L. Sheqiy Senn and Jones G. J. Jones Thornton Bros. D. D. Darby C. A. Shealy Layton Bros. D. C. Driggers J. J. Senn Johnson-McCraekin Co. PROSPERITY, S. C. A. K. Epting W. C. Barnes sfzjzjai^iareftiaitofa^^ r r-- <V'v ifji