ly. "Only a half a loaf of rye bread and
some corn molasses. The children used to be very fond of that, but
they've had it so often since the strike began, that they're almost
sick of it."

"Is there any store open near here where I can go and buy something?"

"There's a bakery and delicatessen over on the street where the car
line runs. It's probably open now."

"Will I find a drug store over there, too? I want to use the
telephone."

"Yes, you'll find a drug store on that street, a block north."

"I'll go at once and you set the table while I'm gone. We'll have a
feast that will delight the hearts and stomachs of these little ones."

"God bless you, Helen," were the last words that fell on her ears as
she went out.

"I must call up Marion and tell her where I am," she mused as she
hastened toward the drug store. "I would have told her where I was
going before I left, but I was afraid she wouldn't let me go. Besides,
I don't feel like telling her everything yet."

A few minutes later she was in the drug store applying for permission
to use the telephone.

"The phone is out of order," the druggist replied.

"Oh," Helen exclaimed in disappointment. "Where is there another in
the neighborhood?"

"There is none within half a mile that I know of, except in the
saloons," was the reply.

"I can't go there," the girl said desperately. "And I must have a
telephone soon. Won't yours be fixed before long?"

"I hope so," said the druggist. "I've sent in a call for a repair man.
Can't you come back in an hour or two?"

"Yes, I think so," Helen said, turning to go. "I do hope it is
repaired then, because it's very important."

* * * * *

CHAPTER XVII.

HELEN DECLARES HERSELF.

Twenty minutes later Helen returned to her brother's home, her arms
loaded with cured meats, bread, a pie, some frosted cup-cakes, a glass
of jam, and a bottle of stuffed olives.

"There," she said, as she deposited her bounteous burden on the table.
"I couldn't get any tea or sugar or butter, but even without those we
can have quite a feast in a very short jiffy."

"I have some tea and some light brown sugar, which the children like
on their bread for a change after they've got tired of corn syrup,"
Mrs. Nash said.

"Good!" exclaimed Helen with genuine enthusiasm. "That's fine! Butter
and white sugar are unnecessary luxuries sometimes. Now we'll get busy
and will soon be feasting like a royal