blood to defendAmerica's honor. I'm sorry I couldn't find a place for any more flags."
The colonel and Mary Louise were both a little awed, but as Kaskeraccompanied them to the door, they strove to express their sympathy andapproval. As they parted, however, the man leaned over and whispered:"Just the same, I hate the war. But, if it _has_ to be, let's standtogether to fight and win it!"* * * * * * * *"Gran'pa Jim," said Mary Louise, when they were on the street again,"I'm ashamed. I once told you I loved you better than my country, butJake Kasker loves his country better than his son."
CHAPTER XXVIKEEPING BUSY
The Liberty Girls were forced to abandon their Shop when a substantialoffer was made by a business firm to rent the store they had occupied.However, they were then, near the end of their resources, with depletedstock, for they had begged about all the odds and ends people wouldconsent to part with. What goods remained to them were of inferiorworth and slow to dispose of, so they concluded their enterprise with a"grand auction," Peter Conant acting as auctioneer, and cleaned up theentire stock "in a blaze of glory," as Mary Louise enthusiasticallydescribed the event.
The venture had been remarkably successful and many a soldier had causeto bless the Liberty Girls' Shop for substantial comforts provided fromits funds.
"But what can we do now," inquired Mary Louise anxiously as the sixcaptains met with Irene one afternoon following the closing of theshop. "We must keep busy, of course. Can't someone think of something?"
One and all had been thinking on that subject, it seemed. Variousproposals were advanced, none of which, however, seemed entirelypractical until Irene said:
"We mustn't lose our reputation for originality, you know, nor must weinterfere with those who are doing war relief work as well, if not muchbetter, than we could. I've pondered the case some, during the past fewdays, and in reading of the progress of events I find that quite themost important thing on the government programme, at present, is theconservation of foods. 'Food will win the war' is the latest slogan,and anyone who can help Mr. Hoover will be doing the utmost for ourfinal victory."
"That's all very well, Irene," said Alora, "but I'm sure we are all ascareful as possible to conserve food."
"Don't ask us to eat any less," pleaded Edna, "for my appetite rebelsas it is."
"I don't see how we Liberty Girls can possibly help Mr. Hoover morethan everyone else is doing," remarked Laura.
"Well, I've an idea we can," replied Irene. "But this is just anothercase where I can only plan, and you girls must execute. Now, listen tomy proposition. The most necessary thing to conserve, it seems, iswheat."
"So it seems, dear."
"People are eating large quantities of wheat flour simply because theydon't know what else to eat," Irene continued. "Now, corn, properlyprepared, is far more delicious and equally as nourishing as wheat. Thetrouble is that people don't know how to use corn-meal and corn-flourto the best advantage."
"That is true; and they're not likely to learn in time to apply theknowledge usefully," commented Mary Louise.
"Not unless you girls get busy and teach them," admitted Irene, while asmile went round the circle. "Don't laugh, girls. You are all very faircooks, and if properly trained in the methods of preparing corn forfood, you could easily teach others, and soon all Dorfield would beeating corn and conserving wheat. That would be worth while, wouldn'tit?"
"But who's to train us, and how could we manage to train others?" askedMary Louise.
"The proposition sounds interesting, Irene, and if carried throughwould doubtless be valuable, but is it practical?"
"Let us see," was the reply. "Some time ago I read of the wonderfulsuccess of Mrs. Manton in preparing corn for food. She's one of themost famous professional cooks in America and her name is already ahousehold word. We use her cook-book every day. Now, Mrs. Manton hasbeen teaching classes in Cleveland, and I wrote her and asked what shewould charge to come here and teach the Liberty Girls the practicalmethods of preparing her numerous corn recipes. Here's her answer,girls. She wants her expenses and one hundred dollars for two weeks'work, and she will come next week if we telegraph her at once."
They considered and discussed this proposition very seriously.
"At the Masonic Temple," said Mary Louise, "there is a large and fullyequipped kitchen, adjoining the lodge room, and it is not in use excepton special occasions. Gran'pa Jim is a high Mason, and so is Alora'sfather. Perhaps they could secure permission for us to use the lodgekitchen for our class in cookery."
The colonel and Jason Jones, being consulted, promised the use of thekitchen and highly approved the plan of the Liberty Girls. Mrs. Mantonwas telegraphed to come to Dorfield and the cookery class was soonformed. Alora confessed she had no talent whatever for cooking, but allthe other five were ready to undertake the work and a selection wasmade from among the other Liberty Girls--of the rank and file--whichbrought the total number of culinary endeavorers up to fifteen--aslarge a class as Mrs. Manton was able to handle efficiently.
While these fifteen were being trained, by means of practical dailydemonstration, in the many appetizing preparations for the table fromcorn-meal and corn-flour, Alora and one or two others daily visited thehomes of Dorfield and left samples of bread, buns, cookies, cakes,desserts and other things that had come fresh from the ovens and rangeof the cooking-school. At the same time an offer was made to teach thefamily cook--whether mistress or servant--in this patriotic branch ofculinary art, and such offers were usually accepted with eagerness,especially after tasting the delicious corn dainties.
When Mrs. Manton left Dorfield, after two weeks of successful work, sheleft fifteen Liberty Girls fully competent to teach others how toprepare every one of her famous corn recipes. And these fifteen,divided into "shifts" and with several large kitchens at theirdisposal, immediately found themselves besieged by applicants forinstruction. Before winter set in, all Dorfield, as predicted by Irene,was eating corn, and liking it better than wheat, and in proof of theirsuccess, the Liberty Girls received a highly complimentary letter fromMr. Hoover, thanking them for their help in the time of the nation'sgreatest need. A fee, sufficient to cover the cost of the materialused, had been exacted from all those willing and able to pay forinstruction, so no expense was involved in this work aside from thecharges of Mrs. Manton, which were cared for by voluntary subscriptionon the part of a few who were interested in the girls' patrioticproject.
Another thing the Liberty Girls did was to start "Community Concerts"one evening each week, which were held in various churches and attendedby throngs of men, women and children who joined lustily in the singingof patriotic and popular songs. This community singing became immenselypopular and did much to promote patriotic fervor as well as toentertain those in attendance.
And so Mary Louise's Liberty Girls, at the time this story ends, arestill active workers in the cause of liberty, justice and democracy,and will continue to support their country's welfare as long as theycan be of use.
"We're a real part of the war," Mary Louise has often told herco-workers, "and I'm sure that in the final day of glorious victoryour girls will be found to have played no unimportant part."
THE END
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