Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1895-07-04
KNUCKS' 18th OF JULY

that small boy presented himself at the
Office of the secretary of the Fresh Air
Fund society.
There was little of boyishness in his face,
! nd none of the elasticity of childhood In
81 step He seemed weak, as If i'll from
tie intense heat.
Tie removed his tattered hat at the door
and stepped just inside, holding on to the
door casing with one hand.
Got chance for me, sirY" he asked
timidly
"No. my boy" answered the secretary.
No one wants boys yet.
The lad made no answer. His weak,
dragging footsteps carried him out of the
building and down the hot street for a few
blocks Then he staggered few steps,
threw up his hands weakly, wavered blind
" and fell in heap on the pavement
Another sunstroke, said the police
man who picked him up.
Next day another boy came to the secre
tary's office with the question, Amy
chance for me, sir?'' And again the score
tary answered that nobody wanted boys
yet.
This boy limped on a crutch, for one OF
his legs hung withered and useless, but
his limp was brisk, despite the heat and
his evident WEAKNESS.
And when he heard the discouraging
answer to his plea he limped out again
briskly and even whistled "a few gay notes.
But he stopped when out OF hearing and
one hand slipped furtively up and dashed
tear or two away.
Upon the following afternoon an entire
ly different sort of visitor came to the
office of the secretary of the fund. He was
A tall, angular man and came striding
briskly up the hot street mopping his
moist forehead with red handkerchief.
Hemight have been less hot had he been
so minded. He was walking unsheltered
! from the fierce glare on the sunny side of
the street, and not only that, but was clad
in IA well worn pepper and salt suit OF
clothes amply warm enough for any
weather short of freezing.
Instead of n straw hat he wore n thick
black sloueh In addition he was striding
/ along as If walking for wager.
When he entered the office OF the Fresh
Air fund, the secretary looked up from his
writing, then greeted him politely
"Paul Hallett, l reckon?" inquired the
newcomer
"That is my name, sir. What can do
for your
| 'Mell, you fulRDO
Il am sorry, but
mot suprisin. Names Joplln-Johh
Joplin from Colorado.
"Mr Joplin, hardly
"You remember Romford, up among the
Connecticut hillsY Remember the little
yellow schoolhouse jest across the brooks
Remember the lanky Joplin boyg"
"I-why, of course / remember you,
John Joplin, said Mr.. Hallett, with a
hearty ring In his voice. And am truly
glad to see you again, old friend.
That's good to hear. You're the same
Paul"
II don t know, John Twenty and mort
years is a long time. How have they
served your
1--WE had my ups and downs, " answer
ed Mr.. Joplin, fought my fights and go
my scars Yes, twenty odd years is Ions
time Paul didn't realize 1t till walk
ed under the elms up in old Romford TIT
other day"
Mr.. Joplin, in his well worn peppe
and salt suit, did not look particular.
prosperous, and the secretary was afrai'
that he had been Obliged TO save and hoar'
in order to make this journey back east q
visit old scenes.
But he was very glad to see him, and h
was talking over old times when he wa
interrupted by the entrance of the lam
boy who had come the day before and gon
away disappointed with whistle on hi
lips and tears in his eyes.
"Got chance for me yet, sirp' he ask
ed.
eyes, my lad, the secretary answered
81 have Just one chance for boy. 70
can spend your Fourth of July week in tn
country What is your nameT
As he spoke he held out card.
| chip The boy fairly snatched the car
l and hoped out of the room with smotf
cred whoop.
j "Herel Herep' called the secretary af
er him what is your nameT'
"Knucks +"
The boy was already in the street an
speeding along the pavement as fast as h
crutch would carry him, and IL there Wa
any more Of his name Mr.. Hallett did M
catch it,
Whats this business anyhow" aske
Mr. Joplin 81 don't exactly see throug
Ii"
Mr. Hallett briefly explained the SOC
ETY. It's beneflciaries were among the chi
dren of the very poor, who could new,
hope to escape for even a day from the G,
hausting heat of the sitting city unle
helped.
Kind people living out in the cool coui
try sent in their names signifying the
willingness to entertain n girl or boy for
week The society paid for the transport
ton Of the children 10 and from the cou
try.
"But very few of these kind Peep
want boys nowadays" continued Mr.. Hs
lett "The little chaps are inclined to
riotous. Nearly every one has asked Z
girls Of late The boys do good deal
mischief and behave, presume, like wi
Indians.
"Or just simply like boysS" suggest.
Mr. Joplin.
Mr. Hallett was in love with his wor
poorly paid though his position was, al
he told the man from Colorado n gre
deal about IL. Mr.. Joplin listened gravel
cts a good notion" he said, "and
man"
And then little Knucks returned.
hoped in and laid the card on the desk
Here Is the ticket back again, sir, .
said LET some other boy use It. dor
nced 1t.
And he turned and started to hop fro