Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-04-24

come along, Annermiria, let's 20 fer
walk in the park. Wen ave a good
ole time, won't we?'
Yer won't get a bit fer yer dinner
II yer do. But don't upset yerselves:
therell be more for Albert an Maudie.
'Arriet and mer'
yah! bury yerselfw was the polite
retort, as the young ladies disappeared
round the corner. But Joe did not
really feel uneasy, as he was con-
Vlnced they had no real intention of
stopping away from school.
Il won't let ma beat you. I'll bite
'er legs If she dow a little voice said
by his side. He looked down CRATE
fully. 1t was Maudle Harriet.
Yer allus was a good little un,"
he said; then added with precocious
knowledge, 'but, then, they centrally
Is good when they's kiddies. It's when
they gets older they gets so rough.
mind Minnikite and Annermiria lest
like lambs"
Like me?" asked Albert. looking up
AAOiAi lilo lhuu pies.
Now, you're jest fat puddin' 'ead.
Put yer cap on at once or I'll soon
mike yer mindw
Ihe Saby began to whimper, and he
folded her close in his arms and kissed
the little shriveled face. "Shoo, 20 ter
sleep, Sairey Ellen" he whispered
softly. Its a long time fore you'll
grow up and git rough and saucy."
Some hours later and the children
sat shivering at the top of the drafty
stairs for their mother to come home
and unlock the door.
"She's lite tonight" Anna Maria
said, leaning over the broken down
rail. But even as she spoke a heavy
step came up the stairs. The children
listened anxiously, and Joe at last OBJ
| served:
"She 'asn't ed much. Guess wen
be 'er orphans tonight"
In few moments woman's heavy,
bloated face appeared, followed by an
unwie.uy body.
Lite ter-night" she said, rather
thickly, feeling for her key. 80, well,
turn over moo leaf ter-morrert"
When she had lit lamp on the ta-
BILE, she sat down on the one sound
chair and began to cry.
Gimme me biby," she said at last:
me little orphan biby-me Jimmy's
chile"
She fell to kissing it, and it woke
with feeble, peevish cry.
With an oath she pushed it from
her, and Joe just caught it as it al
most fell from her lap.
"Take it," she said, 'there'll be bet
ter company ter-morrer"
He walked up and down until the
child slept again with it's tiny head
against his neck, while the woman
snored heavily in her chair. The early
winter light was just filtering through
the unshuttered window when Joe
awoke and sat up. His mother had
not slept in the bed. He blinked his
eyes and looked towards the chair, but
it was empty. With little cry he
sprang out of bed and rushed towards
the door, but she had outwitted him
this time, and it was locked.
That morning went slowly by, while
the children fought and wrangled and
the baby walled and would not be
comforted. Towards evening Joe was
leaning out of the window showing
the baby some sparrows fighting on
an opposite roof, when there was n
shrill scream behind him. He turned,
and, to his horror, saw Albert stand
ing shrieking, with lighted newspa-
per in his hand.
LET 60, yer fool!' he shouted. The
child let go his hold, and the lighted
clothing hanging against the wall, and
the next moment the whole room
seemed full Of smoke and flames. Joe
sprang to the door and kicked with all
Is might, but it would not yield to
his puny efforts, and the smoke stifled
him. There was no water In the
room, and the woodwork had already
caught and begun to crackle. He ran
to the window and gazed out. BY the
side Of the window on one side there
was about four feet of broken stone
ledge about foot and a half wide;
on the other side it had crumbled
away.
"Git out Of the winder on to thisw
he shouted to Minnikite. She climbed
on to the stone work as best she could
and clung to the side like a little rat.
Anna Maria followed, and Albert hold
ing Maudie between them. There was
no room for more.
l. 4 L. 4 4. L.