The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-08-26

staring at her father over the bunch
of whitening flowers she carried.
There, I didn't mean to brighten
YER" continued her parent. gave a
good timer
1T was Jest wonderful" she said.
father?'
Il was born there, jessie"
WAS yer, now? An yer never told
me. Was mother born there, too?"
The man rose from his chair and
lounged across to the window, from.
which he leaned staring down into
the narrow court below.
"Atfield way" he said, sulkily.
60 on, carn't yer. I'm listening"
There was trees as thick as
thick" she cried, eagerly enough
mot one or two. but hundreds in
Their manner of speakin. And flow
ers, too, wot yer might pick and no
one to stop--that Is, they didn't try
it on me: flowers wot 'ad no SCOT on
'em either. Then we climbed a ill,
and yer could look fer miles and
miles. 1t fair frightened me, it did
Oh. father"
She stopped with half sob in her
voice, so that the man looked back
over his shoulder with a glance of
surprise.
"'ere, wot's up?" he said.
Don't yer think-carn't we
carn't we get no work out there, In
the country"
Work? Nav. Wot put that into
yer silly 'ead?'
But yer carnt get none ere,
neither-at least, not regular" she
argued.
Stow that" he shouted, with a
sudden ferocfty. I'm an honest
working man, that's wot I am You'll
be calling me a thief next, sneaking
round to the tees, I've no doubt, with
yer nasty lies. And orl this comes
of this yer blooming society wot
takes out kids to the country an
makes em ashamed of their fathers.
The next time l see that toff with
the tickets. strike me, if I don't go
for to-
The flowers fell tumbling to the
floor. She was hiding her face in her
hands, her small body shaking with
sobs. The man hesitated a moment,
and then, moving across, patted her
on the shoulder There, there, Jes-
sie," he said, you're orl right.
didn't mean it, old girl Ere, tell me
some more"
IF yer'd seen us yer wouldn't talk
about bashing no toff. Orl of us kids
was like crazy things with the joy
of it. They was that. And it's
only once a year. father, that the
Fresh Air Fund comes around"
He grunted some half-apology, and,
dropping into a wooden chair, com
menced to fill his pipe. And so it was
that the whine from the cupboard
sounded very distinct indeed.
"Oh. father.
The girl had swung open the door
before the man could stop her. A
very .intimidated little dachshund
stood blinking for moment, and
then waddled out into the ROOM
IT'S Miss Brendons Fresh Air
Fund dorg from Layland street." said
the little girl,tirm ly. That's is
collecting box wot e as around lis
neck. Ow did e get 'ere?"
The man had got to his feet with
an ugly look. but before his little
daughters steady eye he hesitated.
shufiiing with his feet.
That dorg as sent scores of us
kids into the country, father" she
continued. COW did e come 'ere?"
'Strayed. 1 guess" said her father,
sheepishly. Il found the poor little
dorg wandering down the court and
l brought i'm ONE till l could find
a howner for i'm. l 'aven't touched
is collecting box. 1t was locked and
l 'adn't time" He checked him
self quickly. Taking a piece of cord
from his pocket he fastened 1t to the
dogs collar and the girl watched him
in silence. Il think I'll come along
with yer" she said quietly.
ut was a very curious thing" said
MISS bielluoil, we lduN Inspector VI
factories. to her friend. "They all
arrived together. Jessie Plummer
leading Billie, and that scamp of a
father of hers lounging behind. They
told a story of Billie being found
wandering down their court. which
was IA remarkable thing for Billie to
do, by the way. | offered the man IA
shilling for his trouble. but he shook
his head. l don't think l was ever
more surprised.
"'But l insist on it, Plummer.'
said.
"'No, miss he replied; I'd rather
not And then, after long hesita-
ton, If yer want to spend bob
well. give it to them kids
ITO whom | asked.
"'To them kids wot yer calls ther
Fresh Air Fund
VERY we'll | told him, L will put
down Mr. W. Plummer for a sub
scriptiou of one shilling
IL a