The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-11-15


hardship. y man whose prominent eyes
Impaired an air ~ alert intelligence to
an othsrwsss ksavy ana brutal counte-
nance disnaursd by q bro&sn nose,
stood On the north side Of the Mile
End road and looked fixedly aeroSs the
street at fna building which dwarfed
ne mean houses on either hand.
He had NO need to ask what 1t was.
Carved In stone over the handsome
arch which led to an interior covered
court was its title, "The Mary Arson
Home For Destitute Boys" A date
followed, a date ten years Old
The observer was puzzled. He gazed
up and down the wide thoroughfare
with the manner OF one who asked
himself:
Nov. why was that built thereT
A policeman. stroIled leisnrely along
the pavement. but to him the man adj
dressed no question. Apparently UNI
conscious OF the corsta ble's observant
glance, he still continued to scrutinize
the great pile of brick and stone which
thrust fits splendid campanile into the
warm sunshine Of an April day.
Beneath the name was an inscription
These are they which passed
through great tribulation."
A queer smile did not improve the
mans expression as he read the text
CIRCULATION! That's It," he contin-
ued. 1--WE had ten years of It, And IT
started somewhere about the end Of
that fine entrance too. wonder where
Sailor is. and that boy. He's man
now, mebbe twenty-six or so, II he's
alive. Oh, hope he's alive! hope
he's rich and healthy and engaged or
married to nice young woman! IF
I've managed to 1--we 10 purgatory for
Ten long years. youngster like him
should be able to pull through with
youth and strength and a bagful of
aiamonds."
Without turning his head he became
aware that the policeman had halted
ut some little distance
''Of course I've got the mark on me"
said the man savagely to himself.
"He's spotted me all right Well, I'll
let him see don't care for him or any
Of his breed. / never did care, and it's
too late to begin now
He crossed the road, passed between
two fine iron gates standing Hospitality
open aud paused at the door OF the por-
ter's lodge. where stalwart commits
sionnaiFe met him. s*~
Have YOU called to see one Of the
bOysg' said the oflcial cheerfully.
HNo; I'm a stranger. It's a good
many years since 1 was In these parts
before. In those days there used 70
be a news here and some warehouses
ct the back. with few old ahops''--
F''On, / expect 50, out that Is long be-
fore my time. The Mary Arson home
was founded ten years ago, and it took
two years to build It's one Of the fiil-
est charities In London. Would yon
like TO look rornd?'
''Is that allowedY'
Certainly. Everybody Is welcome
If you go In by that side door there,
you'll Hnd an old man who has moth
ing to do but take visitors to the chief
departments. Bless your heart. we
lose half our boarders mat way. Peo-
pie come here. see the excellences az
the training we give and offer situa-
tons to boys who are old enough"
The man appeared to be surprised b.
the commissionnaires affability. He
did not know that ciyility and kind.
ness were essential there II any EN-
pIoyee would retain an excellent post.
He passed on, measuring the te;scl-
lated court with backward sweep of
the eye In the sunlit street beyond
the arch stood the policeman. The Wis
itor grinned again, an uDamiable al !
sulky grin, and vanished.
The policeman crossed over.
what is that chap afterT' he in
quired.
Nothing special" was the answer.
Last time he was here the place was
a news, he said" A
Unless ! am greatly mistaken, he
has ticket in his pocket
You don't say! Do you know him?'
No I'll look him up In the album
in the station when | go off duty"
"Well. he can't do any harm here
O'Brien takes visitors over regular
round, and. IN any case, the man Scent
ed TO be honest enough in his Curl
osity"
"You never can tell. They're up to
all sorts of lodges"
"Thanks very much. III ring for
O'Brien's relief and tell him to keep IN
eye on them, as the old man ls blind as
a bat
Meanwhile the stranger was be.hs
conducted up a wide staircase by =
somewhat lettering guide, who wore
on the breast of his uniform the Crl-
mean and Indian mutiny medals.
AS he hobbled In front he told, with
q strong Irish brogue, the familiar sto-
~ OF the Mary Arson honie-how II
FED, lodged and clothed GOO boys OF
British parentsge born In the White
chapel district; how II taught therl
traces and followed their careers wita
fostering care; how 1t never refused
meal or q vsarm sleeping place to any
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