The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-05


I Older by reason of his grizzled
4 u hair and a face scanned with
hardship. a man whose prominent eyes
impaired an air Of alert intelligence to
an Otherwise heavy and brutal counts
nance disfgured by a broken nose.
stood on the north side OF the Mile
End road and looked hxedly across the
street at fine building which dwarfed
the mean houses on either hand.
He had no need to ask what It 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 data
followed, q date ten years old.
The observer was puzzled. He gaxed
up and down the wide thoroughfare
with the manner of one who asked
himself:
Nov. why was that built there?''
A policeman strolled leisurely along
the pavement. but to him the man adj
dressed no question. Apparently I'M
conscious OF the consta bie's observant
glance. he still continued to scrutinizs
the great pile of brick and stone which
thrust its 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 tho
mans expression as he read the text.
"Tribulation! That's It," he contin-
ued. I've had ten years OF II. And ii
started somewhere about the end of
hot n nnf 4 -l
Sailor is. and that boy. He's a man
now. mebbe twenty-six or so. IL he's
alive. Oh, I hope he's alive, I hope
he's rich and healthy and engaged or
married to q nice young woman! If
I've managed to live in purgatory for
ten long years, a youngster like him
should be able to pull through with
youth and strength and a bagful Of
diamonds"
Without turning his head he became
aware that the policeman had halted
at some little distance.
"Of course I've got the mark on me-"
said the man savagely to himself
Hes spotted me all right. Well, I'll
let him see don't care for him or any
of his breed. 1 never did care, and IT'S
TOO late to begin now"
He crossed the road. passed between
two nne iron gates standing Hospitality
open and paused at the door Of the por-
ters lodge, where a stalwart commits
sionnaire met him.
Have You called to see one Of the
boysT said the Official cheerfully
"No; I'm a stranger. It's a good
many years since / was in these parts
before. In those days there used to
be a news here and some warehouses
at the back, with a few old shops
ooh. I expect so, but that Is long be-
fore my time. The Mary Arson home
was founded ten years ago, and II took
two years to build. It's one Of the I'm
est charities in London. Would you
like to look round?'
"Is that allowedT.
Certainly. Everybody IL welcome.
II you go In by that side door there.
you'll find an old man who has moth
ing to do but take visitors to the chief
| departments. Bless your heart, we
lose half our boarders that way. Peo-
pie come here, see the excellences of
| the training we give and offer situa-
tons to boys who are old enough"
The man appeared to be surprised by
the commissionnaire's affability. He
did not know that civility and kind
ness were essential there IL any en-
! ployee would retain an excellent post.
He passed on. measuring the tessel-
lated court with a backward sweep OF
the eye In the sunlit street beyond
the arch stood the policeman. The Wis
itor grinned again. an unamiable and
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"