The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-28

place he found slender stick from Kates fsh-pond
game. A scrap of paper dangled from its foolish
little tin hook. The paper. uncrumpled, revealed
this cruel bit of verse;
Smartie, smartie,
Went to a party.
Didn't get his sister asked to it.
He asked girls
With dark brown curs,
But when he got there he had at.
Go play with this your old fiddle.
Then 1 just guess those girls will giggle.
He paIed with rage at this dastardly blow. H,
did not dare go into the library in his borrowed
clothes. There was not time to dress again; the
minutes were already ticking ominousy away. He
knew now why that fendish Kate had settled her
self under her fathers lamp with her algebra
He turned her room topsy-turvy in a vain search
Finally he stole in despair to his mothers sitting
room in hopes she could help him. But she. too.
downstairs.
In the alcove back of her sewing screen was his
grandfather's huge old safe. Jack paused. Could
he remember the combination? He tried it gently.
fumbIing in the dim light. He flushed with joy
as the door swung slowly open.
I'll just take it for tonight" he murmured-
I'm my own grandfather wouldn't care IL
I borrowed his bow. I'll bet he'd be glad to have
me do it."
He sighed he touched the familiar instrument.
still bearing the strings he had put upon it last
summer.
Mine squeaks fierce" he thought regretfully.
He shut the door of the safe hurredly q few sec
onds later as he heard coming up the
stairs. When he rushed out of the house his guilty
little heart beating wildly I
Betty and Nell greeted his late arrival with many
exciting comments. but he rushed them along !
Were they all right?" whispered Betty meaning
ly. II scared stiff for fear they weren't"
They're fne," he whispered back politely
Your cousin has hne taste even IL he Is Just little
taller than me-
Then why didn't you hurry" she grumbied.'
"You know 1t begins at half past seven and YOU
know / have to be home by ten.
The concert was great success The lanterns
cleaned softly in the evergreens and bunting The
musicians platform very obligingly held togetheri
until the last number. Everybody had beautiful
laugh when it did fall, and the most blissful OF
all the orchestra's own meager refreshments OF
lemonade and popcorn was generously augmented
by an unlimited supply OF pink ice cream from,
Ned Henson's wonderful mother.
But In spite of all these joys. in spite OF Betty's
smiles, in spite even of the exquisiely funny re-
marks of his male friends about his having '.panta
rooms to rent Jacks face pitifully sober at
times After he and Ned had escorted his small
charges home he hung reluctantly at the corner.
bubbIing Renaissance Of the evening. II guess
I'll cart my truck home and come over some other
night"
never say you again for year, and you know
it. Besides he added temptingly, Il thought upl
you haven't got a key"
Il suppose they wouldn't expect me-" agreed
Jack hesitatingly
fore breakfast His awkward thanks to his hostess
and his evident haste were a rather dubious conf
pliment to the Henson hospitality.
The family not at breakfast when he
reached home; they were all talking excitedly in
the upstairs sitting room. Through the doorway
he caught a glimpse of a policeman and an open
safe. He remembered with awful distinctness that
he had not locked the safe when he shut 1t.
He fed wildly to the storeroom chamber and
sat down in a miserable heap. Twice he opened
the door and tried to go downstairs twice he shut
1t quickly in his fright 1t seemed to him. he
OF
slowly downstairs. They were all In the library
now; he could hear his fathers voice distinctly.
THE silver they dropped when gave the alarm.
house SO they overlooked that. All they really
trinkets, and the violin. But as said before.
that a serious loss. 1t is not only an expensive
old one. but It belonged to my father and value
1t highly on that account"
Jacks heart gave mighty thump and he rushed
headlong int othe room.
They didn't get. it, They didn't get IT," he
fddIe.'
His amazed audience listened eagerly to his
somewhat incoherent explanations
Kate took my bow, SO had to have one. And
nicer III had to take it. was going to put IL
straight back this morning but I'm 'fraid IL
l-l-left the door Open" he finished braveIy; so
everything else is my fault"
When the others gone they faced each
other.
"You can whip me even If I am big" stammered
the boy, 81 know serve it, papa
His father picked up the violin and looked at
1t for long time before he spoke
John" he said finally, your grandfather and
/ quarreIed bitterly about this violin He
wanted me to play on 1t and I didn't want to-
Jack stared.
And then" said his father quietly "he died
Just after that
Jack looked miserably at the floor.
$50 that is why felt / could hardly give 1t to
little boy for plaything. Do you think you
understand"
Another long silence. Jack kept on staring
stupidity at the rug. Finally he looked up shyIy.
His father holding out the violin to him.
will you always be careful Of it," he asked
softly.
The choking in Jacks throat grew ntolera5Ie,
Suddenly he flung himself at his father.
Hug a bear hug again. he snuffled "Jusl
one fore 1 get old. We-we-we w-v-on
ever scrap again, win We, daddy3"