Middletown transcript., 1908-09-19

lHJO l1lS 4UOAOA P
ness, the hands of the big office
clock pointed severely to ten
minutes after nine. But the boy
only smiled. He was late, of
course, but he could catch up
with the others in an hour. They
always plodded, while he fairly
romped through his work.
Old Dolan, who had been with
his father for twenty years, up
and beckoned. Blake hung up
his hat and coat, fecked imagi.
nary specks of dust from his
clothes, and went over to him.
Well, daddy ? he said, with his
pleasant blue eyes twinkling at
the reproof that he knew was
coming.
Dolan pointed accusingly at the
clock.
You're late again, Tommy, he
said gently.
That's a fact, admitted Blake.
He laid his hand on the old man S
shoulder and smiled. But | can
make it up by working hard,
can't 1?
There was no resisting Tommy.
Dolan's face relaxed. and he nod
ded.
That wasn't what / called you
over here for, though, he said,
wiping his spectacle. 1t was
this, holding out book the pages
of which were furrowed with
straight, orderly lines of figures.
You made the total wrong again
yesterday, Tommy, | stayed to
correct it last night
Blake's eyes bri g b t e Il e d d.
Daddy, you're my good angel
he exclaimed. l will do better
after this. l can, you know.
Yes, admitted Dolan, you can,
but
The boy laughed good ma.
turedly, in his frank way, and
with another promise, walked
over to his own desk. Dolan
looked after him with affection in
his eyes.
He is a good boy, is Tommy,
he said to himself, but he doesn't
understand. He thinks he is al,
most indispensable, but he blum
ders so much that wish he
could be made to understand II
he were not in his fathers Office,
now, he might. And the gray
haired chief clerk turned wearily
to his accounts.
Things had always run very
smoothly for Tommy Blake
His frank, boyish air of good ma
ture won him friends on every
side, and their ready praise had
spoiled him just little. At col
lege he had been immensely pop
ular as a football idol.
Now, for the first time, he had
settled down to work. 1t was
irksome, and he felt little ag
grieved at being put in such a
position. AS q result, he did his
work carelessly and in the man
ner which seemed easiest.
1t was early October, and The
air outside was crisp and bracing
Blake's head was aching by noon
and he looked longingly at the
throng on the streets. He wanted
to be outside, too; he wanted tc
walk, to run, to feel the play o.
his muscles.
He made up his mind quickly
as he always did, and his father
readily assented to his sugges
ton of half holiday. He deter
mined to 60 to some athletic
field and watch the football prac
tice.
Binny had told him to come VI
to the ball park, where the loca
college team practiced, on any
afternoon he could spare the time
and he decided to accept the invi
tation to-day.
He had a wait of nearly an hour
before the fellows came, and ther
he discovered that Binny was
not with them. Itreally made NJ
difference, as the practice wa'
not secret, except for the fac
that he felt little lost among tht
group of college fellows on th'
side-lines.
The practice was hard. Th'
coach was driving the men a.
much as he dared, in order u
whip them into shape for the sea
son. The squad was disappoint
ingly small. and the lack OF ma
teriaI must be Offset by scienc'
and individual skill.
1t was good to see them run ane
tackle and kick. Blake's impul