The San Francisco call., 1909-10-09

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Not for worlds would he let his captors
think he was afraid. A smile lowered
over Mrs. Carlisle's lips. She laid her
hand on the boys shoulder and drew
him toward her.
If 1 let you go now. will you all
promise to come and see me tomorrow
and bring the other felIer' along?" she
asked gently. The boy hesitated and
looked sideways at his companions. But
the soft hand on his shoulder reassured
him a little.
Yes. ma'am," he said at last, with
downcast eyes.
Honor bright?~ she said. smiling.
"Yes, ma'am," he repeated firmly,
while the other two nodded acquies-
cence.
Then run along home now. But first.
will you have a piece Of cakee" she said
calmly, ignoring the gasps of astonish
ment from the older children. She cut
three generous slices from a large
3 chocolate cake-one of the donations
toward the supper-and with a signifi-
cant You owe 1t to them. boys" ad
dressed to any the cap might ft placed
the pieces on a pretty platter and Of
fered them to the bewildered culprits.
They accepted the peace Offering with
shy smiles of wonder and delight. AS
they turned to go she stopped and said
softly:
Boys, know you didn't mean to do
il. 1 won't tell on you. Don't forget
your promise"
No, ma'am. Thank you for the cake"
said Teddy, the spokesman.
1t was impossible to feel downhearted
while munching a large piece of choco-
late cake, and the boys talked volubly
and excitedly on the way home
AS they passed a low stone coping
covered with rose geraniums, a small
alrfi a
flowers.
say fellers." whispered the owner
of the head
you can come along. Charlie" said
BOBBY White TO his brother, who, by
lying fat on the grass on the inner
side of the coping, had managed to
elude the vigilance of his pursuers.
They amt chasin' u.s.
'You should have been with us. That
lady was a peach. She gave us each
a piece of chocolate cake" said Teddy
Whaley. Charlie looked regretful.
did she say we had to pay for the
~window?" he asked. The boys became
thoughtful. That little item had es-
capped their attention for the time.
goin' to work for the butcher after
school to help pay for it-you fellers
goin' to pay, too?' interrogatively.
MY father 'ulI pay" said Teddy
whaley, with a rather superior air.
Il guess I'll get lickin', though" he
added ref1ectively.
'I got a quarter in my bank. Do
you think my sharell be that much?"
asked Charlie White
More" said Bob briefly. But bring
it with you to school tomorrow"
Charlie looked depressed. He was only
8. 1t was trying to be deprived of
q piece OF chocolate cake and his cher
ished quarter at one fell swoop. When
they parted for the night It was with
the understanding that they should
all meet at "Jonesey's' corner after
school next day and go and see "the
lady"
The next afternoon four small boys
marched soberiy up the steps OF Monte
CarHsle's house.
Mrs Carlisle herself opened the door.
Come In. boys" she said cheerfuIly.
''Is this the other felier'g" she said,
espytng Charlie Whites childish figure
In his white blouse and sailor collar.
"Oh. what a little feIiow''-and her
voice grew tender. Mrs. Carlisle had
3 weakness for children-smafi boys in
particular. Charlie was the youngest
but he was the moneyed man of the
party. He held his cherished quarter
in his moist little fist. In view of that