Mexico Missouri message., 1909-02-25

trailed along behind.
The Doc kept talking about what
brave thing the Twins diving under
the horses was, but didn't hear more
than half OF II. was watching the
Page girls hat and thinking how
much prettier twas than the ones
them boarder girls at the hotel wore.
And yet there want a quarter SO
many feathers and ribbons and doc.
dads on Il.
The little chap was chirping up to
Hartley all the way. What worried
him was when he was going TO get
his i've dollars. Martin told him he'd
get II ali right. He'd advance Il
himself and collect It afterwards.
whats your name, sonF" says he
to the youngster.
Denny" says the boy.
Denny? Dennis, you mean? Den.
mis- what7"
Jaw. I don't know. Plain Denny,
I guess"
Where do you live in New York;"
over around Cherry street most of
the time. Me and the old man used
to hang out In the back room OF Mike
DOnahue's place on Mott street till
he got sent up. Then / got to sellin'
papers and doin' shines and things.
Sometimes I'd take a shy at the News.
boys Home nights. That's where Miss
Agony-Miss Page, l mean-found me.
I'm one of the Fresh Air kids over to
her place"
Many more like you over there?"
Sure! nine or ten OF us; girls and
all. We been here week now. !
skinned out Of the window this morn.
in and hoofed II over here. Wanted
to see the show. Geel what a gang
Of Jays! You're the guy what put up
the candy for me, amt your
Shouldn't wonder. Do you like
your teacher?
Bet your life. She's a peach. Sos
the other one; Miss Talford her name
is."
"Humph! What do they call you
over on the east side when you're at
homer?
"Redny," says the little shaver.
Hartley looked down at him and
smiled one of his quiet grins.
Bully for you, Redny!" says he.
You're a brick"
We got through the crowd and into
the hall finally. Shutting the door
was job. The folks outside seemed
to think they'd been cheated. I'd like
to have got rid of Philander, but you
couldn't do that without a block and
tackle; he stuck to Miss Page like a
kedge anchor to mud bottom. The
doctor was putting strip OF sticking
plaster on Hartley's forehead. The
cut want nothing but a scratch, I'm
glad to say.
After a spell I see my chance and
cornered the major and commenced
to talk politics. He was laundering for
the county representative nomination
and knew his soft spot. Hartley and
the Page girl got together then, but
they didn't seem 20 know what to say
heard her explaining that she
hadn't gone to Europe at all. Her ma
had been took sick; nothing TO speak
Of, judged, spell Of nerves or the
like of that. So Agnes and her chum,
this Margaret Talford. had seen the
chance they'd been waiting for and
had got their poor children tribe to.
gether and come down and took the
Lathrop place at South Eastwich
Seems Miss Talford had hired It afore
intending to go to the Fresh Air
wage alone, longs she couldn't get
Agnes to go It with her.
But how is It that you're here?"
says she. Il thought you were at the
mountains"
Hartley explained that, at the last
moment, he had decided to try the
seashore. He was at Wellmouth for
the present. he said.
But you should have known was
here" she says. II wrote TOTO Ed.
Of course-before left the city. Oh.
see. I sent the letter to your Adj.
rondack address. But It should have
been forwarded"
Hartley stammered a little, but he
said quiet that he was afraid perhaps
Van Brunt hadn't thought to send
word TO have his mail forwarded.
btGs buC sayu. AhaA nhd Gus
Martin seemed to think twas too.
but all he said was, Hes written you
very faithfully. His letters. of course.
have gone to Liverpool"
Well, that was about all. We had
10 be going. said good-by and wa
started for the door. Miss Page came
over and held out her hand.
''Mr. Hartley" says she. Il want to
thank you for saving Dennis; Major
Phinney told me about It. II was
brave. And I'm glad that you're not
hurt"
She was pretty nervous. but a good
deal less clustered than he was when
he took her hand.
1T was nothing. OF course" he says,
hurried Ike. THAT youngster waa
worth picking up. Good morning
Miss Page"
He stopped a second to say some
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