The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-10-29


out avail. Maudie had spent. all OF
her last evening on the rug before
the open fire and when she had fal-
len asleep, Ruth had come silently
to take her off to bed, and Toodles
had been left on the desk,
Now for half an hour Dedham mace
pretense of working over the books,
but at last he threw down the pencil
and turned to the doll again.
Its no use, Toodles," he reported.
81 can't write with the kiddie around,
and / can't write with her gone.
guess it's about time that kept the
books in the office and rested nights.
| guess my temper would be better,
too, Toodles, but it's too late, little
rabbit lady, it's too late"
He drew the toy toward him and
sitting with it between his clenched
hands, bowed his head upon his
arms. He did not move until sound
in the doorway reused him, then he
sprang to his feet with glad cry of
welcome.
Il let myself in" explained Ruth
hurriedly, II knew that the maid was
out, and that James was probably
asleep in the kitchen, SO slipped in
through the back door that l might
not disturb you more than had to.
l have come for Toodles. That is
that candy box you gave Maudie
Easter, you know"
"Toodles!" cried Dedham blankly.
II say, Ruth, you can't take Toodles
away"
Il forgot to take it last night" ex-
Maudie was asleep. In the hustle of
moving. she forgot the toy for the
moment, but she has been grieving all
day. / had hoped that she would
forget and that it would not be nee
essary to come for it, but Maudie has
always taken Toodles to bed with her,
and she will not go to sleep without
it. am afraid that she will fret her
self sick SO I had to come for it.
"But you can't have it," declared
Dedham. II need Toodles worse than
Maudie does She has you. I have
only Toodles to talk to. We have
been having long chat. Did you
ever notice how curiously human she
isl"
1T is a pretty face assented Ruth
reluctantly, but / must take her"
''And why not bring Maudie to
Toodles, suggested Dedham softly.
'fShe needs Toodles, but SO do I, and
l need you and Maudie, too. Ruth,
Toodles and have talked it all over
and we have decided that home is no
place for bookkeeping, and that if I
left the books at the Office instead of
working over them half the night, I
might be more decent to my family.
''Toodles thinks that I can do it,
dear. She has a wise little head
eyenif it seems empty. Won't you try
it again and bring Maudie to Toodles
instead of taking Toodles to the kid
die?"
AS he spoke he drew the doll to-
ward him and something in the ges-
ture with which he stroked the fuzzy
head recalled to Ruth the time when
they two were in their counting days.
With woman's quick perception she
read the story Of the struggle in the
worried face, and her hands went out
to be caught in his eager grasp.
you wilt" he cried as he drew
her 20 him and rained kisses en- the
tender face now turned toward his
own. 1T may seem cowardly, DEAR"
he said brokenly, "but there is a re-
volyer in the drawer of the desk and
l think that if it had not been for
Toodles might have been tempted
to
A rosy finger was pressed against
his lips.
''Toodles must never tell" she said
softly, smiling down into the waxen
baby face. ''I'll take her over with
me, Jim, and bring them both back
in the morning."
mot bit of it, he insisted, as he
caught up his fur-lined coat. 'I'ye
promised Toodles that we'll stick to-
gether, and that doesn't mean letting
her go visiting the first night of the
compact. I'll wrap the kiddie in this
and We'll have her ready in no time.
We're going to make fresh start,
you and 1. I've been all in the wrong
and know it now. And if / start to
break loose again, there's always
Toodles to remind me of my promise
but shan't need reminded,
dear" and he smiled back at the doll
as the two left the room to bring
Maudie to Toodles, the peacemaker.
New Haven Register.