Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-05-01

"L0rdH no ,a.lc. nc amt nebber seed
none 90 dem rings"
but he is. only sometimes you can't
tell him q ings you could a real
mother" she added. half sadly.
''And your real mother went away
when you we're very youngT
''No. she didn't go away"
''NoT" There was a puzzled note in
the pastors voice.
'She went out" Polly corrected.
''Outr' he echoed blankly.
YES; fnirhed-llghts out"
'"oh. an sccident." Douglas under
stood at last
Il don't like TO talk about f." Polly
raised herself on her elbow and
looked at him solemnly. as though
about TO lmpart bit OF forbidden fam
lily history. 1t was this look In the
round eyes that had made Jim so often
declare that the Kid knew everything
''Why. mother d "a been ashamed II
she'd "a knowcd how she wound up.
She was the best rider OF her time
everybody says so-but she cashed I'm
by fallin' OF a skate what didn't have
no more ginger an a kitten. II you
can beat thatT' She gazed at him
with her lips pressed tightly together,
evidently expecting some startling ex-
preston OF wonder.
"And your fatherT' Douglas asked
rather lamely. being at a loss for any
adequate comment upon a tragedy
which the child before him was too
4, Ice
~Oh. dads finish was all right. lie
got hls'n In a lions cage where he
worked. There was nothin' slow about
his end" She looked up for his ap
prevail
"For de Lords sske"' Mandy
groaned as the wonder OF the child's
conversation grew upon her.
-An' now I'm down an out" Polly
concluded, with sigh.
"But this Is nothing serious" said
| the pastor. trying TO cheer her.
Its serio1s enough with a whole
! show a-depeudin' on you. Maybe You
don't know how it feels to have 20
knock OF work"
"Oh. yes. do" Douglas answered
quickly Il was ill a while ago myself.
/ had TO be in bed day after day, think
ing OF dozens OF things that j ought TO
be doing"
'-Was you ever fiOoredY' Polly asked
with touch OF unbelief as she studied
the fine, healthy physique at the side
OF her bed.
& Deed. he was. chile" Mandy cried.
feeling that her opportunity had now
arrived, AN had the wors' time
a-keepin' him I'm bed. He act Jes like
you did"
did heE" Polly was delighted TO
find that the pastor had "nothin' on
her." as she would have put IL.
You ought 10 have heard him."
continued Mandy, made eloquent by
POlly's show OF interest. "'what viii
dose poor folks dor he kept a-sayin'
'Jes' 20 lay where yo' is.' tole him
Dem poor folks viii be better or dan
dey would be a-comin' to yoah fu-
neral"
Poor folks?" Polly questioned. "Do
you give money to folks? We are al
ways itchin' to get 1t away from 'em."
Before Douglas could think OF words
with which 10 defend his disapprove ed
methods Mandy had continued eager
ly.
AN den on Sunday, when ne can't
go to church an preach She got no
further. A sharp exclamation brought
both Mandy and Douglas 10 attention.
Preach Polly almost shouted. She
looked at him with genuine alarm this
time
THAT will do. Mandy" Douglas com
manded. feeling an unwelcome drama
gathering about his head.
Great Barnum and Baileyr' Polly
exclaimed, looking at him as though
he were the very last thing In the
world she had ever expected to see
Are you a sky pilotT'
That's what he am, chile" Mandy
slipped the words in slyly, for she
knew that they were against tie pas
tors wishes. but she was unable to re-
strain her miscellaneous IMPULSE to sow
the seeds OF curiosity that would soon
bear fruit in the inquisitive mind of
the little invalid.
"Wili You get on to me a-landln' into
a mixup like thisY' She continued to