The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1910-05-13

lHBS.
Her grandfather brought her home
with him, her mother having left her
in the Office that Friday afternoon,
and she was going to stay with her
doting grandparents until the follow
lowing Monday.
OF course, they spoiled her, these
foolish old people There was moth
ing she couldn't have for the asking.
And Grandfather John, as was his GUS
tom during these eventful visits, pre-
pared to make a half holiday of his
Saturday afternoon in honor of the lit
| tie Elsie. Besides, the grandmother
had an important errand that would
keep her away for an hour or two.
1t was a fine May afternoon, clear
and sunny. The little Elsie was turned
loose in the back yard where she could
romp in freedom and in safety. Grand
father would romp with her, or else
he would sit on the steps with his be-
loved pipe and watch her while she
played.
But he had forgotten to bring his
| pipe from its nest in the dresser
drawer in his room upstairs He went
up after it-giving the laughing Elsie
merry smile as he turned away.
He was gone but a moment, but as
| he opened the dresser drawer he
| heard a peculiar sound. 1t was the
sound of smart blows falling on
wooden surface. He ran to the back
window. He could see the top Of the
| spite fence, but not the ground be-
meath. The blows continued. He was
| turning to run down stairs when he
| saw the new neighbor leave some work
| he was doing in the rear of the lot
and run forward. He picked up stout
| stick as he ran.
John Wanser turned very pale. He
seemed to realize that the little Elsie
! was in peril. He ran back to the
dresser and drew out hidden revol-
yer. Then he opened the window and
leaned out He saw the little man
dart forward, there was sudden
crash, and almost instantly he came
back into view with Elsie in his arms.
John Wanser's fingers frightened on
the revolver. Would he dare to hurt
the child?
But no, they were both laughing,
laughing loudly And the little Elsie
snatched off the neighbours hat and
flung it down and mussed up his gray
hair. And he laughed louder than
ever and gave her playful shake that
set all her sunny curls bobbing.
John Wanser thrust the gun in his
hip pocket and hurried down stairs.
AS he peered through the opening
the little man spied him.
Hello, neighbor," he cried, docs
this belong to your
"She is my grandchild,' the aston
ished old man replied.
whats her name?"
ELSIE"
Elsie, Ell? Elsie, I'm your Uncle
jim"
Uncle Jim cooed the child and
suddenly stopped and kissed his cheek.
Amt she a darling?" the little
man cried and his eyes glistened. He
looked around to John Wanser-"Say,
neighbor," he said, ''let me borrow her
for moment or two. | want to show
her to Mrs. Martin. She's far from
well, and | know she's just hungering
for a sight of something like this"
His voice broke little. I'VE had one
once, you know-many years ago-but
she was with us only little while. I'll
be right back
And before John Wanser could say
a word he had run into the house with
the laughing child.
He came back empty handed and
John saw that his eyes were SUSPECT
ously red.
MARY wants her for a minute or
two" he explained. "The child is do
ing her lots of good. She's such cute
little thing. Do you know she heard
me working back there and knocked
on the fence to attract my attention.
Here, I'll smash off another board so
she can get through easier" He paused
and looked up at John Wansls Say"
he said, I'm going to knock the whole
blamed thing down. I'm ashamed OF
it-and I'm not such a brute as you
think me. Honest, I'm not Say, that
carpenter lives only little ways from
here. I'll have him yank the thing
down this evening and have it piled
away out of sight before Sunday"
John Wanser breathed hard.
IL was stubborn about that drive
way he said. Il wanted it all the
time You see, you didn't go at it
right, that was the trouble"
The little man laughed.
"Of course it was. But it's all
right now. I'm pretty good fellow
when you come to know me. And
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