Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-06

OLD MAN M'CREE LISTENED WITH BIS
HAND TO HIS EAR.
the curb on the corner His face was
that of craven image. Deep in his
soul something stirred so small, so
tine so keen and leavening that his
hard fibers did not recognize it, 1t was
something more tender than the April
day more subtle than the call OF the
senses. purer and deeper rooted than
the love of woman-fOr had he not
turned away from green roses and
eyes that had kept him chained for a
year? And Danny did not know what
it was. The preacher. who was In
hurry to 60 to his dinner. had told
him, but Danny had had no libretto
with which to follow the drowsy In
tonation. But the preacher spoke the
truth.
Suddenly Danny slapped his leg and
gave forth hoarse yell of delight.
"Hippopotamusw he shouted to an
elevated road pillar. "Well, how Is
that for bum guess? Why, blast my
skylight! l know what he was driv-
ing at now.
''Hippopotamus! Wouldn't that send
you to the Bronx? It's been year
since be heard it, and he didn't miss
It so very far. We quit ut 469 B. o..
and this comes next. Well, wooden
man wouldn't have guessed what he
was trying to get out of him.
Danny caught crosstown car and
went up to the rear fat that his labor
supported.
Old man McCree was still sitting by
the window. His extinct pipe lay ON
the sill
"Will that be you, lad?" he asked.
Danny dared into the rage Of a
strong man who IS surprised at tue
outset of committing a good deed.
"Who pays the rent and buys the
food that Is eaten In this house?' he
snapped viriously. "Have | no right
to come in?'
"Ye're a faithful lad" said old man
McCree. with a sigh. rs it evenin'
yet?"
Danny reached up on shelf ana
took down a thick book labeled In gilt
letters "The History Of Greece" Dust
was on It half an inch thick. He
laid 1t on the table and found place
In 1t marked by strip Of paper. and
then he gave short roar at the top
OF his voice and said:
"Was it the hippopotamus you want
ed to he read to about. then?'
Ibid | hear you open the book?'
said old man McCree. MANY ana
weary be the months since my lad has
read II to me. dinno. but | took
great likings to them Greeks. Ye left
Off at a place 'Tis fine day outside.
lad. BE ont and take rtst from your
work have got used to me chair by
the windy and me pipe"
'Pel-peloponnesus was the place
where we left off and not hippopota-
mus" said Danny. "The war began
there. It kept something doing for
thirty years. The headlines says that
a guy named Philip of Macedon. In 33S
B. c.. got to be boss of Greece by get
ting the decision at the battle of Cher
Cheronaea. III read it,
With his hand to his ear rapt In
the PeIOponnesan war old man Nc
Cree sat for an hour. listening.
Then he got up and felt his way to
the door of the kitchen. Mrs. McCree
was sicing cold meat She looked up.
Tears were running from old man Nc
Cree's eyes.
ado We hear our lad readin' to me-"
he said There IL none finer In the
land. My two eyes have come back
to me again"
After supper he said to Danny: "Tis
u happy day. this Easter. And now
We will be off to see Katy in the even
in. Wen enough
"Who pays the rent and buys the =
food that IL eaten in this honSe" said
Danny angrily. "Have II" right To
stay IN It: After supper th"r" IL yet
to come the reading ot the lattle Ot
Corinth. l4i H. g.. when the kiiigdom.
as they say herame an ip-in'rgrhl pOr-
ti"n af the Rnm'u prtirc .Am | nOth-
lug la t!!iS LoaseT