The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-12-03
PLINY QUICK, HIS MARK
" Introduces Neuu Fad Oakdae zuh Disastrous Results
BY ARTHUR MORGAN I.ANGWORTHY

+ PIiny Quick had not worn pair of
metal heel plates on his shoes to keep
the heels from wearing down there
would be no story TO tell. For then he
would not have visited Oakdale's i've
and ten cent store to get a new pair to
replace . lost heel plate.
Pliny was always doing queer, original
stunts. and as he bought the little heel
plates bis eye wandered over the con-
tents of the nearby counters and the idea
about Ibis mark" suddenly struck him.,
For his glance had rested on a tray Of
small cast metal letters such as are used
for lettering doors, lockers or drawers
- PIiny laughed as he purchased a couple
Of tiny metal Q's, and the young girl
who sold them jokingly asked if he was
going to turn Chinaman. He knew her.
and when he explained why he wanted
them she was very much amused.
Thus when Pliny appeared at school
next day and proudly stuck his foot in
some nice, soft. mouldable mud he Gre
ated new fad.
A plain. unmistakable imprint of a Q
was stamped in every footprint. Every
where he walked Pliny made his mar"
if the ground was at all soft or yielding.
For he had fastened the small raised
metal = on each heel, and they were
bound to make perfect imprints each time
he pressed his weight upon them. There
was a grand rush to buy monogram let
tiers. which almost depleted the FIVE and
ten cent stores supply.
Probably no one will ever know how
many hardwood floors were scratched upI
before this letter heel stamp craze was
finally suppressed. One thing that isl
sure-Pliny Quick will hardly forget the
awful Scrape it landed hiI in. 1t really |
began in this way
\ crowd of Pliny's schoolmates stopped
TO call for him on the way to school. At
this time the Quicks were having the side
walk in front of the house repaired. 1t
was a cement walk Several patches of
concrete had just been laid and were still
damp, therefore easily impressionable.
Say. Pliny. why don't you leave your
mark in the concrete!' suggested Club
McAllister.
Good idea I'll do it," And Pliny care 9
fully planted his heel upon a spot near
the gate. The heel mark and O. were
reproduced perfectly. Pliny added fin!
fishing touch by scratching 1911 be
meath by means Of a sharp wire nail
This operation successfully over, the
crowd walked on and turned the corner
into Main street. Here they found more
concrete work being done. The work
men were busy making a stretch of side
walk ready for reconcreting. Possibly 1t
would not have reused a certain mis-
chievous interest but for one fact-the
sidewalk belonged to the boys long de-
tested enemy. John Crawford. the violet
farmer. He had waged war for years on
Juvenile Oakdale, i'll vain attempts tC
stop its perpetual habit of plugging
his tempting array of glass greenhouse
roofs just outside of town. The sidewalk
fronteI his town floral shop.
Say. wouldn't like to walk into that
concrete exclaimed Walter Armstrong
maliciously. The crowd echoed his Senti-
ments-exccpt PIiny. There was never
any love lost between Walter and the
Quicks as you have doubtless already
learned in other stories about Oakdale.
He'd find out who did it 10y the let
ter" objected PIiny.
Il bet you're afraid to do it," sneered
Walter.
Il am not" retorted PIimv hotly.
III Il
dark. l dare you to-"
I'm not afraid to. but l might just
as well 60 in and tell old Crawford be-
forehand Besides. it's a kind of cheap
thing to do" angrIy cried Pliny. nettled
at Walters trying to force him into
doing what his common sense knew was
wrong and foolish. And so they wrangled
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