New-York tribune., 1912-02-04

the possession of Red Head, never occurred
to them. 49,,
waited for school to let out, heavy with
the fear that 1t the last moment Red Head
would say. "You may all go-eXcept Paulle..
But the dispensing bell rang; we grabbed
our hats and books and dived for the door;
and no dctaining voice reached me. | will
admit that it must have been an unusually
loud voice that could have stopped me. l
made all the noise that could as | went out,
with the idea that if Red Head really called
me could say next day: -,
Il didn't hear YOU, Miss Anderson. The
bows was maxim such a noisc!' | had tired
that, and it had done fairly well on occasions.
SO hastcncd out of the schoolyard, at the
head of a svcophantic band of followers,
serene in the belief that Red Head had for
gotten to punish me for my lndlscrctonS,
and that she considered it a perfectly natural
affair for me to be going around with pock-
ctfu Of nickcls. Alas! Little did | know
the revenge She was planning.
AS sav. was the worshiped OF the Syco-
n phants. | had never been more than
ordinarily popular with my fellows; but this
afternoon | was the beloved OF all. Tom
CunitT. who was two classes ahead OF me, and
thirteen or fourteen, fairly dcvourcd me with
hi, attentions. The only previous time that
Tom CuniiT had ever noticed me, 50 far as
could recall. was once when ! refused % Shag
a ball for him and he boxed me on the ear
and pushed me into 4 mud puddle. But here
was Tom Cuniff walking famiharly at my
side. and. when Others tried TO crowd me
little, saving with a growl:
Here, YOU kids stop shown Paulle! Him
and mes friends. We're goin' somewhere,
amt we. Paulic;"
"Y-vcs. said |, wondering where it was,
but imagining land quite right | was too
that it was One Arm Jakcs
Along the way Tom dlScourscd on seyera!
topics, intcrrupting me only by his task OF
chasing the rest of the boys away from me.
Once We had to run little, because Archie
Howland and George BrcitcnStcln, outraged
AT being deprived Of the pleasure Of renewing
their earlier companionship with me and my
wealth. fired rocks At us from distance.
But Tom protected me. He wouldn't see
hair Of my head hurt, he said.
"Ycr q good little fcllcr, Paulic, he told
me- You bet YOU are, The finest little
fcllcr know, Say, have We seen them ten
cent bats down TO one Arm Jake s. Don
yc want TO buy one o thcm|
] |
Of it till then: but somehow Tom convinced
me that | wanted q tcn-ccnt bat more than
ANYTHING else in the world. Also reg lar
baseball the cover scwcd in two pieces, and
4 scorccard. and well, whatever happened
To- suggest itself TO the fertile mind Of Tom
Cuniti
When We reached one Arm lakes 1t was
Tom Cuniff', strong arm that held open the
screen door for me 10 enter II was ON
Cuniff who glowcrcd upon the lmpassoncd
throng without and forbade their entering
after me.
"Can't We let Paulic alone" he demanded.
"D'yc think he's goin' ter spend all his
money on yousc kids Leave him be, or
\ threatening swing Of his arm made them
fall back terrified; but they could not be
driven away from the door, against which
they pushed one another, sending comment
in upon Us.
"Aw, who wants to come in? He ain got
no money, anyway Wait till We kctch him
alone Don't yc buy him nothin', Pauhc::
Say, Paulc, don't We remember the time
let We use my sled when yourn was broke
Hey, Paulic, don't be Stingy,
In the face Of 50 much ilattcry and threats
| was like a reed in the March wind knew
not what 10 do, whittier to turn was full
Of the desire To treat all alike; but Tom
rupn v.,,IJ not have # 80