The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-06-02

| got for Dlckey.
He turned and hobbied painfully
across his shop. He put on his spec
| tacles and opened drawer in his work
| bench. and in it's depths he found
stick of horehound candy. Dick stood
with one Dudgy hand resting Oh the
door frame, peering into the shop with
wide eyes.
Candy" announced Uncle Luther
expressively.
Dick drew little nearer, glanCinS
from the candy to his grandfather's
wrinkled face, Uncle Luther waved
the stick ike a wizards wand and
| lured Dick nearer and nearer until
dirty little hand closed over the candy
| Then he reached out slyly and eau
tiously and gathered Dick in his arms.
"Aint yoL Din to kiss grHn'paT' be
asked enGerIy.
But the little boy WriGg'ed away and
ran out Of the Gopr ln"}" Luther
watched him lettering W. the Lone in
the sunshine, sucking his candy. until
! the vision blurred IN his din old eyes
Then he returned to his blazirr. lie
sat down and drew his chair almost
over it. He bent double, with his 81
bows on his knees and his head rest
ing on his hands, and there he sat
alone for a long time. Finally he
Strengthened up. The subtle warmth
Of the fire had stolen through all his
| body. He leaned back in his chair,
| 1rnCno1 n SiHp and
his work worn old hands lay palm up
ward on his knees. He was fast
asleep
The brazier under him continued to
glow and send Its CHEEKY comfort steal
ing up around his chair. 1t had
friendliness and hearty warmth that
were more than the kindness of many
of the old mans friends
The dusk Of evening came down and
filled the corners with shadows, and
presently a glow that was not all in
the brazier began to illumine the cen
ter of the room. A thin, wavering mist
Of smoke curled up around the old man
! and crept silently along the dingy cell
! ing i moment later there was a
sharp burst of flame that disappeared
as suddenly as it came. The old mans
trouser leg rested against the hot bra
zier and the fine fire gnaWed and
sparkled in the heavy cloth. a few
| shavings on the Uttered floor of the
shop were crisping with sudden wisps
of fame, and the chair legs We're on
! fire. But Uncle Luther slept on. who'll
ly unconscious of his danger.
Jonathan Dowell. returning from the
village. saw sinister glare In the shop
windows. He rushed into the room.
seized the old man and lifted him swift
| ly to one side. Then he beat out the
/ fire with gunny sack.
| Uncle Luther sat up, trembling and
terrified. His wooden leg was gone.
It had burned almost to the stump.
and the charred remains were still
smoking.
Jonathan Dowell's voice rang with
anger.
What won't you do Eext, fatherT'
he said. You've set yourself on fire
and nearly burned up the shop. That
wooden leg of yours cost me just $50.
and it'll be long time before ! can
afford another"
And then he saw dimly the agony
In his fathers face. and he softened.
He was not a bad man nor even a
harsh man-only thoughtless. You
must learn to be more careful. father.
he said gently and yet insistently. as
If he talked to q child.
Uncle Luther was glad when his son
went away. He crept to his little back
| room like wounded dog and lay
down on the bed.
TOO bad to trouble Jonathan an
his wife," he muttered. Cory is so
! thrifty an particular. I'm careless;
know 1t. I'm gettin' old And then
/ after time his mind reverted to the
earlier interests of the day, and he said
aloud, II wish Tommy'd got it."
| News travels quickly in small
town, and the next morning the SYM
pathetic and the curious came to con-
sole with Uncle Luther and to exam
! Inc the REMAINS of the $50 leg and to
point out where the fire had charred
! the chair
Among the very first to call was
Captain Enoch Bradley, who was "a
hearty, warm blooded. irascible old fell
low, and his bluff sympathy went far
toward solacing Uncle Luther in his
affection.
"'Twan't SO bad as If you hadn't
lost it before" he comforted.
But Uncle Luther had no mind for
treating his loss frivolously. The
years had crushed all Of the humor
out of him and left him only tragedy
II was thinkin'," he said, that now
can't march. P'raps Amery-miGDt
let Tommy have it,
Captain Enoch frowned darkly, but
Uncle Luther hurried on
Hes more commandin than | be,
er ever was, err ever will be, an he's
had practice
"Oh, you'll be ready to march by
Memorial day." interrupted Captain
Enoch.