The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-16


 At the dry goods store MT. Brownlee called to him: Hello, Sinton! How do you like the fate of your lunch box?' Then he began to laugh.
 'I always hate to see man laughing alone" said Sinton. ''It looks so self fish. Tell me the fun and let me help yoU."
 Brownlee wiped his eyes.
 s1 supposed you knew, but see she hasn't told"
 Then the three days history of the lunch box was repeated with particu' lars which included the dog.
 'Now laugh,' concluded Brownlee.
 Blessed if I see anything funny" replied Sinton. And if you had bought that box and furnished one of those lunches yourself you wouldn't either. 1 call such work shame. I'll have it stopped"
 "Some one must see to that, all right. They are little leeches. Their father earns enough to support them. but they have no mother, and they run wild. I suppose they are crazy for cooked food But it is funny, and when you think it over you will see it if you don't nOw''
 About where would a body find that father?" inquired Sinton grimly. MT. Brownlee told him, and he started, locating the house with little difficulty. House was the proper word, for of home there was no sign. Just small empty house with three unkempt little children racing through and around it. The girl and the elder boy hung back, but dirty little Billy greeted Sinton with, "What you want here?"
 q want to see your father" said Sinton.
 "Well, he's asleep said Billy.
 "Where?" asked Sinton.
 'Tn the house," answered Billy, "and you can't wake him.
 "Well, I'll try,'' said Wesley. Billy led the way. "There he is!' he said He is drunk again." On a dirty mattress in corner lay sleeping man who appeared to be strong and we'll. Billy was right You could not awake him. He had gone the limit and a little beyond. He was now facing eternity.
 Sinton went out and closed the door. "Your father is sick and needs help," he said. You stay here and will send man to see him. eff you just let him lone, he'll sleep it off" volunteered Billy. ''He's that l way all. the time, but he wakes up and gets us something to eat after awhile. Only waitin' twists you up in side pretty bad" The boy wore no air of complaint He was merely stating facts. Wesley Sinton looked hard at Billy Are you twisted up inside now?' he | asked.
 Billy laid a grimy hand on the re. zion of his stomach, and the filthy l little waist sank close to the backbone 'sBet your life, boss" he said cheer l fully
 How long have you been twisted?' asked Sinton.
 Billy appealed to the others. "When l was it we had the stuff on the 1 bridge:.
 Yesterday morning said the girl.
 ''Is that all gone?' asked Sinton.
 "She went and told us to take il home," said Billy ruefully, "and cause l she said to, we took it. Pa had come back, he was drinking some more, an6 | he ate a lot Of it-'most the whole 1 thing, and it made him sick as dog | and he went and wasted all of it Then he got drunk some more, ant | now lies asleep again. We didn't ge1 hardly none" < | You children sit on the steps unti the man comes," said Sinton. 'Il send you some things to eat with him Whats your name, sonny?"
 Billy" said the boy.
 "Well, Billy, I guess you better come with me- I'll take care of him, Sinton promised the others. He reach ed hand to Billy.
 1T ain't no baby, I'm boy" sai( Billy as he shuff1ed along beside Sin ton, taking kick at every movabl' object without regard to his battered toes.
 Once they passed a Great Dane dol lolling after it's master, and Billy as cended Sinton as if he was a tree ant chung to him with trembling hot hands
 Gro Be Continued.)