The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-08-31

The boy reached the fence, and Elnora
was there to help him over. As he
touched the top she swung him to the
ground, but be chung to her. clasping
her tightly, sobbing and shivering with
fear. Elnora carried him to the bridge
and sat with him in her arms For a
time bis replies to her questions were
1ndistinct. but at last be became quiet
er and she could understand.
He was mite Of boy. nothing but
skin covered bones. his burned, freck-
led face in a mortar Of tears and
dust. his clothing unspeakably dirty,
one great toe in fostering mass from
a broken nail and sores all over the
visible portions of the small body.
''You wouldn't set a dog on boy for
just taking few old apples when you
fed 'em to pigs with shovel every
day, would your he said.
mo, would not said Elnora holly.
You'd give boy all the apples, he
wanted If he hadn't any breakfast and
was SO hungry he was all twisty inside,
wouldn't your
Yes, would said Elnora.
III you had anything to eat you
would give me something right now.
wouldn't your
YES" said Elnora. There's moth
ing but just stones in the package.
But my dinner is in that case. I'll
gladly divide"
She opened the box. The famished
child gave little cry and reached
both hands. Elnora caught them
back.
did you have any superb
mo-"
ANY dinner yesterday"
An apple and some grapes I stole"
Whose boy are your
~Old Tom Billings"
"Why don't your father get you some
thing to eat?"
HE does most days. but he's drunk
now"
flush! You must not!' said Elnora.
Hes your father!''
Hes spent all the money to get
drunk, too" said the boy. "and Jimmy
and Belle are both crying for break.
fast. I'd a got out all right with an
apple for myself, but l tried to get
some for them, and the dog got too
close. Say. you can just throw. can't
you?'
Eyes," admitted Elnora. She poured
half the milk into the cup. Drink
this" she said, holding it to him.
The boy gulped the milk and swore
joyously. gripping the cup with shak-
ing fingers.
Flush" cried Elnora. "That's dread
fulv'
''What's dreadful?"
ITO say such awful words"
"Huh, pa says worser 'an that every
breath he draws"
Elnora stared into the quaint little
face and saw that the child was older
than she had thought He might have
been forty by his hard. unchildish ex-
preston.
do you want to be like your f.
ther?"
mo: want to be like you. Couldn't
a angel be prettler AN you! Can I
have more milk?"
Elnora emptied the flask. The boy
drained the cup. He drew a breath of
satisfaction as he gazed into her face.
"You wouldn't go of and leave your
little boy. would your" he asked.
did some one go away and leave
you?' questioned Elnora in return.
Yes; my mother went OF and left
me and left Jimmy and Belle, too"
said the boy. "You wouldn't leave your
little boy, would you?'
no"
The boy looked eagerly at the box.
Elnora lifted a sandwich and uncover
ed the fried chicken The boy gasped
with delight.
"Say, l could eat the stuff in the
glass and the other box and carry the
bread and the chicken to Jimmy and
Belle" he offered.
Elnora silently uncovered the Gus.
tard with preserved cherries on top
and handed it and the spoon to the
child. Never did food disappear faster.
The salad went next: and sandwich
and half chicken breast followed.
Il better leave the rest for Jimmy
and Belle" he said "They're list fight
in hungry
Elnora gave him the remainder Of
the carefully prepared lunch. The boy
clutched it and ran with sidewise
hop like wild thing
Elnora covered the dishes and cup,
polished the spoon. replaced it and
closed the beautiful case. She caught
her breath in tremulous laugh.
IF Aunt Margaret knew that she'd
never forgive me-" she said. 1T seems
40 II secrecy is literally forced upon
me, and hate it. What will do for
lunch? I'll have to go sell my arrows
and keep enough money for a restau-
rant sandwich
SO she walked .hurr1edly into town,
sold her points at good price, deposit
ed her funds and went away with q
neat little bank book and the note
from the Limberlost carefully folded
inside. Elnora passed down the great