The daily sentinel., 1913-06-23

He went to work in April But he could not get
any local news and that duty had to be taken away
from him. The reason he could not get any local
because the town jeered at his pretensions
a reporter, and went out of its way to conceal
things from his knowledge His father however. was
happy, and Leander worked on, stupidly, in be-
wildered faithful fashion
In his first flush of earned money he bought some
lavender socks, bright tan shoes, and purple be-
ribboned straw hat. These became the laughing
stock Of the town. steady joke among the young
bloods. But Leander, with his yellow mop OF hair
juttng out from beneath the straw confection per-
spred on. chasing his thin legs and nat lungs out
innumerable errands, his shabby coat buttoned
tight about him in the warmest weather. He
despised a reporters work; he was even afraid of
1T Away down in his sensitiveness there was dis
tinct dread of asking people questions II he pried
into affairs It was timidly with his heart in his
mouth.
Its none of my business, dad and they all hate
So" he argued with his father.
But he kept at 1t. His years a waiter had taught
him sort of unthnking obedience. and, in truth,
his work was not really difficult. If only the ample
Mr.. William Waack Henderson had known it, his
paper a joke. 1t had no news; it had no adver-
tisng; it had no influence. But Mr.. Henderson took
his paper very seriously at least, he took 1t
seriously month, when he had to pay the
bills. And So
when the boy came home He looked up and saw
the comcal straw hat and the pathetic face of his
son beneath it. Lesader leaned over the fence and
stared for long. long time at hfs father In his
throat lump kept rising and falling, keeping time
with the rise and fall of his shoulders. The boy
sobbing in long, dry sobs. Then the tears
streamed from his staring eyes streamed blindy for
a long aching minute. without him seeing his father.
without him seeing anything, and he bowed and hid
his face in his along the fence.
The old mans Imagination went trembling out over
and hideous possibilities He dropped his hoe,
stared wiped his hands aimlessly against his legs
and licked his dry lips What had happened to his
boy? He tried twice to ask, but could not get the
words into his mouth.
"Dad-oh, dad" the boy walled. "oh. daddy. dad
dy, my old daddy"
Old man Johnson came over to the fence, lifted
off the foolish hat. and stroked his boys head
with stiff, uncertain hands There, there now. Le-
ander! What is It, son? Don't cry. What Is 1t?
Toll your daddy what's happened, won't you? Just
tell your daddy what they've done to you It's all
right. Leander. Tell me-"
The boy broke out into fresh sobs and burted
through his trembling lips: "Mr. Henderson-he-he
told he wouldn't need me any more. He--he said
luxury around his sfflce! He don't want
me, and-I-don't know-what-to-do. Nobody
wants me. I want to work and do-my-best, but
nobody wants Nobodyll give me chance.
Everybody in this-this dirty old town hates me and
laughs at me-. tIded 70 attention to IT, daddy,
and be brave. B-b-bl flint brave. 1--we known
for long what you tried to do for me. the
sacrifices you've made for me; and tried to make
1t up to you But 1t seems like can't 1t seems
like there's no way in the world for me to get a
starsls- It seems like everybody and everything is
oondfd- mako fail hated 10 come back hsrA