The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-01
JUST JOHN
By WILLIAM ALLEN DE FORD

time not during the ride back to the city, not in his first few days in the
 Shelter. But when his question, at
 first indifferent, then eager, then in-
 sistent, received always the same gen
 tie but final answer he did at last real
 ize that he had lost his father forever Then came days when he sat, silent and
 with dreadful look In his brown eyes all day long in corner. and cried
 himself to sleep every night with agon- | izing unchildlil<e sobs.
 I can't stand itl' said Bertha Yorke to Miss Delmar. He looks-why, if he
 were d grown person l should say he looked as If he were going to kill | himself!"
 When John had been back in the Shelter about two weeks, Mrs. Vincent came. Mrs. Vincent was well known,
 a club woman. a reformer. with ideas
 and theories of her own.
 My little boy Is seven years old"
 she said, "and I do not think it Is good for him to grow up an only child
 want quiet boy about the same age. who will teach Charles gentle
 ness and consideration for others. can give him every advantages Charles
 has been brought up scientifically, and so would this boy be-
 | John seemed to fit the case. and he | was brought out for inspection. Mrs. | Vincent looked askance at the shoulder
 and the limp, but at last she agreed | to take him. and John was sent to her beautiful house.
 1, At Miss Yorkes first visit she found that John was being scientifically brought up. indeed Mrs. Vincent de- scribed with complacency his daily re- gimen-every minute accounted for, it seemed with instructors and over-seers to do properly the work which nature would doubt btlessly have nung1ed. John seemed to have stiffened, somehow but perhaps 1t was only his rather strange hygienic clothing, and his ap- pearance of having just at that minute stepped from the hands of a hairdresser and a manicurist.
 Miss Yor<e remembered the healthy, dirt grubbing days at the Ritchies', where love and simple life went hand in hand Her pity increased at each visit especially after a few interviews with the Vincent child had convinced her that "gentleness and consideration for others" were sot in that youths make up.
 One afternoon, just before the office closed. telephone message came from Mrs. Vincent. John had run away! Immediately Bertha YorSe went to Brookton. With the help of the police she secured the town and its surround Ing country for the missing boy. She even went as far as Ritchies farm, Ibut, knowing what a shock the infor- nation would be, said nothing of it to Henry Ritchie. However. when she left, at II o'clock, she had made sure that the boy had not been near the old house.
 After sleepless night she dragged herself into the office. "No news she said, wearily. to Miss Delmar. and drop ped into an empty chair. Suddenly the door opened. Miss Del mar gasped. and Miss Yorke sat up straight For there stood Henry Ritchie, and in his arms, fast asleep, lay John!
 1T found him at my doorstep at 3 o'clock this morning, said Ritchie, huskily, standing still in the doorway. He'd walked and hidden and tramped since in the afternoon, poor little fellow. All he said was Father, I've
 been trying so long to get home to l lyouv Henry choked, but he went on bravely, "I brought him to- you first thing. I knew I had no right to keep him"
 Miss Delmar looked at John His hair was mussed, one shoe was badly laced and if his face had been washed. 1t had ended at Gusty ring around his neck; ] hut there was the faintest touch of col | or in his cheeks and as he slept. he smiled. "Tt's against all our rules and Iregulations. but think we're going to llet YOU keep John. Do you want us to send his clothes and things to your" 'sNo. ma'am I don't want anything. | A great and unimagined joy shone In Henry Ritchie's face. as he bent over i the child. "Only." he murmured. his lips
 on the boys hair, "only--just John.