The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-29
,ome over here? You'll let me have

ing brothers mead upon winch LIN
had used his one weapon of correction
the crutch.
Mollie watched each morning with
eyes which tried to be sternly disap-
| proving as the master of the lawless
! household entered his waiting car. 1t
was difficult to frown continually upon
one SO gayly happy.
And the mans own brow would wrin
kle perplexedly at the girls forbidding
salute in return to his friendly Good
morning.
Mollie wondered IL the suffering wife
in the hospital had no influence at all
over those cruel blows. She heard him
call to the boys quite savagely one
evening, "You stop that" Selling upon
the first excuse for Intervention at
hand, she picked up a tray Of Nora's
freshly baked cookies and ran to the
garden wall. Here. boys" she called
over its top, 1--WE something for you"
In an eager medley they came and.
when they had been rewarded. as
swiftly departed.
Mollie found herself looking directly
into the mans smiling eyes. "YOu are
very good to my boys he said. Mol
lie hesitated. in anxiety to say the
right word.
zone can do so much MORE" she re-
marked, "by kindness-than by-force."
II agree with you" The mans tone
was hearty. And" continued Mollie,
"little Tim was, no doubt, too frail for
much schooling, but-he has such an
apt mind-if he had but-half chance
now" Her voice reproved his neglect,
but the man was most amenable. Il
know" he said. II intend to see that
Tim hasa good education"
Mollie turned slowly away-again
that helpless feeling Of defeat. His
mother" she asked perfunctorily
she doing well?'
Every we'll. they tell me-" the man
replied. He sought to detain her as
she went up the path. I'm going to
take Tim in to see his mother tomor
row." he told her. So. In strange con
! tradiction of emotions, Mollie gathered
her choicest flowers and when upon
r the morrow the shining automobile
waited before the next house door sht
went forth in her white ruffied frocL
, to place the roses in Tins thin arms.
r "Y6u will give them to your moth
r err" she said. 1t was hard to recon
' Gle this tender father who settled Tim
the little cripple, so carefully among
! his cushions with that unspeakable IA
l Their whose cruelty had SCARED tn
G same small body.
= In the evening the man came bacl
r alone. II had to leave Tim there II
b the hospital" he explained. 1T seem
j. he was not as well as they at frs
1 thought. The broken limb has no
e mended as it should, and It has to b
forcibly broken again. He wants you
/, He says he can bear it better If you ar
: there, holding his hand" The man
e voice broke of huskily. and Molli
d raised a pale face.
k II shall be ready to go with you l
+. the morning." she said. So as the
d entered the hospital room the boy lool
t. ed up with his own cheerful grin. ct
l, knew you'd come" he told MOlli,
3 You're a good sport"
.e The girl laughed shakily as she pres
ed her tear wet face to his. You mus
(; show me now" she said. what goo
L. sport you can be-"
i. Sure" Tim answered bravel
When 1t was all over Mollie turned
le find the mans eyes fixed upon her
,e q sort of worshipful alteration. Warn
le ly he grasped her trembling hand.
d. you are one of Gods angels"
m said softly.
up So across the still motionless bod
IS. Of the little lad they gazed wondering
lie into each others face as at the Dirt
ID of some new joy
I'd SAY" murmured Tins weakly r
a. turning voice. don't let them keep n
here. Make him take me back to Il
a country. YOu-make him." His e
d treating eyes were on Mollie. He
do whatever you say. He's dead stut
w on YOU"
Oh Mollie turned about breathlessl
lie. ! oh" she cried. "he doesn't know VIII
st. he is saying He Is quite out of b
Is, mind" But the man regarded h
n. quietly.
Tin does know" he replied, "ju
n, what he is talking about" Then
ly Mollie stood staring speechlessly d
!" boy again spoke. HE is good, sa
ly Tim-"most MS good as you al
Id. Doesn't he come down TO the hospita
where homeless kids are getting bett
y of different things. and doesn't he pi
ID. out bunch of 'em and carry them o
~. to his get well house, You col
ell along, he says to me- and I'll fatt
you up in the country and my moth
ID didn't care where was. and my d
lst had broken my leg
,ty Your father?" breathed the girl
nd credulously. Little Tim nodd'
In, Threw me downstairs" he explain
he succinctly oh" cried Mollie remor
Of fully. Shamedly her eyes met those
me the man. And I've been thinkin;
ks, she confessed-"t thinking you were Il
he father. blaming you all along"
IN Good heaven exclaimed the m;
His tone was eloquent "Geer' echo
.ly. little Tim. But. say" he added quiz
he ". Won't you ret him to take me ba
W. to the country?'' 'rll make b
n a gain with you. Tim" the man beg