Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-05
THE DAILY STORY
Delinuuent David


David was not fond OF gardening and
could not assume an interest in his prop
erty' even II all his neighbors did glover
dsrkly at him for his lack Of concern re-
garding the bit OF yard in front OF his
house.
He knew that he was the black sheep
In the suburb and that another tenant
was far more desirable than he was
David did not however, worry his head
over the shortcomings, nor did he feel
In any way upset over the dlsEraceful
aspect Of his garden. when on every side
OF him were exquisite specimens of ar
usuc home gardening. Flowers rioted in
every available foot OF the small prop
critics in the suburb In which David had
rented a cottage.
thornton cottage is a blot on our VIII
lage," was the general comment among
the suburban home owners, hut neither
David nor his old housekeeper did any
thing to remove the blot
Mrs. Mcpherson felt that she had
enough to do in looking after David's
socks and cooking him tasty meals and
Keeping the inside of his house tidy with
out bothering about the outside.
II was not until the neighbors talked
OF signing a petition for having him
elected that Druellla Everett took a hand
In the affairs of David Greer.
ut Is shame" she said to her
mother, and there were red spots in her
lovely cheeks, that man should be
nj mt nf n
because he doesn't take care of his gar
den. All people can't be expected to be
mad about flowers. | won't sign the petit
tion, for one"
Nor l." coincided Drucillas mother.
She did not think 1t necessary to in
form her daughter that admiration of
David Greer's stalwart good looks was i'm
a measure responsible for her antagonism
toward the neighbors who would evict
him. HE has as much right to his
faults as any of us"
So 1t was over the back fence that
Drucilla told David's housekeeper all
about the suburbanites' intentions re-
garding her master.
They'll no eject my bonnie ladder
expostulated Mrs Mcpherson in righteous
Scotch wrath. Hes that busy in his
office the day that he's no time to be
pottering about a garden"
That's just the way. 1 feel" said
Drucilla, while she smiled her sweetest
smile into Mrs. McPherson's motherly
eyes. IT was wondering" she continued
coaxingly. whether or not Mr. Greer
would let me plant his front garden for
him. I love flowers so much, and our
own space is very tiny" She waited
breathlessly for her answer.
There was grave doubt in the woman's
eyes, coupled with desire not to thwart
the charming girl in the sunbonnet.
He'd no like to have girl make his
garden for him-that l KEN" she said
finally; but If you could manage with
out him knowing who did 1t"
Drucilla did not allow her to finish, but
smiled happily.
THAT will be lovely! can get to work
when he leaves for the office in the
morning, and when he returns! OIL
will have a perfect bower of flowers to
greet him."
Mind you don't let him see you,"
cautioned Mrs. Mcpherson. He'd be
that angry with me I'd sure lose my
place" She well knew that David could
not manage without her, since she had
been with him since cradle days, but
she considered 1t well to warn the girl
into secrecy.
Fortune favored Drucila to a remark
able degree. David Greer was called
away on a short business trip. and while
the cat was away the mouse did certainly
play. The small garden was dug up and
fertilized and planted with blooming
flowers that were we'll nourished and
tended before David returned
Drucilla was standing behind the case
ment curtains of her own tiny cottage
when the delinquent came back to his
native suburb and saw the transforma-
tion that had been wrought. His eyes
took on a hint of flame and his square
cut profile ascended. Drucilla watched
these warlike signs and her heart beat
rapidly. She did not stop to realize that
David would not know who had done the
deed, and that his wrath would not hnd
vent on her own head.
Mag" he said as he entered the house
and found Mrs. Mcpherson awaiting him,
what person has assumed the right TO
put nv garden in order? Did you coun-
tenance such impertinencep
The old Scotchwoman had never seen
her master so angry, and she strove to
pacify him in her usual wheedling man
ner, but for once David failed to respond
When she told him of the threat of evic-
ton and the kindly interference of
neighbor he was only the more angry.
1T believe I am paying for this prop
erty, Mag, and no one shall dictate to
me whether l have a garden or not.
will pull every one of those flowers up by
the roots and fling them In the street
These people will see whether or not
can run my own affairs" He strode out
Of the house as If he would suit action
to words.
But David Greer was not the kind Of
mann to pull up innocent flowers and de-
stroy them, especially when those fiow-
ers exhaled delicious odors that calmed
his temper The pansies seemed to be
gazing pleadingly up at him from their
dewy beds and the nasturtiums clamored
toyfully as II delighted with life over
the fence that divided his garden from the
one next door,
While his wrathfuI glance Travelled with
unwilling admiration along the row OF
orange and red blossoms peeped over
the fence David became aware Of a most
wonderful lovely head bobbing about
somewhere behind the nasturtiums. He
caught a delighted breath. Neighbors
were not so bad, after all. He looked
again and found Druciila's eyes fixed
more or less wistfully upon him. Again
David breathed quickly.
"Are you frightfully angry7'
David supposed he was dreaming. but
he answered the sweet voice that had
questioned him.
''I was" he said. I'm not now"
Drucilla smiled and David wondered
whether II was the girls smile or the ad-
vent OF flowers into his garden that sud
denly made the world a glorious place TO
live In.
There Is a most shockingiy barren piece
Of garden at the back" he told her, per
haps you would like to doll that up as
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