The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-05-30
ERWIN A. LEFEBvRE

uV suiithtu' III DtSt oll'u ldShioil
as he sped by.
John Grayham laughed. Dom lei
II worry you. Elizabeth" he said
Leave him TO me. III settle him
The car stopped on its return
trip. "Come on and git in and III
take ye fer a ride" said the young
ster. invitingly. as Mary Elizabeth
came out OH the porch, banging the
screen door behind her.
Can't" she answered, dolefully
81 have to stay on the porch" She
pumped herself down resentfully
Juggling at the big pink bow that
rode gayly atop her light, bobbed
hair.
"Somethin's matter with this in.
gine-it's busted. clean busted" de-
clared the little fellow. tearing his
fascinated eyes from that distract
ing knot of ribbon. He crawled
under the car and Mary watched,
interesiedly. from the step.
Mr.. Grayham observed this per-
Torrance for while in silence. He
liked the sturdy lad; the grin he
found attractive the odd white hair
and wide eyes amusing He remem-
bered his promise to Elizabeth.
boy" he called.
"Harols my name"
well, Harold, suppose you ride
up and down a while-come back
tomorrow"
IAN right" The friendly grin
never wavered.
II was not Harold, but Mr.. Gray
ham. who felt uncomfortable. He
had a pretty fair idea Of what Har-
old's welcome would have been had
his parents been well known peo-
Pile. living, say. across the street,
and his homemade car, an Irish
mail. II takes democratic America
for frst.cass snobbery.
The next morning Mrs. Grayne m
breathed a SIGH OF relief. That
abominable child had not appeared.
"why. where's Harold" exclaimed
Mary as she came out, looking up
and down the street. dsmay written
on her small. rose-leaf face. He
IL always waiting for u.s."
Never mind, Mary" Elizabeth's
voice was sharp with impotence.
You must learn to play nicely with
little Dick"
IL want Harol'," walled Dick
Finally they we're pacified. With
a final warning 10 Mary TO keep
baby brother out Of .he street or an
auto would surely run over him,
Mrs Crawling went indoors. leaving
the children playing rather soberly
with Dicks new wagon.
II was 10 O'Clock Everything had
run smoothly for Elizabeth. She
hummed softly TO herself az she
glanced ct the clock ticking on the
nantelpiece Then she frowned and
started for the door. She thought
she heard the faint "Aooah! Aooah -
she had learned TO dread.
Suddenly Mary and Dick
screamed frantioally. Then all was
confusion. An ice wagon. the horses
wild with fear. was zigzagging It's
dizzy way dowa the street, while
the driver ran behind, waving his
big pick and adding to the horses
panic by shouting. HI there! whoa
there"
Elizabeth saw all this at a glance.
Then her body stiffened with par
alyzing fear. Dick. her baby boy.
was In the street. He had heard
the horses too late and In his hurry
to reach the curling had fallen fat.
She felt she lived years in the next
second.
Mary could only scream. She her
self was helpless. II was Harold
who grabbed Dick and jumped for
safety: II was Harold the horse
struck aid hurled to the pavement.
Dick fell clear Of the deadly hoofs.
The big icemsn carried him In
and laid him gently on the daven.
port. Hes little 'un to be so
brave" was his rough tribute.
Sudden tears blinded Elizabeth
eyes. She telephoned for the doctor
and John. II seemed a long time
to her before the little boy opened
his eyes. She reproached herself
bitterly. as she sat beside the child
ohafing his cold hands. An ugly
lump was swelling Just over the
right temple.
What was II John had said last
night? "He IL game lad. The
children will gel enough good from
contact with him to more than com.
pensate us for any slang they may
pick up, Elizabeth. Elegance isn't
everything in life"
She watche with new under
standing as the grin spread slowly
over the white little face In spite
OF. his weakness. The child was
struggling into It's armor. assumed