Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26

granfaver gOi fence, but she thinks
not just now. Perhaps some ovver
time"
MN! She won't be buying him no
fence" Lizzie said, thrusting her bony
face almost into the oven. They're go
ing to pull him down and throw him
away"
Billy turned sudden red and shook
a threatening spoon. "They not going
to pull i'm down. he shouted.
Lizzie, Strengthening up, smiled. the
terrible smile of power that holds
weakness in it's grasp. Eyes, they are
so. l read it in the, papers, and
heard your granny say it, too. They're
going to pull him down and put him
on an old dump cart and throw him on
the ash heap. So there!'
For all her size and years, she was
only spiteful child, not knowing
what she did Billy slipped 20 the floor,
Juggling at his bib, and something in
his face made her add hasty:
ooh, now, don't be baby, Billy.
Here's a cookie
The cookie fell UNDECIDED to the
floor and Billy ran to his granny; but
the strangers were still there, and he
dared not go in No Sabra was up
stairs, no Toto had come home. HIS
father represented to Billy one vast,
permanent prohibition against inter
ruption, but in his distress he even
battered to the room from which the
exasperated demand for quiet had so
often burst out at him. 1t was empty.
In all the house there was no help,
and moments were flying.
The front door was Unattached, FOR
Billy was allowed to play on the side
walk and he ran out, but even now
his obedient little feet stopped at the
familiar boundary line. He meant
only to wait there for Toto, who could
make everything right; but soon q
dire sound brought terror that wiped
out law. Down the block ca11le bump
ing city ash cart, headed straight
for the corner round which stood the
beloved presence.
Billy shouted at it, furiOusly, stamp
ing his foot, sobbing in his impotence;
the driver did not even glance over his
averted shoulder. Billy painted after
him. There were people in the street,
but stray child, even crying child,
was too familiar sight in that neigh
borhood to draw attention. At the
corner the cart turned and bumped off
up the street. Serene Gage, standing
in his accustomed place. was for the
moment safe. but Billy knew how ash
carts abounded He looked uncertain
ly back toward the shelter of home,
and wistfully up the street for Toto.
then down to the dear grandfather, all
alone in his mortal peril; and the
great need to rescue, that was to dom
mate and direct al his life. wiped out
fear. He braved the traffic and,
crawling through gap in the pallngs,
planted himself at the statues base.
'1'm here, granfaver," he called.
Don't you be afraid. I'm here!''
To the passing world he was only
a playing child. The streets were
growing dim and quiet, but Billy stay
ed at his post, his heart big with pro-
tective love. Whenever coming We
hicle seemed to bump like an ash cart,
he sent up his reassuring whisper:
"I'm right here!" But it was desolate
and unnerving work for little boy
whose bedtime had already passed
He kept up bravely until, coming slow
ly home from work, he saw his own
Toto. Then his spirit melted within
him and he stumbled out between the
palings, baby arms up for comfort,
weeping his bitter tale She caught
him close, and at every stammered,,
"Lizzie said she grew sterner and
straighter behind the pitiful tender
ness that was mothering him. He was
hurried back to the house where he
had just been missed and when she
had him soothed and undressed Chloe
told him how the streets were growing
so crowded that perhaps grandfather
could not live there any longer. so ne
was thinking of moving away to give
the wagons and motors more room.
The ash cart still haunted Billy, but
when he had been assured that that
was only a wicked lie, he grew cheer
full again.
'Tf he goes too far for me to see
him can write him letters he ex-
planned, and at last fell asleep. Chloe,
tucking him in, saw that his hands
twitched and that muttered words
echoed the past storm, and she went
down stairs hot with purpose.
Mother, Lizzie has got to go, to
night she demanded, and told Billy's
tale. "She is bad, cruel. She hurt
him deliberately. ] don't want hl'1
ever to see her again.
Mrs. Gage hated to remind her.
You know, we owe her, MONTHS
wages, darling. She wouldn't so with
out her money"
"And we have i,lsi to sit down under
this? Say nothing?" Chloe blazed.
I'm afraid so. Toto. But it is only
for little while. You haven't heard
about Sabras lectures yet
Chloe had no attention for Sabra.
ooh, and didn't care about money!"
she cried. 1T seems as if all the hui
Mutations of life came through not
having it,"
Her mother had an inspiration.
could borrow it from the fund, dear!
I've got all that money up in my tin
box-I was afraid it would get drawn
un.-in the bank. If you say So
Chloe was tempted; then she shook
her head mo. That's the way peo-
pie embezzle. They borrow, Just Tor
few days and then they can't put it
h,,1, No. we will stand it till | can