The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-12-21

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demanded. "Why did you say you
saw me steal the gate7"
What did you trip me for, as I
ducked past your countered Henry,
with equal lerceness. "And then why
did you grab me and hold me till the
cop could catch up with us?"
II didn't" cried Tom. "You STUN.
bled on the curb, just in front of me.
l was trying to help you up, when"
The door of their cell swung open.
The lieutenant and the doorman and
a well-dressed man in civilian clothes
stood In the dim-llt corridor outside.
Tom recognized the civilian as Hinkle
Rokeson, whom he had often seen on
the street.
The erstwhile austere lieutenant
was positively wriggllng with embnr-
rassment as he addressed Henry Roke-
son.
"Mr. Rokeson." he said, "Oficer
Harding made one OF his bonehead
breaks when he arrested you. l hope
you'll accept the apologies Of the po-
lice department"
Next morning ION the testimony of
Patrolman Harding) q wise and just
magistrate-former law partner Of
Hlnkle Rokeson-solemnly imposed a
ine Of ten dollars upon Tom Norris
sey, adding a lecture and an admoni-
ton that next time II would 60 harder
with the young criminal.
The four ensuing years brought
peace and simple prosperity to the
Morrissey household. Tom worked
hard and efficiently at his trade.
AS q result he was able to buy on
installments a pretty cottage on Hud-
son lane, where he installed his In
valid mother and sister, Mabel.
The little household IN the Hudson
lane cottage was ideally happy. The
sickly mother, in her own home at last
and with her beloved flower-beds to
keep her outdoors, grew daily strong
er. Mabel, studying at the normal
school, grew into graceful and beauti-
ful young womanhood.
Tom, In his free hours, helped his
mother with her tiny flower gardens
and Mabel with her lessons, or taught
new tricks to his fluffy yellow mongrcl
puppy, Hutch" He was g~loriously
content with life.
Hudson lane backed up against Har-
ward street, the towns most preten-
tious thoroughfare. Thus, Toms back
garden wa separated only by a picket
fence and hedge from the rear grounds
of a huge and SNOWY mansion that
stood on Harvard street. This man
sion's grounds. indeed, ran back ali
the way to Hudson lane, on both sides
Of Toms little patch of land.
The mansion was owned by Hinkle
Rokeson. At the extreme rear Of his
grounds, fronting on Hudson lane, he
maintained his kennel of prixe-winning
bulldogs.
One June afternoon, q few minutes
| before six o'clock. Tom Morrissey re-
turned from work.
In the garden Mrs. Morrissey and
Mabel were bending over a flower bed,
r~earranging some uprooted nasturtium
plants.
His mother, looking up from her
task at the flower bed, met his smile
and called out a word Of tender well
come to him.
I'VE didn't expect you home SO a r
ly," she said as Tom bent down to
kiss her and to run q playfully effec-
Tomato hand through Aabel's curly
hair.
why are you .replanting the mas
turtiumsf asked her son. They
seemed to be doing so WELL"
"They were." said Mabel, 'but to-
day some OF those prize chickens of
the Rokesons got out Of their coop
and few over the fence into our yard
and scratched up every nasturtium
In the whole beG. Wasn't It horrid!"
TOO bad" sympathixed Tom, but
ri replant the rest of them, now that
Tm here. You and Mabel rest on the
porch and do the heavy looking on"
Heavy looking on. indeed" scoffed
his mother. do you realize ] have
the supper to get readyf There will
be only you and I to eat 1t tonight.
Mabel Is going to supper at the Payn-
tersi And afterward she and Elsie
Paynter are going to q dance at the
pavilion"
As he bent to his garden work, Tom
heard two mems voices In CONVERSE
ton on the far side of the picket fence
that divided his lot from the end of
the Rokeson grounds in which the ken
uels were situated. He recognized the
voices a those Of Hinkle Rokeson and
Henry. They were evidently inspect
ing the kennels.
Bring out old Champion Colborn,S
Tom presently heard Henry order the
kennel man. II want to look ut that
barbed-wire scratch on his shoulder"
Tom. turning his head, saw the ken
mel man open = heavy wire door In
one Of tho enclosures. Out trotted q
massive white bulldog, perhaps eighty
pounds n weight huge muscles bulg
Ing through the surface of his CLOS
" whits bids.
AHFE N