The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-07-22
TheEpenineSto
MAN NEXT DOOR.
copyrssh,. 1915. BY W. wsrnsrJ

Peter sat upon the lowest branch
Of the gnarly old apple tree and
swung his two fat legs back and
forth In reckless abandon and wish
"a With all his lonely little heart for
some one to play with. He glanced
toward the sleepy old tiger cat bask'
tng IN the sun, but she Interpreted
the look. and rising hastily vanished
over the adjoining fence
q "Humphi" calculated Peter. Il
don't care. Cats aren't good fun any
how" And he swung his legs fast
er to emphasize this fact Suddenly
risht In the midst OF his most eneT'
setic swing, he stopped short In
the next yard beyond the fence over
which the cat had taken refuge, Pc
Ter espied a man playing with pup.
Peters eyes distended al the sight.
and climbing down from the apple
tree he sought a better position on
ton Of the fence.
Hello" declared the man. and
smi,ed reassuringly az Peter
Hello" replied Peter. maryeiiine
NJ the smile do you Ike little
boys!"
The man looked up at Peter with
n puxzled expression on his face
"Do I like little boys7" he repeated
"why. OF course I do--that Is. II
they are good boys" he amended.
Most every one likes good boys l
guess"
"No. no, every one" replied
peter soberly. They don't like boys
over 10 our house. and ! have TO De
very careful and not make the least
noise OF they will tell US TO 70 away
ana mother had such a hard time
finding a place where she could keep
me With her. When mother hasn
= headache 1t isn't so bad, cause
abe can think up the incest things 70
DO that don't make noise. but she
most always has headache from
aexinx. There IL mother now" de-
ciared Peter.
The mans eyes followed Peter 5
indicating finger, and discovered a
pretty. girlish woman seated at the
window. her brown head bent over
the sewing on her lap.
go. she IL your mother. is she
he asked Peter: and TO himself no
muttered: mo wonder she has head
aches, sewing at all hours OF the
DAY and night. And I believed her
20 be some foolish miss overfond OF
fripperies. Suppose" suggested the
man kindly, when they were say
fns rood night that you ask moth
- 10 let you come over here and
Hay with the pup whenever you get
lonesome. Think you'd like TOT
oh. saspsd Peter with delight
~lGay I really pla with him In your
GnSdsnr
-Indeed. you may. IL mother Is
wiIl1ng.s
Mother was willing. and not a
Heals slaA that her lonely little son
AaA 6ound . friend
4 yRoo6orful were the Gays refer
.vent In his nsighbors garden ano
..nnhsrful were the tales with which
~ ssgaied his mother when ne re
Ffi1Hsh46. :,
r,fter duYing her work she would
sauss for few moments to water
N. happy. laughing child and bark
,,g pup ~ tAey raced up and dowr
the garden paths. but quite OTTER
ker Ease wandered to the smiling
tind faced mau who usually jo6ee
IN their sport. u was not dimcui
~ discover Why Peter adored him
ana q warm feeling for him hat
Iataly crept unbidden into her Owl
heart.
And then one morning Pete
.Swcke feeling queer all over. Mothe
vas frightened when she saw to-
"a ss,os chss, but the doctor dc
eIared Il 10 be nothing worse thai
neaslcs.
During ,he time OF his Illness
peter .alxed ipcessantly OF the maj
and ne p,.p. when he was himsei
.zsin he pleaded with his mothe'
"a tell him he was sick and couidn