The Washington herald., 1916-07-30

VA NAO pOlASC NcpoA NillSAN
for"
That's all right, lieutenant said
Henry magnanimously, as he walked
out and Joined his scowling father.
Say no more about it. Mistakes are
always liable to happen. I'm content
to accept your apology"
Tom Morrissey. delighted at the
timely rescue from a night in the
damp stone cell, stepped out into the
corridor, in Henry's wake.
Thank you, sir" he said respective
ly. to Hinkle Rokeson. for"
Cit back there. you" roared the
lieutenant in majestic fury. thrusting
the bewildered shut into the cell again.
and changing shut the iron door, as
he went on, deprecatingly to Henry:
Il owe you an extra apology for
with such riff-ran as him. This
way to the street. sir"
Next morning Con the testimony OF
Patrolman Harding) a wise and just
magistrate-former law partner of
Hinkle Rokeson-solemnly imposed a
fine of ten dollars upon Tom Morris
sey. adding a lecture and an admoni-
tion that next time it would go harder
with the young criminal.
Thus Toms first clash with the
RokesOn family brought him a night
in a cell and ten-dollar fine and public
disgraCe-as punishment for some
thing he had never done. He could
rot clearly see the justice of all this.
So he tried to forget about it.
The four ensuing years brought
MOTrissey household Tom worked
hard and efficiently at his trade. He
made good wages. he sought extra
money by overtime" He was thrifty
and had a wise head for financial man
agement
As a result he was able to buy on
installments 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
stronger. Mabel. studying at the nor
NAL school, grew into graceful and
beautiful 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 mon
grel puppy, Hutch He was glorI-
Ously content with life.
Hudson lane backed up against Har
ward street. the towns most preten-
tiOus thoroughfare. Thus, Toms back
garden was 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 all
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 prize-win-
ming bulldogs. He kept the kennel
thus remote from the house, so that
the barking Of the dogs would not
disturb him at night. That their
clamorous racket might keep awake
the folk who lived on Hudson lane
did not concern or interest Hinkle
Rokeson at all.
One June afternoon. a few minutes
before six o'clock. Tom Morrissey re-
turned from work. The sun was still
in the heavens. 1t glorif1ed the sim
ple~t little cottage. and filtered goIc-
o0'y trough the tangle of red ram
bier roses and honeysuckle that bor-
dered the porch.
In the garden Mrs. Morriseey and Ma
bel were bending over a flower bed, re-
arranging some uprooted nasturtium
plants.
The peaceful beauty of the scene made
lOm pause at Jne gaze lot a moment
his glance taking in all its quiet love-
illness and the dear home atmosphere,
that hOvered so benigantly above it.
His own industry had earned this home
in whose sweetness he rejoiced.
God Is good to me- he murmured to
himself smiling, as he spoke. Il don't
believe there is another man in town as
richly blessed as I am"
His mother, looking up from her task
ha nod 4
called out a word of tender welcome
to him.
We didn't expect you home so early"
she said as Tom bent down to kiss her
and to run a playfully effectionate hand
through Mable's curly hair. Il hoped we
would have this replanting all done be-
fore you came back"
Why are you replanting the nastur-
tiums?" asked her son. They seemed
to be doing so we'll"
They were" said Mabel but today
some of those prize chickens of the
Rokesons got out of their coop and flew
over the fence into our yard and
scratched up every nasturtium in the
whole bed. Wasn't it horrid?"
Too bad"' eympathized Tom, but
I'll replant the rest Of them, now that
I'm here. Don't tire your two dear
selves by doing it, when you have a big
hulking man like myself who is only
too glad to get the exercise"
But, Tom" objected his mother.
You must be all tired out after your
eight hours at the shop today. And
You were on overtime last night, too"
I'm not a bit tired" he denied stout
ly. "A man doesn't get tired when he
does the work he likes, and does 1t we'll.
It's a stimulant. Boss Boselly told me
today that il I keep on like this, I'll
soon be a second Father Barnes or
Johnny Rutan. in my speed as an ope
rator. Now let me prove myself
second Luther Burbank with flowers,
while you and Mabel rest on the porch
ard do the heavy looking on"
Heavy looking on, indeed" scorfed
his mother. DO you realize I have the
supper to get ready? There win be
only you and I to eat it tonight. Mabel
is going to supper at the Paynters! And
afterward she and Elsie Paynter are
going to a dance at the pavilion. It's
almost time for you to start. little girl"
she finished Run In and wash the loan
of those pretty hands of yours"
Mabel Strengthened herself up from
her toll
81 don't know why I promised Elsie
I'd go tonight" she said, Il always have
better time here at home with you and
Tom than anywhere else. But" she
went on. vexedly, wed all have a still
better time II those high-and-mighty