The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-09-30
byhole. Tom turned nercely to young

demanded. "why did you say you
saw me steal the gate"
"What did you trip me for. as I
duckcd past you?" countered Henry,
with equal fierceness. "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
: blcd on the curb, Just in front OF me.
was trying to help you up. when"
The door Of their cell swung Open.
The lieutenant ind the doorman and
well-dresscd man in civilian clothes
stood In the dlm-lit corridor outside.
Tom recognized the civilian rs IIinkle
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, "Ofriccr
Harding made one Of his bonehcad
breaks when he arrested you. hope
you'll accept the apologies of the po-
/ lice department"
Next morning ION the testimony Of
Patrolman Harding) wise and Just
observation-disclosures law partner Of
Hinkle Extraordinarily imposed
fine Of ten dollars upon Tom Morris
sey. adding lecture and an admoni-
ton that next time 1t would go harder
with the young criminal.
The four ensuing years brought
peace and simple prosperity to the
Morrlssey household. Tom worked
hard and efficiently Mt his trade.
As result he was able to buy OH
installments pretty cottnge 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 ut the normal
school. grew into graceful and beauti-
full young womnnhood.
Tom, In his free hours. helped his
mother with her tiny flower gardens
and Mabel with her lessons, or tnught
new tricks to his fluffy yellow mongrel
puppy. clutch" lie was gloriously
content with life.
!. Hudson lane backed up against Har.
ward street. the towns most preten.
tlous thoroughfare. Thus. Toms buck
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-winning
bulldogs.
One June afternoon, few minutes
before six o'clock. Tom Morrlssey re-
turned from work.
In the garden Mrs. Morrissey and
Mabel were bending over flower bed,
rearranging some uprooted nasturtium
plants.
His mother. looking up from her
task at the lower bed, met his smile
and called out word of tender well
come to him.
1--WE didn't expect you home so ear
ly," she said rs Tom bent down to
kiss her and to run u playfully effec.
tlonate hand through, Mabel's curly
hair.
"Why are you replanting the mas
turtiums?" asked her son. "They
seemed to be doing so WELL"
"Tffey were," said Mabel, "but to-
day 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 nasturtlum
In the whole bed. Wasn't It horridf"
"Too bad!" sympathized Tom, "but
I'll replant the rest Of them, now that
I'm here. You and Mabel rest on the
porch and do the heavy looking on"
Heavy looking on, indeed" scoffed
his mother. "Do you realize I have
the supper to get ready1 There will
be only you and I to eat 1t tonight.
Mabel is going to supper at the Payn-
tersl And afterward she and Elsie
Paynter are going to a dance at the
pavilion"
As he bent to his garden work, Tom
heard two mems voices In conversa-
ton on the far side Of the picket fence
that divided his lot from the end Of
the Rokeson grounds in which the ken
nels were situated. He recognized the
voices as those Of Hlnkle Rokeson and
Henry. They were evidently inspect
ing the kennels.
Bring out old Champion Colborn,"
Tom presently heard Henry order the
kennel man. II want to look at that
barbed.wre scratch on his shoulder"
Tom, turning his head. saw the ken
mel man open heavy wire door In
one Of the enclosures. Out trotted
massive white bulldog, perhaps eighty
pounds In weight. huge muscles bulg-
Ing through the surface Of his CLOS.
N whita hide
+ = - III y. ~