Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-07-28
Little Sir Calallad
a Story With a
Blessing
By PHOEBE GRAY
Copyright BY Small. Maynard & Company


red anger seized him.
You GRIMM sneak. you," he roared,
frightful in his rage. Little Dick
shrieked and fed LENS hand dropped
the dipper, and few to the rim of a
heavy, water-soaked bucket, used for
watering the horses, and without lost
motion he hurled the iron-bound uten-
sill full at Francis Willett's head. The
sharp edge of the bottom hoop caught
the young man just over the right ear,
and the blow was terrible. Francis
crumpled backward to the ground and
lay there, limp body, all but dead.
The bucket went bounding and rolling
beyond the automobile.
Lem Brown turned and ran. Per-
haps some thought of escape from the
effects of what he had drunk of the
treacherous fluid in the dipper prompt
ed this headlong fight; If so, the hope
proved vain. The fumes of the alco-
hol mounted swiftly to his long-unac-
customed brain. He kept on running
until quite spent; but when he finally
slowed down, the poison was estab-
lished in his racing blood. He kept on
walking until overtaken by a city
bound trolley car. This he boarded.
and was seen no more for three days.
az was called here Unexpectedly in
consulta tion," said DIR. Billy Jackson,
so l thought I'd run up and see
Good heavens, man, what ails you"
He had been admitted by the serv-
ant. and now stepped across the thresh-
old of John Wilets library. John Will
lett sat huddled in big chair, an old,
haggard, pitiful man. He had been out
to Hillside Falls to see Francis. who,
the doctors said, was dying. The boy
had not recovered consciousness In the
three days following the crushing at
tack of Lem Browns indignation.
When Jackson entered Willett got to
his feet. my boy, Billy, my boy; he's
dying"
where"
'At Hillside Falls, in that farmhouse,
the home of the child you cured six or
seven years ago." cen
Little Sir Galahad? John, what
happened to Francis? l thought no
was In college,"
HE has conclusion of the brain.
due to blow from a bucket in the
hands of "a mailman"
Don't you think we should go to
him at once?
what is the use? Two doctors, the
best in Sheffield, say he cannot live"
But they may not be right. Come,
John. l saw your car at the door.
Take me to the boy; there is certainly
no time to spare"
A little flicker of hope burned in
the fathers eyes, and he led Doctor
Billy to the motor. During the ride to
Hillside Falls, Willett told Jackson
something of the events leading up to
the catastrophe.
"And, Billy" he kept saying pit
eously. why is it? Why do have tc
suffer so, as If, instead of guarding
him in every way. l had put tempta-
ton in his path?"
II cannot tell you, john" said the
doctor gravey; "yet there must be an
answer. You may know some day. or
you may never learn But these things
do not happen by chance. There is-a
reason, even If it lies too deep for hui
man logic to, reach"
But the stricken father would not
be convinced anti kept asking, again
and again: why? Why?"
They came at last to the Thomas
farm; and it was now about nine
o'clock in the evening. The two en-
tered cautiously. through the kitchen,
as in the old days Mary Alice Brown
and Charlie Thomas sat there to-
gether. Mary Alice had not seen Mr..
Willett since her visit at his office.
Now she seemed to shrink from him,
but he went straight to her.
Little girl" he said gently, 1--WE
were too late"
Don't. don't" cried Mary Alice.
do you realize that l could have
saved him? 1t was my silly pride.
have killed him; no one else is to
blame"
She broke down and wept with great
violence, quite beyond any soothing
or control. But Charles eyes were
blazing.
Look, lookw he cried. "Its Uncle
Billy! What did ! tell you? It's
Gods miracle. Uncle Billy, Uncle
Billy. 1 knew God would do it; knew
God would save Francisr
The boy was almost incoherent with
joy. He hobbled about on his little
stiltlike legs, with his odd. hitching
gait. and presently from the sitting
room emerged one of the nurses. She
recognized Doctor Jackson.
You have come to consult with Doc
tor Glenn?" she asked. II will call
him."
Doctor Billy followed the nurse.
John Willett took Mary Alice's hand.
Dear little GIRL" he said, don't
cry any more. Look at Charlie. He's