The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1916-07-06
SEVENTH STORY
Truth Crushed to Earth.

Ihc champion sword In hand val
defending his lady loge from the mnr
defous attack Of Tie dragon
The group Or nurses longing on th'
park bench saw only iiVeyearolt
Tommy Blake and four-yearo old Mar
torie Lampson, playing with very
big and very friendly collie But Tom
my, the champion knew better II,
knew the dragon would surely swal
low Marjorie or drag her away to Il.
lair unless her defender could fright
en- away 'he monster with his sword
So while Marjorie squealed with de
light. Tommy welded the woodel
sword right doughtily. shaking It In
front OF the barking collies nose and
assuring his little playmate he would
save her
II was wonderful game But pres
emily the collie tired Of II and trOtted
away. Tommy thrilled at the trl
umphant thought that he had van
quished the dragonl gave chase He
had not run three steps before his
foot slipped and he tumbled face
downward in a very large and very
sloppy mudpuddle.
The nurse swooped down upon him
and dragged him homeward
Mrs. Blake was at this moment en-.
gagged in preparing an address which
she expected to read two nights later
before the Parents club.
A shutting door sound OF weep
ing. the hurry OF footsteps checked
her flow Of inspiration She laid down
her pen and turned with a frown
toward the library doorway
On the threshold appeared the
nurse half leading, half dragging the
fearful and muddy child AT sight OF
the havoc wrought on Tommys new
suit Mrs Blake called in sudden loss
OF temper
You bad, bad boy See what You've
done, You ought TO be whipped and
sent to bed How did this happen"
"Why. you see, maam began tho
nurse. he was
Il asked Master Tommy not you
nurse" interrupted the vexed mother
Tommy, tell me how this happened
Tell me the truth. mind you, or I'll
Tit was this way" faltered Tom
my, manfully choking back his sobs,
II was playing Saint George and the
Dragon. And MarJric was being the
Maiden in Distress--like-like the
way you read to me And Laddic was
the dragon. And | made him run
awav And chased him And | fell
down and got all muddied up And
I'm awful sorry mamma. didn't
mean 10 tall d9vn md"
Mrs Blake interrupted hh nafai
defense by catching ~ aollda 7
her strong hand ond Jerking tm
along IN her usfe a. She marched
across % TEE librafg book closet fed
locked Tommy iu
TEN Blake ha9 leaoned tae mature
age of eleven Marjorie aHPs1t sfd
her brother Harry he'd cone org 2
tefnoon 20 iho Nake ho5ee to ais
over matter oi trem uaaus import
60 all three Of them no less an fYenl
thau Toms birthday purity which Has
t. take plaea on lhe following ~eet
Say" Tom crested them lm go
ine % have bicycle FOR my tlrihday
Holest am"
No exclaimed Harry laDFson
n open-eyed envy.
Eyes, am. too Papa says am
Isn't that grand
Isn't it wonderful that you're going
to have bicycIe7" laughed Marjorie
in delight. I'm going to ask papa
to get me one, too. Then we can take
rides together
Huh" grunted Harry IN derision.
you're too much Of cry-baby TO ride
a bicycle, Marge. You'd sniyel every
time you fell on
Leave her be- commanded Tom.
''If you don't III"
Harry showed his disregard for the
warning BY giving Mar1orie's curls
sharp tug. The little girl cried out
in pain. With yell OF fury Tom
launched himself on her tormenter
Around the library table dashed the
pursuer and the pursued. Harry
lodged as Tom caught up with him
and ducked under the latter's outfinng
arm.
Toms fist. missing its mark, struck
full against the side OF an antique
cloisonne vase that stood at one
end OF the table The yase-w worm
its weight in god-was the pride OF
Mr.. Blake's heat,
At the impact of Tom Blakes fist
the vase few into the air, crashed
down upon the hardwood floor anu
Law there. smashed into fragments
Mr.. Blake, drawn thither BY the
crash sauntered into the library IN
nousecoat and slippers. There on the
floor lay his priceless vase IN atoms.
.Who did that" he demanded
pointing dramatically at the ruined
vase.
II did. sir, said Tom. ] was enas'
ing"
He gos no further. His father
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