Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-09

June leaned out over the porch rail
keeping her eyes fastened on the organ
grinder Mary watched the girl bite
her lips and frown. The signs were
alarming. The old woman looked
down at the hand on the rail, with fear
and trembling. Her worst suspicious
were realized. A faint red ring APP
peared. Mary put out her hand as If
to stop its growing more vivid. Slowly
the color came into it. 1t blazed forth
in all its strength just as June ex-
claimed angrily:
"Oh, why does he mistreat that poor
Captive animal?" A defenseless mite
like that! It's outrageous the way he
pulls that rope-just look he's even
kicking him! I'm going down there to
stop him"
The idea OF getting so worked up over
a monkey"
1T isn't because it's a monkey. It's
because it's heartless cruelty to dumb
animal"
Anyhow. you're coming right in the
house with me-"
NO. I'm not"
Look at your hand" said Mary
tersely.
Startled. June obeyed. The Red Cir
Gle 1glared back at her with malevolent
clouded. Then the same, queer mis-
chievOus smile returned.
We'll, what of it?'' she challenged
You know" Mary answered, simply
Come into the garden with me before
you get into any trouble, dear"
Il don't want to-
Please. I'm so worried, pet"
"Oh, all right. Only don't look so
distressed. You know how to get
around me, don't you. You know that
I'll do anything you ask me to as soon
as you say you're worried"
It's for your own good" insisted the
old woman. Come now, before you
see any. more"
June looked back as the nurse coaxed
her toward the house. The italian
yanked the money up from the ground
at the end of the rope and threw him
dow top of the organ with such vio-
lence that the little creature grabbed
at the ragged red cover 20 keep from
falling on again. Singing the organ
on his back, the man walked away.
muttering fiercely to himself. The
crowd of children followed, timidly.
keeping at a safe distance.
Upstairs, June entered her room and
ran to the window. The organ grinder
had moved out OF sight A strange
sickening sensation came over her as
she thought of him and his treatment
Of the monkey.
on a little table near the window a
small pair of scissors caught the sun
and reflected the light, so that it daz-
zled the eyes. June caught sight of
them. She picked them up quickly and
slipped them, almost involuntarily into
the pocket of her dress. Then she
reached for a small sport hat that was
q
room, closing the door behind her.
4 few seconds later, as she was leav-
ing the porch, sIary called to her from
the door and came toward her rapidly
her hands outstretched.
Where are YOU going?' she asked
anxiousIy.
"Just for a walk on the beach"
mot without me-"
you know it tires you terribly to
walk in the sand, DEAR" June said a
little impatiently. why do you conner"
Because I'm not going to let you
out alone as long as you have that
mark on your hand"
June looked down She smiled. in
tensely relieved. The circle had dis
appeared. She held up the hand tri-
Umphantly.
Now. are you afraidg' she inquired
archly. Now that I'm no longer brand
ed?"
I'm just as afraid. A0s I'm going
June sighed with exaggerated res
isnation.
IAN right, Mrs. Calamity, come
along"
You see" said June as they walked
over the sands. II have to hold you
up. It's hard enough for a young,
EWr - IL
part. and surely for an old woman
like"
"old woman. indeed" Mary inter-
rupted hufily.
well old dear, then" compromised
June. Because you are an old dear,
whatever else you are; and can't stay
angry at you more than two seconds.
love you too much. Sit right down
here on this old wreck and rest now
you're putting like a steam engine"
I'm not"
You are. Don't say any more about
it, look right there over the water
and count the seagulls. If you count
more than ten I'll treat you to an ice
cream cone"
81 don't want any ice cream cone"
Mary protested meekly. "They make
my teeth ache
What! You wouldn't put up with a
little thing like a toothache to help
along the poor ice cream man, when
business is so bad this morning, too?
OH
The exclamation was sunderland
sharp. Mary jumped up. startled.
What's the matter? What's the
matter, dear?"
Her evident alarm reused June. She
shivered slightly.
why, 1 just had the funniest littfs
chill, right down the middle of my
back. never have those things. I
wonder what gave il to me-"
You must be catching cold" Mary
fused about her like a hen around her
chick. Wen go back to the .iouse
You mustn't run the risk of catching
pneumonia"
"Pneumonia-in this glorious, sun
shiny weather. June laughed indul-
gently. why don't you suggest chill
blains, and be done with IL But I'll
tell you what / would like, If you don't
mind, dear, / wish you'd get my coat
for me-"
Why, of course 1 win, lamb"
The old woman started of immedi-
ately. When she had gone a few steps
she turned back.
Are you sure you'll be all right?"
she inquired wistfully
"Of course 1 will. Run along now
before / get another chill"
Thus alarmed Mary hurried away and
June sat down, demurely, watching
from the corner of her eye until the
nurse disappeared inside the house