The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-06-19

on his pleas for mercy. He was a
prisoner, In the most awful prison
ever devised by mantle prison OF
fear Mrs Blake returned 10 her
desk and began work once more on
her speech for the Parents club.
Tom Blake had reached the ma
ture age of IL. Marjorie Lampson
and her brother, Harry, had come
one afternoon to the Blake house TO
talk over a matter Of tremendous i'm
port to all three of them-no less
an event than Toms birthday party
which was TO take place on the fol.
lowing week, the most thrilling so
cial event Of the year to all three of
them.
Say" Tom greeted them. I'm go
ing to have bicycle for my birth
day. Honest | am"
NO" exclaimed Harry Lsmpson
in open eyed envy.
Eyes. am. too. Papa says l am.
Isn't that grand?"
Maybe he's only foollng YOU" sug-
gested the envious Harry.
mo he isn't either" stoutly denied
Tom. "He told ne so himse elf. And
grown folks always tell the truth.
Ny papa does. anyhow" he added,
as Harry grinned. skeptically.
Isn't il wonderful that you're go
ing to have a bicycle?" laughed Mar
orie in delight I'm going TO ask
papa 10 get me one, too, Then we
can take rides together"
Huh" grunted Harry in 6erision.
You're too much of cry baby 10
ride a bicycle. Marge. You'd SWIVEL
every time you fell off,
Il wouldn't either" denied Mar
jorie. her eyes llling with tears at
his gibe.
You would so. You would so."
tainted Harry. See, you're getting
ready TO cry right now! Cry-baby!
Cry BABY"
And he wiggled a scornful forefn-
ger in front Of her flushed little
face.
You let her alone" ordered Tom.
Quit teasing her"
"Shant'" Knocked Harry. she's
my own sister, isn't she? I'll tease
her any time | want 10"
Leave her be-" commanded Tom.
III you don I III"
Harry showed his disregard for the
warning by giving Marjorie's curls Il
sharp tug With a yell Of fury Tom
launched himself on her tormenteR
Harry, who found 1t much safer 10
tease girls than TO fight boys, turned
aud ran.
Around the library table dashed
the pursuer and the pursued. Harry
lodged as Tom caught up with him
and ducked under the latter's out
flung arms.
Toms fist, missing its mark,
struck full against the side OF an
antique cloisonne vase that stood at
one end Of the table. The vase
worth it's weight in gold-was the
pride OF Mr.. Blake's heart, He had
forbidden his son TO lay so much
as a finger upon it.
AT the impact Of Tom Blake fist
the vase fed into the air, crashed
down upon the hardwood floor and
lay there, smashed into fragments.
The catastrophe struck all three Of
the children dumb with horror. Then,
as heavy footsteps sounded from Mr.
Blakes adjoining study, Harry so
far recovered his presence OF mind
as 10 grab up his cap and run at top
speed out of the room and out OF
the house.
Mr.. Blake, drawn thither by the
crash, sauntered into the library in
housecoat and slippers. In the door
way he paused, aghast at the
tableau before him.
There on the floor lay his price
less vase in atoms. Above II cover
ed the two scared children-rom
and Marjorie. For an instant Mr.
Blake stood gazing at the wreckage,
his hard face slowly purpling with
the wrath that swolled up in him.
Toni" he Numbered az last.
(To Be Continued)