The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-06-01
Copyright by Small. Maynard & Company


breathless. HE won't do that again
in a hurry"
Mary Alice looked up into a face de-
signed for good humor. but just now
devoted to the scarlet purpose of
wrath. The blue eyes flashed the mixed
light Of Indignation and complacence.
The red hair seemed to bristle with
turbulence and pride.
Mary Alice went on soberly picking
up her scattered load. Vaguely the
possibilities of this pugnacity stirred in
her mind. Maybe the boy would Fix"
her. too. But all at once he grinneI.
Let me help you" he said. "Are
they all dirty? It's too bad. What are
you goin' to do with 'em?"
Take 'em home again." replied
Mary Alice. "Mothern have to wash
'em all over"
The red-headed boy picked up the
last dust-smutted napkin and watched
Mary Alice pack the big misshapen
load into place. she swung the little
wagon away from the fence and In
silence started down the hin.
where you goin'2" demanded the
boy.
Home"
where's that?"
Calvert street"
"Oh," said the boy. He knew all
about Calvert street by reputation. 1t
ran through the neighborhood known
as 'the Devils Truck Patch"
81 guess I'll go long with you" he
decided Maybe those fellows might
bother you some more; they won't If
I'm along, though"
Mary Alice neither accepted nor re-
jected this proposal. She went silently
down the hill, leaning back to check
the pace Of her loaded wagon.
whats your name?" demanded the
boy.
MARY Alice Brown"
"Mine's Willett. Francis Willett," he
Informed her, quite gratuitously. "Tm
a Galahad Knight"
Mary Alice Brown showed no curl
osity concerning the complexion or du-
ties OF a Galahad Knight.
"It's club" Francis explained. "We
have ten members and we're all
pledged to puttect the weak against
the strong. That's why 1 licked Lutey
Travers. got up the club myself
read all about the idea in a book. A
knight is a fellow that swears that
whenever he sees beauty"
The knight paused and scrutinized
Mary Alice's thin face as they passed
under an electric light; for the golden
ro 70 OF tho gfr haoH ho1 ,,ov, e,Jo1
as all symbols are prone to do. He
went on:
"Er-beauty-Or anythlng-in dis
tress. or course you aren't-that is.
you were I'm distress, so l came to your
Tescue-see?
He steadled the topping wagon as
Mary Alice eased it across a curbstone.
The little girl heard his complacent
chatter all too indistinctly. She was go
ing home empty-handed and-they
needed the money 80 bitterly.
Mary Alice shuddered. Francis VIII
lett, finding i'm his own virtue a re-
ward heightened by rehearsal. babbled
cheerfully Of Galahad knights and ex-
planned in detail how they differed
from Boy Scouts. Mary Alice wished
he would 20 away.
At last they came to Calvert street.
threading the Devils Truck Patch. 1t
was full OF people; men and women
lounged upon front stoops, children in
droves played on the pavement Both
sidewalks were bordered with the win
dow lights OF stores, largely saloons
It was a tough neighborhood. Francis
Willett had never seen that street be
fore. Some raucOus-vOiced urchins
swarmed by, jostling and boisterous
They were very dirty and very happy
The boy from Clipper Hill lost little
OF his assurance. A drunken man
lunged past. swaying and tottering,
and as he went he mumbled thick bias
phemies
"My gracioUsw said the boy, a little
appalled,. "Do you have to live here?'
"'Course I do" answered Mary Al
ice. It was almost the first time she
had spoken. my folks live here.
got to stay with them, amt ~
"I-I suppose 50. Which is your
housep
Mary Alice turned up an alley, mar
row and dimly lighted and crowded.
Before a tenement house she stopped.
Here's where I live" she said. She
did not invite her escort in: she did
not thank him for bis knlghtlv conduct:
she looked az him and wished he would
go away. He was very Snug. I'm his
neat clothes. with his round, good
humored. complsceut face He had
never known a trouble in the world.
ooh. yes" he said. cranlng his neck
10 view the spider web Of fire escapes
that decorated tire front Of the build
ing. "Weli. guess I won't stay. My
father doesn't like for me to- Say.
here's present FOR you. The Gala
had knights are au pledged to-" i
lie held out aoUethiug In bis hand
sosaethng vhict he drew from
pocsst vsero li 'inelcd against others
90 l,s kind it wus particularly
shiny talsdoHar
Hay sIice loosed into ns good
nafured. srlf aaslrcd prosperity OF
Ffsncis Wlaefrs blyish ;s4~ yhsn sfe
luoked down sf .br ~nn 6r ne way