The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-11-02
SEVENTH STORY
Truth Crushed to Earth.

The champion, sword in hand, was
defending his lady love from the muir
derous attack OF the dragon.
The group OF nurses lounging on tbs
park bench saw only f~ve-year-olt
Tommy Blake and ~forryear-old Mar
torie Lampson. playin1 with n very
big and very friendly collie. Put Tom
my, the champion, knew better He
knew the dragon would surely swal
low Marjorie o. drag her away to It:
lair, unless her defender could fright
en- way he monster with hi sword
SO while Msrjorie s~quealeJ with de
light. Tommy welded the wooder
sword right doughtily, shaking II ii
front of the barking collie's nose and
assuring his little playmate he would
save her.
1t was a wonderful game. But pres
emily the collie tired OF IL and trotted
away. Tommy thrilled at the tri
umphant thought that he had van
pushed the dragon) gave chase. He
had not run three steps before his
ACSt Shppcu Suu no tuulUlcu ldCe
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 On
gagged In preparing an address which
she expected to read two nights later
before the Parents club.
A shutting door, a sound of weep
ing. the hurry OF footsteps checked
her flow OF inspiration. She laid dowr
her pen and turned with a frowr
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 Tommy's new
suit Mrs. Blake called In sudden loss
Of temper:
you bad. bad boy! See what you've
done! You ought to be whipped ant
sent to bed! How did this happen?'
why, you see. ma'am," began tn,
nurse. The 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
Il was playing Saint George and thu
Dragon. And Marj'ric was being thu
Maiden in Distress-hke-like thu
way you read to me. And Laddie wa!
the dragon. And ! made him rur
away. And I chased him. And I fel
down and got all muddied up. AND
I'm awful sorry, mamma. didn'
mean to fall down. And"
Mrs. Blake interrupted his pitifu
defense by catching his shoulder II
her strong hand and Jerking hin
along in her wake as she marched
across to the library book closet ant
locked Tommy in.
Tom Blake had reached the mature
age Of eleven. Marjorie Lampson and
her brother. Harry. had come n af
ternoon to the Blake house to tall
over q matter Of tremendous impor,
90 all three OF them-no less an event
than Toms birthday party which was
TO take place on the following week
"Say!" Tom greeted them. I'm go
ing to have q bicycle for my birthday
Honest I ami"
~No!" exclaimed Harry Lampsor
In open-cyed envy.
Yes, I am, too. Papa says I am
Isn't that grand?"
isn't e wonderful that you're COINS
to have q bicycle?" laughed Marjorie
IN delight. T'm going to ask papa
10 get ms one. too. Then we can take
rides togsther..
HUH" gruntsd Harry in derision
"You'rs too much of . cry-baby to ride
. bicycle. Narge. You'd SWIVEL aver,
time you fell on"
Leave her be-" commanded Tom
~ ysu don't M"
Harry showed his disregard for the
warning by giving Marjsrie's curls
sharp tug. The little SRI cried out
a pain. With q yell OF fury Ton
:nanched himself on her tormenter
Around the kArary table dashed thu
pursuer and the pursued. Harr.
lodged as Tom caught up with hin
md ducked under tho latter's outfunI
INN.
Toms Est. missing It's mark. strucl
fulI against ths side Of an antiou
o~loisonne vase that stood at on
end .oi the table. The vase-wort'
- weight IN gUid-was the pride Q
n. BlahU'n heak4-
AT ne Impact - Ten Blake's ifs
Ne vase 1sv htD the air. erashe
6ovn upsa Ne hardwood floor an
~ thwa. snaaAea into fragments.
N. Bleka. 1rawa thithsr by tn
srasb. sasntereA ~ the library
h~oussocoe - eGlDpGa There on n
noor ~ NJ pssseoess vase IN atom
sWhe a. eAaeS~ hs densnde'
spanting lranan6a,ly = Ne rsias
4 o.. snri- - Ten. = - -
nG