The midland journal., 1916-07-14

spect he had shown since he had been
with the Thomases.
"I'm Galahad Knight said
Charlie. '.'Of course I amt so strong
as I'm goin' to be. But I'm gettin'
stronger. Come here and feel"
Lem looked foolish, but put out a
large paw and gingerly tested Charles
imaginary biceps, which he flexed with
great vigor.
"The boss says I'm reg'lar Her
cules."
81 don't know what a herc'luss is"
said Lem; "but you sure are strong
little feller."
Then Lem smiled. Nobody on the
Thomas place had ever seen Lem
Brown smile from the day Sam had
brought him there, snarling and scowl-
ing. LENS smile was really credit.
able thing. It spread slowly across his
heavy countenance and lighted it up
with the genial glow of jack-o-lan-
tern.
"Ain't you comical little cussr'
said Lem.
Martha came in from the shed, with
a comforter tied around her face. Lem
looked up, sobered instantly, reached
for his cap, and scrambled out like a
boy caught stealing apples.
"What was you saying to that crit
ter, dearie?' asked Martha.
sOh, was just havin' little er-
con-conversation with him." said
Charlie, licking his lips pleasantly at
the taste of the big word. "Lem's q
awful nice feller, mummee."
Heaven help u.s. murmured Mrs
Thomas. "Such boy as you are,
Charlie!'
"Lemis so turrible solemn" said
the child, nodding his golden head
vehemently. 81 was cheerin' him up.
Amt it funny, he's great big strong
man, and I'm little boy. He's strong
er'n most anybody million times
stronger'n me; but just cause I'm a
Galahad Knight / can help him and
make him feel real good. He's awfu.
pleasant, Lem is.'
One day Charlie had been reading
to Lem from his Galahad book. The
man had found out, by cautious ex-
pertinent, that his friendliness for
Charlie did not entail the i'll favor of
Sam and Martha. SO he now very
boldly and confidently pulled his chair
alongside the little boy and allowed
the pleasant intimacy to grow un-
checked.
How'd you ever get a-hold OF all
that about them knights and things?"
he asked
"Why, didn't / tell your" cried
Charlie. 'It was Mary Alice"
MARY Alicew
"Sure, your little girl, Mary Alice.
Only she's quite big little girl. love
Mary Alice. Amt you just proud Of
her? She's my bestest friend, next to
the boss and mummee. 1t was this
way
And Charlie went at length into the
story of how his "bestest FRIEND had
had him made Galahad Knight With
all the necessary circumlocutions, the
recital took long half-hour Charlie
was quite breathless when he finished.
80 that's all there is to it, he con-
cluded. "Only Mary Alice can't be
Galahad Knight, cause it's in the rules
that only us fellers can be one But
she's Lady Mary Alice whenever she
comes to see me; and wit ye well, Sir
Lem, lovelier lady hath never trod this
earth. So there, now"
Lem looked at the little boy. Martha
came and stood over the pair.
''Now Charlie-boy," she warned,
''dont you get all tired out"
Lem got lumberingly to his feet.
"Oh, my gosh" he said. "Oh, good
gosh! What kidr'
He did a queer and presumptuous
thing. With leathery paw he reached
out and patted Charles golden head.
"Ain't you the comicalest kid,
thought he said, and turned toward
the door. The boss stood there, eyeing
Lem, and in his face the hulk that had
been man saw something far differ
ent from the usual sternness. The
boss did not give ground to let Lem
pass out; instead, he said: ..Put her
there, Lem! BY jinks, don't know
but you're human after ALL" and
gripped LENS hand as one man to an
other.
Lem Brown stalked across the yard
to the drag and began to pile off the
big rocks. He worked as If he liked it,
even when the jagged edges bruised
and cut the leather of his blunt fin
gers.
Good gosh!" he muttered to himself.
Down inside of his being something
was waking up. 1t was what we call
soul.
Lem Brown had begun his fight.