Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-25
PATSY KILDARE,
OUTLAW
XxII-The Ice Wagon Voyage
By JUDD MORTIMER LEWIS

XXII-The Ice Wagon Voyage
yLTHEN Rowdy and went outside yester-
w day morning and were standing by our
front gate wondering which way TO ranble.
what should come along but big blue ice
wagon We ran after II and I sat on the
back step, which was kind OF wet but conf
Portable. and sucked a piece of ice. We
went around corners and up streets till
told Rowdy II would he up to him to hnd
the way home. Then we both laughed, or !
did, for that is a joke. have never failed
to find my way home yet.
A boy OIL bicycle came along and hung
on TO the wagon and rolled without work
ing his feet which should have liked to do
He said. Hello, kid - | said. Hello your
self" Then he said, Where are you going 2,
| said Ask the iceman. How should
know? ] handed him piece OF Ice to suck
and pretty soon he let go and went down a
side street, standing up on the pedals
and weaving from side TO side.
After a while we got TO a big building and
the driver got down and saw me for the
first time. He said. Where did you come
from?" I smiled at him and said. From
heaven, If you mean in the first place, but
IL you mean just now came out Of the back
end of your wagon" He laughed and went
into the big building where we were and
where men we're hauling ice out.
Rowdy and took chance and went In
and stood around and a man said, Hello !
Did you come to see us make ice?' sald
You cant stuff me. Ice Is frozen and God
makes il in the winter" lie said. Il can
make ice in the summer" ! said, Come on.
Rowdy. lets get out of here. for something
is going to happen to this wicked man, and
if the building falls we don't want to be
here" So We rambled.
The wagon was now full of ice, so we
swung on TO the back seat again and went
with it, Every little while 1t stopped and
the man sawed off a chunk OF ice for some
one. When the wagon had got almost to our
house we were hungry, so hoped off and
wanted to run with my back to the sun be-
cause my dress was wet from the step. Old
Maid Tompkns lived in that direction and
almost before we knew 1t we were sitting on
her back step.
She was making biscuits and I said,
''They certainly do look good " But she only
shifted and Rowdy barked and then Old
Maid Tompkins said. II gave you some tarts
yesterday and you didn't even invite me to
visit you" said For cats sake, If you
wanted to eat the tarts your own self why
didn't you keep them?' Then she gave me
biscuit and jam and Rowdy a bone but it
was so chilly around there that we rambled.
l hitched on a street car and nearly got
run over by an automobile and made faces
at a sissy boy inside of a yard and had a
lovely time, only il was dark and raining
when | got nearly home. when l got in
front of the new womans house her talking
machine was playing some steppy stuff and
/ got under the electric light at the corner
where the street was washed as clean as a
floor and | could see my shadow and
danced to the music and to my shadow.
Soon Il heard somebody clapping and the
grocery store door was full of men and one
of them said, Cant that little devil dance?
If that scene could be staged it would make
a hit"
Next went up on the Carpenters porch
to peek through the window and saw them
all sitting around and a bright light burn
ing I sat in the porch swing n while and
watched them but ii made me feel so lone
some that had to go home. ] kneeled and
prayed, Dear mother, this is your own
little devil and | feel awful lonesome to-
night. If you are ever coming for me can't
YOU drop everything and come now? If you
can't come and If none of the angels will
give up their baby for my baby sister you
might send me a talking machine, for like
to dance and would like to dance at home.
where no rubbernecks would be looking
don't want you to think | am doing baby
act for my father says am his brave girl.
and l am But l don't mind telling you
am lonesome, because you are my mother.
! told you about Rowdy's heas several
prayers ago. and he Is scratching now. l
hope / won't have to speak to you about
them again. Amen"
(Copyright)
rho uaxt adyaotura ~ patsy EtiJar. ,,,,I ~.