The Carlisle independent., 1917-06-28

'It is only a passing spell. but l can not get up alone."
 Water? yes, miss, surely miss. Don't mistrust me because am man and a stranger" and blundering, big-hear.ed fellow that he was, Jem located dip per and then the well and brought the water to the fevered sufferer, who drank it eagerly.
 Perhaps you're weak, miss, and need some hot tea or some toast. or that like" stumbled Jem.
 ''No, no-thank you" ehoked up the woman and turned her face away to hide the quickly gathering tears.
 ''Ill bet I guess it." muttered Jem and he softly crossed the room, went into the kitchen and inspected the larder. There was half loaf of stale bread, nothing more. The pantry was barren. Jem had, indeed, guessed" Alone, neglected, probably too proud to solicit outside aid, Ada Wilson had shut herself in to her illness and pow erty.
 Its a camp here for me-" decided Jem emphatically. Tt may be deli cate piece of business to intrude here, but she's Ben Wilson's sister and I'm his old pal. It's half hunger the poor girl is suffering from. I'll mend things if it lands me in jail."
 Jem went back to the next room. Miss" he said gently, I'm going away for little time and I'm coming back with something to cook. Don't say word or worry bit. I'm poor man, miss, but I've got heart and eyes to see what's the real matter here, and I'm human, brother to ing to be real friend"
 Thus, incoherently, viewed by the wondering eyes of his patient, Jem made retreat, hoping he had acquit- ted himself creditably. It was dusk outside. He stood for a moment re- f1ecting. Then he glanced over the village layout. His eye fingered on a pretentious residence in the near dis tance. Jem approached it from the rear. AS he lined the fence he made out a rather ornate chicken coop. It held a magnificent specimen of a White Leghorn.
 If it wasn't stealing I'd grab it. .'' he communed with himself. Maybe I'll have to, anyway. Hello!" Jem made a rush. A tawny-skinned invader had just crept under the fence, torn back the door of the chicken coop and seized its occupant. Jem seized him. The fowl made an awful alarm as Jem held it tightly. He landed a vigorous kick at the thief, who stum- bled, yelled and made off.
 "What's this?" demanded a wise looking old man, rushing from the house and Jem explained the circum- stances.
 Its a good thing the fellow didn't get away with the fowl and eat ii" re- marked Professor Bland, the princi- pal of the town college. i've been ex. perimenting on 1t with typhoid germs and he'd have got rare dose, I can tell you" and Jem shuddered as he -e- called his own covetous thought at a first sight of the fowl. And what brought you hera may I ask?" con. tinued the savant.
 Jem told all and found an interested auditor. He had met the right sort 1 1t seemed. What Jem wanted was work and an advance to provide for Miss Wilson. The professor took ur l the matter with intelligence and promptitude. His own wife went to look after Miss Wilson. He hired Jem to attend to the little neglected | garden. Jem slept in the old barn on | the place. Miss Wilson got better anG then he told her of his pathetic mis l sion.
 The professor got Jem a position caring for the college grounds. In g month Jem had good suit of clothes and some money to spare. He devot ed half a day to helping about the Wilson place.
 | They were two gentle souls, the woman and the man, lonely beings looking not hopefully for happiness But 1t came to them through love, and Bob Wilson's pal became the happy l husband of Ren Wilson's sister.