Evening star., 1917-05-27

more closely and patiently related. In
evitably, Georgie did come poking
around. How was he to refrain when
daily. up and down the neighborhood.
the brothers strutted with mystic and
important airs. when they whispered
together and uttered words of strange
import in his presence? Thus did they
defeat their own object. They desired
to keep George at a distance, yet they
could not refrain from posing before
him. They wished to impress upon him
the fact that he was an outsider, and
they but succeeded in rousing his de-
sire to be an insider, a desire which
soon became a determination. For few
we're the days until he not only knew
Of the shack, but had actually paid it
a visit. That was upon morning when
the other boys were in school. George
having found himself indisposed until
about 10 o'clock. when he was able to
take nourishment and subsequently to
interest himself in this rather private
errand He climbed the Williams al
investigation of the exterior of the
shack, which was padlocked, retired with
out having disturbed anything except his
own peace of mind. His curiosity. merely
piqued before. now became ravenous and
painful 1t was not allayed by the mystic
manners of the members or by the un-
necessary emphasis they laid upon
their GOODNESS toward himself; and
Wnen Il cOInTHlttee 3f1IOTineu udf
ly that there were secret orders" to
prevent his coming within "a hundred
and sixteen feet"-such was Penrod's $
arbitrary language-of the Williams
yard. "in any direction George could
bear it no longer, but entered his own
house, and. In burning words. laid the
case before woman higher up. Here
the responsibility for things is directly
traceable to grown people. Within that
hour, Mrs Bassett sat in Mrs. Williams
t1t-,a IL hTv- hoe 4 n n
subject of Georgie's grievance.
''Of course, it isn't Sans fault she
said. concluding her Interpretation OF
the affair. George likes Sam, and
felt that Sam would always be a polite.
nice boy-Georgie used those very
words--but Penrod seems to have a
very bad influence. Georgia felt that
Sam would want him TO come and play
in the shack II Penrod didn't make
Sam do everything he wants. What
hurt Georgie most is that it's Sans
shack, and he felt for another boy to
come and tell him that he mustn't even
go near it-well, of course. it was very
trying. And he's very much hurt with
little Maurice Levy. too. He said that
he was sure that even Penrod would
be glad to have him for a member Of
their little club if it weren't for Maurice
and ] think he spoke of Roddy Bits,
too
The fact that the two remaining
members were colored was omitted
from this discourse-which leads to
mentioned 1t.
George said all the other boys liked
him very much," Mrs. Bassett con-
tinued. "and that he felt it hts duty
wre so anxious to have him, and he
is sure he would have a good influence
over them. He really did speak of it
in quite a touching way. Mrs. Will
iiams. or course. we mothers mustn't
brag of our sons too much, but George
really isn't like other boys. He is so
sensitive. you can't think how this
little affair has hurt him. and l felt
that it might even make him Ill. You
see. ! had 10 respect his reason for
wanting to join the club. And il am
his mother"-she gave a deprecating
little Taught must say that 1t seems
noble to want to join not really for
his own sake, but for the good that he
felt his influence would have over the
other boys. Don't you think so. Mrs.
Williams"
Mrs Williams said that she did, in
deed. And the result of this interview
was another. which took place between
Sam and his father that evening. for
Mrs. Williams. after talking to Sam
herself. felt that the matter needed a
man to deal with it. The man did IL
man ia shion.
You either invite George Bassett
to play in the shack all he wants to-"
said the man. "or the shack comes
down
Take your choice. I'm not going to
have neighborhood quarreis over
But. papa"
That's enough! You said yourself
You haven't anything against Georgie."
You said you didn't like him. but
.'r'' '-''''h't tell why. You COULDN'T
II a nf