Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-07
Patsy Kildare, Outlaw
By JUDD MORTIMER LEWIS
Teacher


THIS morning, after l made the coffee
l. and stirred the pancakes. took the
| sheet Off the bed and put II on the table
for tablecloth. the way 1 saw Jim 90.
| That certainly did make a hit with my
| father lie held me up tight for a long
| time after he kissed me- Then he reached
| into his coat pocket and handed me some
thing, and when ] did not know what II
was he screwed Il to the table ana eot
handful Of pecans out Of the bag and II
| cracked them as easy as pie. People cer-
tainy are good to me.
] put on Jim's bathing suit under my
| clothes and cracked some pecans to carry TO
school for my dinner and then Rowdy and
started to school 1t was just about school
time. Dutch had called for PIE Face ana
they came along Just behind me and was
Just behind the Wellses, Clara, Noreen ana
Sphinx, and all of us had somebody to visit
with as we went along. Pie Face had Dutch
and Dutch had Pie Face, and Clara, Noreen
and Sphinx had each other, and had Rowdy'
and Rowdy had me. | dropped back 10
where Dutch and Pie Face were, thinking
that probably they would like to walk with
me and such a nice dog. but when ] got
back with them they hurried up So we
went ahead and caught up with the Wellses
and walked with them, but they did not
notice that we we're there. So we ran on
ahead for they 20 too slow for us, anyhow,
and overlook Miss Groarty.
I said 70 Miss Groarty: For cats sake,
teacher what is the matter with you? Last
summer you were like a butter ball and
your cheeks were as red as paint, and now
look at you" She said: II don't know
Patsy ! suppose am not very well lately"
I said: 81 am not surprised. Those kids
at our school almost mako me sick some
times. Maybe you ought to get dog. |
got Rowdy and look how tough l am
She said: 'I think It Is more outdoors that
| need" ] said: why don't you take it,
then? You can have all there is" When
we reached school she went In and went
around, getting In the way of the big boys
and girls, but nobody asked me to play.
After school I went out to Jins snd
the very first thing he said was: why do
you never bring Miss Groarty out any
more?" / said For cats sake. she knows
the way, doesn't she? Why doesn't she bring
herself out?" Jim said: will you bring
her out tomorrow" I said: Yes, If she
will come" I had intended to go and see
June tomorrow, but If he wants me TO be
kind to Miss Groarty ! shall have TO be.
You just can't help doing what Jim wants
you TO do.
Jim took me to a new place on the river,
which Is on his land, and there is a little
shack there which he said ] could use to
change my clothes In when / went SWIM
ming. 1t has a door that opens right on
tho river and IL certainly Is fine There is
a lock on the door, so I can leave my
bathing suit there Rowdy and Jim and 1
walked back to Jin's house and Jim said
What do you suppose is the matter with
Miss Groarty?" ] said: she has such
a mean bunch OF kids that her Job is enough
to make any one slck,'
Rowdy and ate supper with Jim, and all
he could talk about was Miss Groarty. OF
course she Is nice, but he might have for
gotten her for minute or two. ! wanted
to ask him what makes things fall down
instead Of up. but could not butt in long
enough to get him to listen.
When Rowdy and ! got homo we cracked
pecans and then l went up and liz a lamp |
and looked at the pistol long time 1t
was kind OF hard getting upstairs for the |
pistol points right at tho stairs now. Then
| prayed: Dear mother which art in
heaven, ask, God to bless you and my father
and get Him to give Miss Groarty the once |
over, for she is getting skinny and pale
You and God don't need her in heaven half |
az much as Jim and need her here. Amen, |
"Helpinr Miss Groarty," the ne1t Patsy Kill |
lare adventure. appears In tomorrow's Fyenine
Ledger.