The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-12-28

Agine how cause and effect could be
more closely and patiently related
Inevitably. George 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 presence2 Thus did they
defeat their own object. They desired
TO keep George at distance, yet they
could not refrain from posing before
him. They wished to impress upon
thin the fact that he was an outsider,
end they but succeeded in rousing his
desire to be an insider. a desire which
coon became determination. For
few were the days until he not only
knew Of the shack but had actually
paid 1T visit. That was upon a
morning when the other boys were in
school. George having found himself
tndisposed until about ten o'clock.
when he was able to take nOurish-
ment and subsequently to interest him
SELF In this rather private errand. He
climbed the Williams alley fence, and
having made modest investigation Of
the exterior of the shack, which was
padlocked, retired without having dis
turbed anything except his own, peace
OF mind. His curiosity, merely piqued
oefore. now became ravenous and pain
tui. 1t was not allayed by the mystic
manners Of the members or by the I'M
necessary emphasis they laid upon
their GOODNESS toward himself; and
when committee informed him dark
ty that there were "secret orders" to
prevent his coming within ga hundred
and sixteen feet"-such was Periods
arbitrary language-Of the Williams
yard. sin any direction" George could
bear Ii 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
O. That hour, Mrs. BaSSett sat in Mrs.
Williams library to address her host
iess upon the subject of Georges griev-
9nce.
"0f course, It isn't Sans fault" she
said, concluding her Interpretation of
the affair. George likes Sam, and
didn't blame him at all. No; we both
felt that Sam would always be po-
Ute. nice boy-Georgie used those very
>T0rds-but Penrod seems to have a
very bad influence. George felt that
Sam would want him to come and play
In the shack if Penrod didn't make
Sam do everything he wants. What
hurt George 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
toying. 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 Maui
rice-and 1 think he spoke of Roddy
Bits, too"
The fact that the two remaining
members were colored was omitted
fran this discourse-which leads to
the deduction that George had not
mentioned 1t.
George said all the other boys
liked him very much" Mrs. Bassett
continued. "and that he felt it his duty
10 join the club, because most of them
were so anxious to have him, and he is
sure he would have good influence
over them. He really did speak of it
in quite a touching way. Mrs. Will
1iamS. OF 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 lit
tie affair has hurt him, and felt that
It might even make him i'll. You see,
tnS to join the club. And if l am his
mother"-she gave deprecating little
taught must say that it seems noble
to want to join not really for his own
sake but for the good he felt his in
6uence would have over the other
boys. Don't you think so. Mrs VIII
Hams"
Mrs. Williams said that she did. in
deed. And the result of this interview
was another, which took place be-
tween Sam and his father that eve
ming. for Mrs. Williams. after talking
to Sam herself, felt that the matter
needed man to deal with it. The
nian did 1t man-fashion.
"You either invite George Bassett
to play in the shack all he wants to-"
snid the man, cor the shack comes
down"
"But-"
take your choice I'm not going
;uhI
such"
rBut, papa"
THAT'S enough! You said yourself
You haven't anything against George.
~ said"
"You said you didn't like him, but
you couldn't tell why. You couldn't
state single instance of bad behav-
for against him. You couldn't men,
ton anything he ever did which wasn't
what gentleman should have done.
ITS no use, I'teil you. Either you in
yite George to play in the shack as
much as he likes next Saturday, or the
shack comes down."
"But., papa"
"Tm not going to talk any more
about 1t. IL you want the shack pulled
down and hauled away. you and your
friends continue to tantaliZe this in
Offensive little boy the way you have
been. If you want to keep it, he po-
Ute and invite him in."
"But-"
"That's all, said ~
Sam was crushed.
Next day he communicated the Bit
ter Substance of the edict to the other
members, and gloom became unani.