Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1918-01-25

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sweaters, but she continued to deplorC
the abstraction of her first efforts. One
day Alden was driving in his automo
bile along lonely country road about
twenty miles from Hampden, when he
slowed up and fixed his attention upor
two brawny fellows lying on the
ground before a blazing fire of chips
and logs, smoking complacently.
Nearby a small spring stream hat
evidently contributed to recent laun
dry work, for hung over a branch of g
tree to dry were various articles Of
apparel. What particularly held the
attention of Alden were two sweaters
In an instant he recognized them as the
stolen ones.
Alden Identified them because of The
result Of a whimsy on the part Of
their knitter to insert near their tor
three narrow rows Of red, white and
blue yarn. He got out of his car and
approached the two loiterers.
Taking it easy" he remarked, %
he seated himself on log near the
others.
Eyes, boss" nodded the larger mar
of the two.
"Have a smoke with me, won't your
invited Alden, extending his cigar case
and then as the men proceeded to en-,
joy their selections, Alden added: "Pve
taken a fancy to those patriotic sweat
ers of yours. They look warm and
serviceable. Will you sell them?"
"Sell Them" repeated one of the men
and his face expressed suspicion and
uneasiness.
"Yes, I'll gladly give you five dollars
apiece for them. You see"
And then Bryce Alden, the polite,
eloquent and impressive orator that
he was, went on to refer to the needs
of the boys in the war. Further he
alluded to the efforts and sacrifices
Of those at home providing comforts
for those across the ocean. He drew
vivid picture Of the charm and ex-
element of army camp life, as well
as of the real manhood that ought to
impel real patriot to join In the bat
tie for the right. Suddenly one of the
men arose, gathered up the pendant
sweaters and rendered them to Alden.
take them for nothing, boss. / un-
derstand you, and l am ashamed of
myself"
NO." replied Alden, there's dear
old lady at Hampden who will prize
their return" and he told them all
about Grandma Gregory. "Be a man,
and you'll face a genuine welcome. /
trust to your honor, boys, and there's
little cash to help you along"
1t was the next afternoon when
grandma was seated on the porch knit
ting and Alden holding skein of yarn
that Alma was rolling up into a ball,
when two men slouched up the gravel
path. One Of them lifted his battered
remnant of a hat.
IF you're Mrs. Gregory" he said
IN a subdued and embarrassed sort of
way, 1--WE come to bring back those
sweaters"
(Which we STOLE" promptly added
his companion. Madam, we're down.
and-outers, but we both had mothers
once, and we've been set to thinking.
If you'll give these sweaters to us, or
knit us some like them, and if it's true
that we get all the grub we want in
the army and perhaps some honest
glory, Jim and l will enlist"
"Yes," asserted the other, "and Wen
pass the word all along the line for
the other good boys to join us"
Good for you" cried Alden, arising
and warmly grasplng the hands of the
two tramps. "You shall have the
sweaters, and true friends here, think
ing Of you and proud of you, just the
same as If you were old friends and
relatives"
Alma guessed that Alden had been
the motive power behind all this re-
markable occurrence. Her hand stole
into his and pressed 1t approximately.
And closer still was their mutual es-
TEEN when, a month later, six stalwart
redeemed ex-tramps, proud and manly
in their brand-new uniforms, were
known all about the town as Grandma
Gregory's Squad"