The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-02-01

1he circumstance offered uu excuse
FOR cnlr at the Gregory home thni
evening. Alden consoled the old lady
rs best he might.
'fo think that some poor fellow IN
The trenches will miss the nice warm
sweater / knitted for him." meurned
grandmn, fnlrly at the point of tears
and Alden was so tender and thought
/ ful In his efforts TO make the despoiled
one forget her loss, that Alma felt her
heart warm towards him.
Grandma Gregory went on knitting
sweaters, but she continued to deplore
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 upon
two brawny fellows lying on the
ground before blazing fire of chips
and logs, smoking complacently.
Nearby small spring stream hao
evidently contributed to recent laun-
dry work, for hung over a branch Of n
tree to dry We're 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 whlmsy on the part OF
their knitter to Insert near their top
three narrow rows OF red, white and
blue yarn. He got out of his car and
approached the two lOiterers.
"Taklng 1t easy" he remarked, as
he seated himself on a log near the
others.
"Yes, boss" nodded the larger man
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: "Ive
taken fancy to those patriotic sweat
ers of yours. They look warm and
serviceable. VIII you sell themT"
"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
a vivid picture of the charm and ex-
citement Of army camp life, as well
as of the real manhood that ought TO
impel a 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 am ashamed of
myself"
NO" replied Alden, there's a 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 genuine welcome.
trust to your honor, boys, and there's |
a little cash to help you along"
1t was the next afternoon when |
was seated on the porch krit-
ting and Alden holding q 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 |
of hat.
"If you're Mrs. Gregory" he said
IN q subdued and embarrassed sort of |
way, 'Tve come to bring back those
sweaters"
(which we stole" promptly added
his companion. Madam, we're down.
but we both had mothers
,nce, and we've been set to thinking
# you'll give these sweaters to us, or
knit us some like them, and if it's true
hat we get all the grub we want in
he army and perhaps some honest
Glory, Jim and I will enlist"
"Yes," asserted the other, "and Wen
,ass the word all along the line for
he other good boys to join u.s."
"GOod for you," cried Alden, arising
nd warmly grasping the hands of the
wo tramps. You shall have the
weaters, and true friends here, think
ng of you and proud of you, just the
anne as If you were old friends and
elatives."
Alma guessed that Alden had been
he motive power behind all this re-
occurrence. Her hand stole
1to his and pressed 1t appreciatively.
And closer still was their mutual es-
eem when, month later, six stalwart
ex-tramps, proud and manly
/ their brand-new uniforms, were
nown all about the town as "Grandma
Squad"