The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-06-23

looked at them for a moment and then
Harry spoke
Hello, he said. Where's that little kids
Mother?
Snc didn't answer him and Harry spoke
again.
Well, we got to see her anyway, he said.
The little girl looked up at him for
minute real slow and steady, and then she
got up with the baby on her showlder and
went in the house without speaking singel
word. 1t wasn't so very long before she
came back again. She had the baby on
her showlder just the same, and behind her
was the queerest looking lady ever saw.
She was real white, as if she didn't feel so
very well, and her back was all crookid and
hunched over as if she didn't ever come out
doors unless she had to. She didn't look
asst she wanted to come out now, anyway, but
she stood there on the steps and then she
glansed out where the little girl was sitting
down again with the baby on the grass.
Isn't it getting damp for him? she called
out.
The little girl took the baby on her lap,
and then the crookid lady looked at us
again and of course Harry could see it was
time to let her know what we came for, SO
he did
Are you the Mother of that baby2 he
asked her.
am, she answered him, and Harry didn't
speak again right off. Instead he glansed
out at the tree and then he glansed up at the
steps as if he didn't feel quite so sure the
way to go on But the crookid lady was
looking at him very straight, and I guess
praps Harry was wishing he hadn't come
after all. He knew he had to say some
thing, though, so he said it. That is he
tried to.
Well, did you know that little girl didn't
treat him very good2 he kind of stammered.
Did you know that if you go off and leave
her she will tie him up to a rope and leave
him all alone2 And if she feels like it, whip
him and things like that9
The little crookid lady on the steps moved
forward as if she was listning to him but
didn't know exackly what he was talking
about, and she looked down at him very
sharp.
What was that you said7 she asked
him.
Harry said it all over again and she didn't
move her eyes at tall.
and her voice seemed to grow quite sharp
too, like her eyes.
Nom, its the truth, Harry answered, but
he began to look as If he wished he had
stayed at home for sure.
The little crookid lady didn't move her
eyes off him yet, either.
How do you know it, if you please7 she
said.
Because my Mother can see evrything
that happens in the yard here from her
window, he answered. And l heard her
telling about it.
She seemed to move forward just a little
more then, and she glansed off at the baby
sitting in the little girls lap and her breath
seemed to come faster than before.
Tell me what she said, she kind of wills
pered.
Harry glansed off at the baby too. va
She said she would tie him up and leave
hin-if she was left alone with him.
The crookid lady seemed to twitch
through her shoulders when he said that,
and then she seemed to draw herself up
something as if she was trying to be tall
That's what I pay her for, is it2 she said,
with her face getting pailer than before.
Or she might slap him, or praps whip him.
Whip him she whispered, but it was such
loud, sharp sound we could hear it very
plane. She! Whip him!
She turned her eyes straight at the little
girl under the tree now, and it looked as If
she was drawing herself up and praps get
ting ready to hurt somebody. The little
girl just looked at her from where she was
sitting out there, and don't know whether
she could hear what she was saying, but I'm
sure l never saw anybody look so SCARED
But Harry hadn't got through.
Mother said nobody would believe it If
she told how she would treat him. She
said sometimes she couldn't hardly stand
it herself
She did,
The little crookid ladys voice turned so
high and sharp then that it SCARED me.
She did, she respected, and she kind of
raised her hand up till it pointed all shaking
right straight at the little girl on the grass.
Just watt she said, just waitl
She waited herself then. with her hand
trembling and r1ointiro inst the same and