Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-25
"IONG LIVE THE KING"
Human Latest
By MARY ROBERTS RINEHART


was bathing. I went into the bathroom
He Is covered with scratches"
Now see here, mother" the hunters
father protested. you're the parent Of a
son. n perfectly hardy, healthy and
normal youngster. with ait Imagination.
Probably he's hunting Indians. saw
him in the park yesterday with his air
rifle. Anyhow, just stop worrying and
let him alone.
"a scratch or two won't hurt him. And
as TO his not eating, well. II he's not eat
ing at home he's getting food some
where, I'll bet YOU hat"
SO Bobby was undisturhed, save that
the governess protested that he heard
nothing she told him and was absent
minded at his lessons. But as she was
always protesting about something. no
one paid any attention. Bobby drew
ahead on his pocket allowance without
question, and as his birthday was not
far OF. asked fer tine dollar to grow on
in advance. lie always received dollar
for each year. which went into the bank.
and a dollar to grow on, which was his
own to spend
With the dollar lie made a number
OF purchases-candles and candlesticlt,
toy pistol and caps, one Of the masks
fer the carnival, now displayed in all
the windows: Kitchen knife, wooden
plates and a piece OF bacon.
Now and then he appeared at the
Scenic Railway. abstrsCted and viewing
with a calculating eye the furnishings
Of the engine room and workshop. From
there disappeared broken chair. a piece
Of old carpet. discarded from a car, and
a large paddock. but the latter he asked
for and obtained.
His occasional vis'ts to the Railway,
however, found him in old Adelbert's
shack. lie filed his pockets with char
coal from the pail beside the stove, and
made cautious inquiries as TO methods
Cf cooking potatoes. But the pail of old
Adelberts gloom penetrated at last ever
through the boys abstraction.
II hope your daughter is not worse.
he said politely during one Of his visits
TO the ticket booth
she Is well. She RECEIVERS strength
rapidly"
And the new uniform---does it fl
you?'
Il do not know" said old Adelber
grimly. II have not seen it recently"
"Ou the day of the procession We ar,
all going 20 watch for YOU I'll tell yol
where We will be, so you can look foi
us"
There will be no procession
Then to the boy old .Ndelbert uoure,
out the bitterness Of his soul. lie shove,
where he had torn down the Kings pic
ture ana replaced Il with one OF = dyinI
stag. lie reviewed his days in the hos
pital and the hardships through wlE;ci
he had passed, to come to this. Tht
King had forgotten his brave men,
Bobby listened. Pretty Eoon ther
won't be any kings" he observed M.
father says so. They're out OF date"
"ANa " said old AlelbeTt
1t would be kind Cf nice II you hat
"A president Then. II he acted UP, 20,
could put him out"
aye" said old Adelbert again.
During the rest of the day Bobb
considered. No less matter than tn
sharing OF certain secret occupied hi
mind. Now. half the pleasure Of
secret is sharing it, naturally, but
should be with the right person. An
his old playfellGw was changed. Bobby
rejecting. wondered whether old AIDE
= bert would really care TO join his pirat
crew. consisting Of Tucker and himsel
ON the next day, however, he pu
, the matter to the test, having resolve
that old Adelbert needed distractio
and cheering.
b You know" lie said, talking throuG
tile window Of the booth. "T think whe
l grow up I'll be II pirate
'Inefo De worse tfaueb' Salu Ol
Adelbert, whose hand was now againi
every man.
: And hide treasure Bobby went ol
l "In an a cave, you know, Did yo
ever read Treasure Island'?'
! Il may have forgotten It. I hay
, read many things"
! You'd hardly forget it. You know
Fifteen men on n dead mans chest.
Yo-ho-ho and a bottle Of rum.
] Old Adelbert rather doubted the po!
l sibility of fifteen men on one dea
: mans chest, but he nodded gravel
4 "a spirited song" he observed.
Bobby edged closer TO the windoT
"Ive got the cave already
r 80"
Here in the park. 1t is q grei
. secret. I'D like to show it to yo-
only it's rather hard to get to. don
\. know whether you'd care to crav
/, through the bushes to it,
81 "A cave--here In the Park"
/, "Tll take you, If you'd like to see it.
! CONTINUED TOMORROW