Evening star., 1919-11-30

"uos AFTERNOON amt tried TO hgure.
but l expect he'd have come through
somehow. Not just because he's Sui
H'an McCabe. Not altogether al
though I will admit that helps some.
but being a leven-year- r-old himself.
ana the other youngster about that
age TOD. they seemed to sort of un-
derstand each other. right off the
reol' IN spite of their different bringin'
up and all the rest of it. -..
AS Pinckney puts it, after hearin'
the taie: 'Ah. yes, Shorty; another
instance where youth speaks to youth
while added years stand dumbly by"
An patootie- says I. "Didn't
10 most of the talkin' myself?
course. though, it was Sully who did
the sizin' up" - .-'.
1et at the start he was the one
VINO was most puzzled. In fact.
ooht know when I've seen little
Suliy with his brow furrowed I'D so
deep as when he comes to me with
this report Of a boy out at the front
gates who wants to swap some lew
eiry for gallon Of something or
other. he can't quite make out what.
Jewelry, eh?' says I. THAT listens
suspicious. son. What kind of Jew
elry?" ' '.''.' .,I--'
one or them things like ma wears
on her neck for dinner parties. You
know" says Sully.
String of pearls?" says I.
NO. not them," says Sully. "The
fiat one that hangs down, with the
blue in the middle"
on! a turquois lavalliere, eh?"
says I.
Sully mods. "Only this ones differ
ent-big and sparkly, with tinny stuff
all round" says he.
You're great little describer.
Sully," says 1. But what is 1t YOU
say he wants to trade this tin lew.
elry for?"
de don't wanna trade" corrects
Sully. Wants to leave 1t until he
can come with the money to pay for
a gallon of-well. the way he SAYS It
it sounds like sonce."
"Sonce?" says I. II don't get You at
all. Maybe you'd better try at the
drug store down in the village"
"Aw, Pop" protests Sully. Hes all
right. ''cept he says things funny. And
he wants to get away before some-
body comes along that he don't wanna
see."
well. Well" says I. Sounds inter-
esting. A kid with fake jewelry> who's
dodgin' somebody. And you're sure
he's quito all right, eh? How did he
get here, anyway?
Jaw, he's in one Of them red-bug
things" says Sully. You know. with
the little motor wheel behind. You
might come take a look. Pop"
"Oh, very WELL" says I. But II 1
get bunked remember it was you got
me into this"
And I will say that this youngster
in the khaki riding breeches and the
leather coat amt just the specimen
expected to f1nd. He's a bit taller than
Sully. but not so solid built. And
where Sully's hair is red and wavy
his is shiny. black and straight. He
has big, black eyes, too. Nothing
shifty about 'em, either. Also he's
convincin' talker. if you don't notice
what he's sayin' particular. ! finds
him standin' by this little gas go-cart
effect of his, glancin' anxious down
the road.
We'll. son." says I, 80 you want O
gallon Of something. do your"
IF you please, sir" says he, touchin'
his cap polite.
Gallon of what?" I goes on.
And hanged If I could get 1t any
nearer than Sully. 1t sure sounded
like "sonce."
II don't follow you," says l. But
maybe we can solve the mystery.
what do you want 1t for?"
"why, for the motor. sir" says he,
tappin' the little tank on the rear OF
the red-bug.
ooh! You mean gasoline, eh?" says l.
THAT'S it. sir" says he. Essence is
the French, isn't it? I'm always get
ting those two words mixed"
you're French, eh?" says l.
mo, sir" says he. mot exactly
That got me starin' at him curious.
"As a general thing" says ]. people
are one thing or another. Course.
there's cases. Where do you come
from?"
"Just now, sir; or before?" says hhe.
we'll put it simpler than that"