Putnam patriot., 1919-04-18
ON SOFT SIDE
OF A BOARD
Warren Lucey, 8 Years Old,
Slept on Floor of Bathroom
At Old Home
Meanwhile His Relatives Were Hunt.
ing For Him and Neighborhood
Joined In Search

Warren Lucey, s-year-old son of
Mr.. and Mrs. J. f. Lucey. has quail
fled for a soldier. He found the soft
side of board and slept OH it all
night. all by his lonesome. But out
side, in the dark hours of the night,
his parents, his brothers and sisters,
and number of people in the neigh
borhood of Bradley, Grove and Sew
ard streets, were searching for him
with constant worry over his disap-
pearance.
1t seems that the little chap, like
some of the older chaps, was much
attracted by the big red fire trucks as
they buzzed and hurried to the scene
of brush fire near the old fair
grounds Monday night. 1t was
vast moment in the opinion of the
youngster. and "Gee, mebbe it's big
un," he thought and started with 9TH
er Youngsters for the fire.
His parents were busy changing
their residence from the house on
Seward street, in which they lived, to
house on Bradley street, and did not
know, in the confusion of placing fur
niture from the truckload at the door,
that the boy had departed on mis-
sion all his own.
Supper time came and the other
brothers and sisters gathered around
the family board, but Master War
ren's place was vacant. Calls and
whistles were without avail and sup
per passed without him. Night came
on and he did not appear. Ten, elev-
en- and twelce o'clock struck in chron-
illogical order, and the worried par
ents with autos and helpers were
securing the Grove street section in
vain attempt to find him.
1t was pretty much of sleepless
night for the Lucey family, and
breakfast time held little of the usual
anticipation until about the time the
steaming bowls Of .eereal were being
! issued to tie neutrality-suspicious. that
the boy appeared and quietly. seated
himself in his place. And here's the
story:
The boy thought it was great fire.
He watched with much pleasure the
attractive flames scurrying over the
dry leaves and brush, and he didn't
- fn
to get home. Then it suddenly dawn
ed on him that he was at the wrong
station. With a scramble he started
| for home when one of those darned
sticks caught his foot and he slid
across a patch of grass very recently
| burned Investigation showed his
trousers coated with broad smudge.
Further thought indicated there
would be vehement reckoning with
his parents therefor.
In disgust and disgrace he thought
to put off the impending chastisement
and looking about for haven he re-
membered there was an unlocked cell
Thought was instant action and in
few moments he wriggled through
the narrow opening, dropped into the
! coal bin and tred the darkness of the
house to the bathroom, where IL
seemed lightest and there tired ma
ture took possession of him and ne
tumbled into sleep on the bathroom
! floor.
The boys dad had been past the
door half dozen times, but remem-
boring the locked door he declared
the boy was not there.
In the morning the boy made his
exit by the same avenue he gained
admission, and Stewart Pease, ON his
way to school, discovered the boy
peeping around the corner of F. w.
| Stewards garage on Pleasant street,
making a. careful reconnaissance OF the
terrain before he advanced. Stewart
advised him to go home and clean up.
The idea must have been good
one. for it is declared on good author
ity that the coal bin had gotten in its
dirty work, and that the youngster
/ was in disguise as well as in disgust.
/ Mothers know best what to do in
such cases, and the soap and hot wa
1 ter were quickly forthcoming. Soon
Warren was changed lad.
They Say-That he's content to
sleep in an honest-to-goodness bed
now.