The Press., 1919-12-11
Te Scapegrace @<D } By EMMELINE L. FORSTER (
(Copyright. 1919, by the Western News-
 paper Union.)

Copyright. 1919. by the Western NeWs-
 paper Union)
 They were orderly hOmeSpun people in and around Pebbleford. all but Larry-Larry Matinee. So wild and ir- this unique character that parents with well behaved sons wondered if after all good deal was not due to Larry in the way of example of WArn- ing He could upset the little settle ment over night and appear so docile and penitent the next day that the suf- ferers through his mischief were ready to forgive and nearly everybody loved him.
 It was when Larry went to the cross roads among a rough crowd that the bottled up vim and hilarity with which he overfOwed was freely distributed upon returning to his native heath. He livef with an uncompaniOnable crotch ety old grandfather, who allowed him to drift unrestrained for the pres ent and neither thought of nor cared for his future.
 Larry's freaks were more of the needless school boy order than in any way vicious or criminal.
 "Youll go just once too often down among that registering set at the cross roads," was the prophecy of the town marshal.
 "Every man there is my particular friend and would lay down his life for me-" asserted Larry staunchly.
 "If you'd only keep respectable for a whole year at time, instead of once in while," sighed Dolly Prentice, the stOrekeepers daughter.
 'Yes, all right, what then, Dolly?' eagerly questioned Larry. Say some word of promise and let me try the new tack" but Dolly shook her pretty head dolorously.
 So Larry went his way and Dolly moulned, and one Saturday afternoon Larry, with his months hard earned wages in his pocket started jauntily in the direction of the crossroads. It was early Monday morning when Dolly Prentice gasped and trembled as the first customer of the day entered the store. "Oh, have you heard about Larry Mathee?" she questioned. "He's in, at last! !"
 "In-where p asked Dolly, a quick catch in her voice.
 "In jail. The marshal locked him up at midnight. It's robbery, they say-burglary and all that"
 "Never" cried Dolly indignantly. Larry wouldn't touch a cent not his oWn!"
 ''He has, this time," persisted the customer. "A cent! Oh, my, not that, but thousands! Larry broke into the Waltham place last night and took everything in sight. They found the plunder on him and when he got his head clear this morning all he told the marshal was: Bring on the trial quick, and get through with it.
 That was a bustling day for the town. Its jail comprised the office of the marshal with a barred room be- hind. A group gazed upon Larry, who was smiling, undaunted. The sages came with q told you so," explana- tions. Ultra conscientious persons passed the grewsome prison with a shudder. But the children, the petted favorites of this audacious monster of crime-there were tears in the eyes of their hero and champion of the past as pitying faces gazed past the bars, and handed through them this one an apple, that a dOughnut, and one tiny urchin toothsome lunch put up by 10 yyh n OJun1 to the bravery of Larry in a runaway accident. And just at dusk Dolly tear fully appeared and broke down utterly.
 "Don't cry, Dolly," said Larry 'I'm through"
 "Yes, I see you are," sobbed Dolly 7; "all through, indeed!''
 "I mean with idleness and the cross roads. I've had my warning. Soon as Pm out I'll prove it to you"
 "As soon as you're out-oh, Larry will you ever be out again?"
 "In jiffy" declared Larry brightly. Miss Waltham saw the robber and is coming tomorrow to identify me. Watch her! I wanted a days time to fix things right for-for a friend"
 He's not the man I saw through the screen from my garden" an nounced the rich old spinster.
 'But your money and jewels were found in his possession," observed the marshal.
 eff you'll speak with me alone, Miss" said Larry, "Tll explain how that was."
 She was the sole auditor of the story-how it was Ross Burdell who had committed the theft-Ross Bur- dell, who had become half demented by the loss of his wife and three chl- dren all within the space of a year. Unhinged by his great sorrow, eager to get away amid new scenes, had been driven to crime. Larry Matinee, but a friend, indeed, had come upon him just after the theft. He had shown him the frightful error he was committing. He had half of his salary left which he gave BurdeIl to take him to distant point, promising to return the plunder.
 And he'll make man of himself, trust mel" declared loyal Larry "And that's my bent now, too."
 The word of Miss Waltham was suf- ficient to sustain the innocent Larry. A year later when, a stranger to the crossroads forever, he married Dolly Prentice, people wondered at the splendid wedding present that came from the rich old spinster.