Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-13

MISS BltOOkS stood on the threSh-
lVl old of the little village school.
vigorously ringing the rusty old bell.
AS she began the days work no one
would have surmised that in her heart
. there was trouble. a strange problem
which she could not solve.
at really did seem strange about Ed
II could not be true. Dick was mis-
taken. He
The clock carefully licked away the
minutes and the hands gradually crept
along their daily journey. Then ruler
fell on the floor with Il sounding thud
! 4 little red-headed fellow in the front
seat was working very industriously,
with his desk covered with papers and
opened books. but the, tell-tale ruler lay
in the aisle beside him.
Jimmy" !"
"Er, yes'm, Miss Brooks did you
mean me?" And he struggled desper-
ately to return her look with innocency.
Pick it up" she said slowly. forcing
back n smile.
with great surprise, he leaned over
and picked up the offending article and
placed it thoughtfullv in his desk
All went we'll for while after the
ruler was safely deposited out of sight,
until Jimmy suddenly thought of the
lovely, big cud Of gum he had stuck un-
der his desk
How good it would taste :" he thought.
but he knew how stern "slSe" was on
chewing in school--he had tried it be-
fore.
He studied the clock with a sigh, for
there were fifteen minutes more! At
last he could stand it no longer, and
the gum was suddenly and slyiy trans
ferred from, the desk TO his mouth.
jimmy came in low tones from the
other side Of the room.
"Er, yeess'm;' he replied, jumping to
Put it in the basket and crawl in
under my, desk. Stay there until the
bell rings"
At last the closing bell rang and the
children filed out of the building, but
Miss Brook" did not notice that Jimmy
did not appear.
With a sigh she sat down at her desl;
and drew out part of a newspaper clip
ping which told of the engagement of
Lieutenant Edward Smith to . beautiful
society belle" All of the article was
not there. but Dick had assured her tha.
il was true and that Ed had not treated
her fair.
lust then Dick himself entered the
room.
asked ch, crfuly.
Are you sure this is true about Ed?"
she asked him again.
How can you doubt il? Forget about
nm and We will have good time TO-
gether."
She shock her head
II guess ] will not go tonight Some
him"
Suddenly Jimmy opened his eyes.
Who said Ed? why, Ed was his spe-
cial friend and was coming home from
the army this very day,
He scrambled out from under the
desk, rubbing his eyes.
Why, I've been asleep and I've prom
ised to meet Ed right after schoold
Ed she asked in surprise, after
overcoming the shock Of the unexpected
third party.
The boys face fell.
1T was 10 be a surprise to YOU" he
stammered
Just then Dick picked up his whip
which he had laid on a chair and dis
appeared through the door for he had
suddenly spied a tan soldier Fastening
up the road with one arm carried stiffiy
lie had just barely left when the SOL
dier entered,
Ruth -
/ She looked with surprise and joy at
| The boys eyes were filled with ad-
! miration and his shoulders broadened
with great pride.
/ A few minutes later she passed her
worn clipping to Ed slowly
His face cloudcd as he read but Il
Immediately cleared when he realized
its significance, and the cause of the
strange disappearance of his old rival.
whom he mad Just caught glimpse Of
| down the road.
/ This is another Ed Smith who lives
in town." he assured her Il know him
| Don't worry about me-"
| No more explanations werc necessary,
and Miss Brooke's problem" was set :
| tied very satisfactorily
At signal from Ed. Jimmy scam
pered from the building, but he saw
what happened later, when he gleefully
climbed up on the roof and pcckod in
! at the cracked window.
The next complete noveIette-A War
' Cakes Escapade.