The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-11-04
TOMMY's COAT
BY JACK LAWToN

sang as she sewed her seam. Marilyn
was like an embodiment of spring her
self with sky blue eyes and apple
blossom cheeks and the sweet smiling
sunniness of her Nearby stood
quaint little figure like o pixie stepped
from book or hobgoblin come to
life. Though the figure was. after all,
merely that of small red-haired Irish
boy clad in an old coat far too big
with coat tails which touched his
heels.
And so your name is Tommy Ryan,"
TIE girl was saying. "and your mother
washes for the people in the big house
next door. But why did you come to
see me Tommy"
It's the coat" the boy replied
shamefacediy. ''the boys at school do
he laughing at me because mother
makes me wear it. ] want to try some
day to earn another. So | thought If
You might be after havin' erralts to
"You see.'' Marilyn said gently,
"there are not many errands, Tommy.
when | have only to shop for myself
and old Tilly who helps for her board.
Eut -" she paused thoughtfully.
Why asked the boy. "dld you be
after comm out here TO live by your
self in this bit of house? Haven't
you got any folks. or husband
maybe?"
The girl. laughed, then answered
seriously.
I'm quite alone in the world Tommy
Ryan" she said. "and when / drove
through this country and saw the bit
of house one day 1t occurred to me
that might be able to live more
cheaply and perhaps more prohtably
here than in the great city. could
send my Illustrations from here to
the unkind publishers just as well.
CO -"
$50 here ye are" finished Tommy.
''Well, it's a nice dolls house of a
place, an me mother says that once II
was the lodge of the great house next
door an the folks that lived here then
was great folks. It's their son has
come back to keep the house now
when he isn't in New York or Boosting
or Europe he has auto cars and horses
and everything. An" added Tommy
hotly, "he give this old coat o. mine
to mother. Things he casts of an
she makes me wear EN-"
"It's shame" Marilyn declared.
gaining thereby Tommy's loyal friend
ship.
But you won't always have to wear
old coats" she coInforted, you'll go
out and earn new ones for yourself"
Mari1yn considered.
81 have wanted garden for some
time" she said "a flower and a vege
table garden -"
MariIyn did some figuring upon her
fingers.
''Seeds are high" she added regret
fully. Put we win manage some way
Tommy and you are engaged at very
low figure to- be my gardener. Still
that's a beginning. And maybe some
day If you work well we will raise
crops and Won shall drive into town
to sell Them
Tonmy's face glowed beneath the
freckles.
"You mean jt?" he asked. "Honest"
Honest" agreed MarIlyn. And just
then over the high dividing wall ap-
pearcd the head of man whose body
evidently was poised upon a garden
ladder.
beg pardon" said the man plea SAINT
ly, but as happened to be training a
vine up my side of the wall l could not
help urerhearing some Of your con
vers;,tion. And II you are thinking Of
huyin2 garden seed ~ he bowed
in Mariiyn's direction. "why my head
gardener has quantities which we will
he glad 10 give you. We make no use
Of them. And why purchase" he Wen,
on hastily as Marilyn's lips were form
ing polite refusal. when seeds are
going 10 waste?'
The girl siuiled.
"Why thar Is 90" She replied. "aad
thank you.''
"Th,< poor little devil he s,.id
iauGhingly. Ito th!nk III ,'ora makes
him Wear my old coats. He m''t hnv"
had "a time at schnol"
The garden surrounding the '',,lt OF
house" fourishcd and showed great
prom ise under TouHnie's tirelesS care
while the young illustrator laid her
s,etching aside and came out to
he3lthfully help hin.
The son of the great house joilca.
In the enthusiasm and postponed for
the second time his New York trip as
he too. labored AZ Marilyn's direction.
II WIS when the golden days OF a
golden August were drawing to a close
that the girl came stepping lightly
across the grasses to Tommy Ryan's
side. She held a new coat in her
hands. .ot the khaki kind which Tom
my had lately been wearing. but