The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-12-23
THE GUIDING j..
SPIRIT
By VICTOR REDCLIFFE
sSecSE.c. .,e-sE.-ccG.

ran out 10 IL. Adrian ana Cora NILS
felt both proud and pleased when they
signed a lease "for the loveliest little
house in the place !"
I'VE are the luckiest people In the
world declared Adrian. Surely there
is one landlord who is not a high.rent
vampire, We were to be raised 80
per cent on our city fiat If we stayed"
Double the space, with all the
glories Of country life at less than
our old remit" added Cora.
The owner, rich widow, was not
of the profteering kind, and little
Daisy, four years old, acted so pref
tily and her parents were so grateful,
that Mrs. Deane felt it a pleasure to
help'o on their happiness.
They were to move to Grassmere
the following week. One evening
Adrian came home with news that
somewhat married the radiant future.
81 was out measuring the rOoms,"
he observed, "and | got talking with
the man living opposite. Did you no.
tlce the home just next to ours, Cora?"
you mean the cement two story
that met my fancy?"
Just that-our nearest neighbor.
His name is Jonas Price and he lives
all alone My informant says he isn't
a very pleasant kind of a man-rich,
grasping, a regular misanthrOpe, The
former tenants left because they
couldn't stand him. He complained
OF the noise their children made; he
poisoned their dog"
"Now don't 90 spelling our paradise
by borrowing trouble" said Cora, al
ways optimistic. Maybe the old ten
ants were obtrusive, perhaps their chill
dren were insOlent and mischievOuS,
not like our own dear little angel,
whom everybody must love. Maybe,
too, the old man is ostracized because
Of ways his neighbors done under
stand, Why, Adrian, perhaps we are
about to have a special mission to
humanize this lonely man."
Little Daisy, wise and observant for
her years, listened attentively. In her
childish way she seemed to get the
idea that they were describing some
kind of an untamed ogre. The next
morning she astonshed her parents
with a remark that showed deep inn
preston on her mind.
81 said bless Mr. Price in my pray
ers," she announced. "Tm going
to. every night. Isn't that right,
mammal"
"Why, surely" announced Mrs
Mills. what made you think of that
darling?"
because, If he is lonely, with no
little child to love, feel sorry for him
and I'm going to be good to him for
fear he'll steal my dollar or kill Ma
ior."
1--WE will see that Major doesn't an
noy him, dear" said her father.
They moved. Little Daisy had their
neighbor on her mind, and when sour
faced Jonas Price was pointed out to
her she looked a little awed but said
Mamma, he looks as if he was think
ing all the time. Maybe it's about his
two little dead children"
The next day Mrs. Mills missed
Daisy. Seeking her, to her astonish
ment she observed her neighbor lift
ing her over the hedge.
Il borrowed your little daughter tC
show her some early flowers in my
hot beds explained Mr., Price
MADAM. hope you will allow her &c
come over and see me once in a
while"
ooh, surely" acceded the delighted
Cora.
"Oh. mamma" prattled Daisy later
81 told Mr.. Price how | put him In
my prayers every night. And IN
showed me the pictures Of his tive
little girls, and when | kissed him anc
said / felt sorry for him, he jIst CRIED
out loud
II was few evenings after that
Adrian was disturbed by the iouC
barking of Major. He noticed lights
altting about next door dressed
thought of burglars, armed himself
and started to investigate JUST in rim'
70 find a man rushing from the bach
door of the Price home, valite in MS
hand. Then as Adrian heard the voice
If Price shouting for help he halted
The man Mt the point of his weapon
hacked him into the house and tount
IT'S owner tied to a chair, The VIC
FIN Of a bold robbery. Adrian hel(
the burglar until the police arrived
snd learned that but for his tinel!
assistance the marauder would have
escaped with valuable bonds ant
money.
Jonas Price ceased to hate animals
after that The true friendship o
the new neighbors caused him t
emerge from his shell of surlness anC
suspicion. Then came the climax II
The affairs of the Mills family. Thei
house caught fire one night ant
only a part of their furniture wa
saved. They were invited over TO thel
neighbours house, for there was not
vacant place they could rent.
81 am going away for my health,
said Jonas Price, "and you people ha'
better settle here permanently"
81 don't know what we would have
done If your roof had not sheltered
MS" said Adrian. EFF we could remaiI
your tenants for time"
Jonas Price fondly kissed Daisy
clasped in his arms. Tenants" HI
repeated. "You saved me a fortune