The Press., 1920-01-22
FOR CURLEY
By AGNES G. BROGAN.

,Copyrisut 1919. Western Newspa per Unioni
 Angela read the article again, then sat gazing with dreamy eyes, into the street. The philanthropist whose good | deeds were so often published, had ! made another endowment. What a | beautiful life must be his, in the gen f erous sharing of riches. His grudging , interviews with reporters aroused An gela's interest; who could imagine I, great kindness of heart, i'll one of such l terseness of words? Eccentric the old , impatient of praise.
 Then suddenly moved by a presump- tuous thought, Angela's blue eyes wid- | ened.
 "Why nOt?' she murmured into the 1 dusk, and mist clOuded the blue eyes i; as she thought of Curley. Curley, at ! once the joy, and anxiety of her life.
 It was one of Angela's sudden i'm 1, pulses which had led her three years 1 ago to take upon herself the boys care. l Angela-or Angel, as he promptly call | ed her, had been very young herself at the time. Her visiting days at the orphanage endeared Curley to her more and more. He was such a brave little fellow with black eyes searching for sympathy and riotous dark locks matching the mischievOus dinples in his cheeks. Their partings after each visit were so filled with mutual regret, that Angela had gone to the superin- tendent at last and arranged for Cur ley's adoption. At home in her tiny apartment, Angela was amazed at her- self for her daring; but she had never regretted the act. Curley was con tinual comfort, making her evening homecomings a delight, always; he watched for her, needed her-that was Angela's joy; and as Curley grew he made himself wonderfully useful. NO maid could have prepared daintler meals or have learned to keep the rooms in better order. Oh they were very happy these two, with wreaths in the windows at Christmas time, and picnicking days in summer.
 Angela was wise in Curley's instruc- tion, and Curley adored his Angel.
 For weeks Curley trudged through winter snows, soliciting orders for certain firm which bestowed gifts for each stated amount, and in this way Curley earned a violin. Angela mar veled at his aptitude with the bow. She was able to let him have few and simple lessons. But the music Curley made up for her was very sweet to hear. It became part of their pleas ant evenings.
 Now, after all the promise of his future, Angela must send the boy away,-and where? Curley was still too young to support himself, yet in these three years of home life, he had been far removed from the Orphanage.
 So as Angela read the newspaper article, there came to her another i'm pulse and she jumped to her feet.
 "Why not?' she whispered again.
 Her cheeks were flushed as she hur- ried along the street and her eyes shone through their tears. She would seek the philanthropist in his home and beg from him-a chance for Curley. Perhaps when she told the man of all their dreams-of how good and dear and brave was her boy, perhaps the heart of James Rider would be moved to do for Curley what she herself found impossible. But Angela had not counted upon the difficulty of an interview.
 You must arrange for an appoint ment with MT. Riders secretary" the door man told her.
 Angela turned away. Then, as no other course seemed possible, she de cided to see upon the following day the secretary; and she took Curley with her.
 A pleasant-faced young man ran down the steps of the mansion just as she and Curley started to ascend. She fancied, from the bulging papers in his pockets, that this might be the sec retary himself So Angela met the young man with the question:
 AS I cannot see MT. Rider" she said, q wish to take up a matter with his secretary"
 The young man bowed, and immedi- ately held open for her the house door,
 Seated in an impressive library, with Curley standing between them, the man looked at Angela and smiled.
 "What can I do for you?" he asked.
 Earnestly then she told her story.
 "Curley would be worthy of any kindness MT. Rider could give him." she finished tremulously. But the boy nestled to her side.
 "Td rather be near you, Angel" he said, "thon have all the kindness of the world"
 The pleasant-faced young man arose briskly. His voice sounded husky too.
 .I'm not exactly q secretary" he confessed ''In fact, I think l shall need a trusty business secretary my self. Curley might be educated along that line while he is finding out what he is going to do with his music. He could begin by making himself useful here right now. I'll speak to the house Keeper about his rOOm."
 You are sure," Angela asked breath lessly, "that MT. Rider will be agree abe?"
 "I know him we'll" the young man replied, laughing down into her eager face. 'T am John Rider, you sec" he said.
 And so strangely do things happen. that it is now Angela who assists the philanthrOpist in extending good work. For as Mrs. James Rider, her opportun- ities are as large as her loving heart and Curley's music grows ever beauti- ful. he says. "in tn hiking of then botl.'