Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-31
CHAPTER Y
Tho Rufcher .Riila


pATsEY WATSON waited on the
4 corner of the street. Il was 10 the
early morning and Patsey's face bore
marks Of recent and mighty conflict
with soap and water. Patsey looked
apprehensively every now and then at
his home his mother might emerge any
minute and insist on his wearing coat
his mother could be very tiresome that
way sometimes.
IL seemed. long this morning to wait
for the butcher, but the only way TO be
sure of ride was to be on the spot.
Sometimes there were delays in getting
away from home. Getting on q coat
was one finding hat was the worst
Of oil. Since Bugsey got the nail In
his foot and could not go out the hat
question was easier. The hat was still
hard to find. but not impossible.
Wilford Ducker came along. Will
ford had just had dose Of electric oil
artfully concealed In cup Of tea, aud
he felt desperate. His mother had often
told him not to play with any Of the
Watson boys, they were so rough and
unlady like In their manner. Perhaps
that was why Wilford came over at
once to Patsey. Patsey did not care
for Wilford Ducker even IL he did live
in big house with screen doors on
1t. Mind you. he did not wear braces
yet, only a waist with white buttons
on it and him seven Patsey's man
ner was cold. ~
"You goin'a fer butcher ride?" vii.
ford asked.
Yep" Patscy answered with very
little warmth.
Say, Pat. lcmme go" Wilford coax
cd!
Nope" Patsey replied, indffcr-
entity.
saw, do, Pat won't cher?"
Mrs. Ducker had been very particu-
lar about Wilford's enunciation. Once
she dismissed a servant for dropping her
final g's. Mrs. Ducker considered it
dinner plate. She often spoke of how
particular she was. She said she had
| insisted on correct epunciation from the
first. So Wilford said again:
Aw, do, Pat; won't cher?'
Patsey looked carelessly down the
street and began to sing:
How much wood would woodchuck
chuck
If a woodchuck could chuck wood?
"What cher take fer butcher ride,
Pat?" Wilford asked.
"What cher got?"
Patsey had stopped singing, but still
beat time. with his foot to the imagi-
nary music. 90 " r
Wilford produced jacknife' in very
good repair. .......-
Patsey stopped beating time, though
only for an instant. 1t does not do
"It's a good un." wilford said with
pride. cts Rodger, mind .ye--two
blades" ..,..' .... ..,
Name yer prices" Patsey conde.
scended, after n deliberate examination.
,.Lemme, ride oil week. ord'rin and
deliv'rin'." .-s s~.....' - ..s.,.t
mot much won t." Patsey de-
clared stoutly. "You can ride three
days for II" r. ..'. r..
Wilford began to wbimpcr. but just
then the butcher cart whirled around
the corner.
Wilford ran toward it. Patsey held
| the knife.
The butcher stopped and let Wilford
mount. 1t was all one to the butcher.
He knew he usually got boy at this
corner. ..-.." -
Patsey ran after the butcher cart.
| ne Udu CuukuC Slkut VI oolliC ohe "uoiu
Wilford had not yet noticed. It was
Mrs. Ducker. Mrs. Ducker had been
down the street ordering crate OF
pears. Mrs. Ducker was just as par.
ticular about pears as she was about
fnal g's, so she had gone herself to
select them.
When she saw Wilford. her son. rid
ing with the butcher--well, really. she
could not have told the sensation II
gave her. Wilford could not have told
either, just how he felt when he saw
his mother. But both Mrs. Ducker
and her son had q distinct sensation
when they met that morning.
She called Wilford., and he came. Nc
sooner had he left his seat than Patsey
Watson took his place. Wilfort
dared not ask for the return of thu
knife: his mother would know that ht
had had dealings with Patsey Watson
and his account at the maternal banl
was already overdrawn.
Mrs. Ducker was more sorrowfu
"Wilford - she said with grea
dignity, regarding the downcast littl
boy with exaggerated scorn, "and yo'
a Ducker!"
She escorted the fallen Ducker sadl!
homeward, but, oh, so glad that sh
had saved him from the corroding in
fluence of the butcher boy.
CONTINUED TOMORROW