The Winslow mail., 1920-01-23
Wilfred's
Troubles
@A<D
By GEORGE ELMER COBB
Copyright. 1919. by Western Newspaper Union.

! the package straight.
Its hot, isn't it?" projected Will
| fred Luscomb, as his sister Leila
placed a parcel done up in napkins
in his hands.
mo. only nice and warm. Some
pork and beans just out of the oven.
Tell Mrs. Vassar 1 cooked them es-
pecially for her.. And don't wander
off to watch the boys play ball. And
don't drop or spill them"
NO, ma'am," promised Wilfred
steadfastly. Maybe Mrs. Vassar will
give me penny for bringing them"
"You mustn't take it, if she offers
it," warned Leila. "You shall have
two from me, if you do your errand
nicely"
Eyes, ma'am," pledged Wilfred, and
started off on his mission. When he
reached the bridge crossing the creek
he rested the parcel on it's rail and be
gan f1inging stones into the water.
"Oh ginger!" exploded Wilfred and
posed a picture of dire dismay. A
careless switch of his arm had swept
the package free and~it fell ten feet
| TO the. stone abutment, and there lay
the crock in many pieces and its
brown tempting contents scattered far
and wide.
Wilfred stood rooted. It was q
| grewsome moment for him. Only that
morning he had thrown ball through
q neighbOr's window, and his mother
| had threatened to report this mischief
! to his father With this In mind and
| the present mishap added, Wilfred fig
ured it out that he was due for
| strenuous private interview with his
father that evening.
"I'm always getting unlucky," he
| nodded, "and they're always picking
on me! I'm not going home. I'll
hang around with the boys until faith
er gets his supper and goes down
town as he always does. Then Tll'
sneak into the house and go to bed,
and by that time maybe they'll forget
all about what I've done"
| 1t was just dusk, after two hours
play with his chums, that Wilfred
drew down behind hedge and crouch
! ed down guiltily as he saw his father
and companion come down the
| street. They paused, each to go his
| own way as they reached the corner.
| Now Mr. Luscomb had just Informed
! his neighbor that real estate deal
in which they were mutually interest
| ed had been spoiled by an oficlous
agent, who had gratuitOusly Informed
the prospective customer that by hold
ing out he could get the property in
volved for five hundred dollars less
| than he was asked to pay.
"Yes," the startled Wilfred heard
his father say, "he spilled the beans
and ruined our chances"
"Ought to be skinned alive!" sub
nitted the neighbor wrathily. "We1l
| find some way to make him smart for
| this"
"Crackeyl'' gasped the terrified lad
--"Tm in for itw
'That settles It," decided Wilfred.
Somehow I've done something awful
In spilllng those beans. Father and
Mr.. Rowe talked as if I'd ought to
be skinned alive. I won't go home
I can't go home. rll-I'll run away !"
| 1t was all well enough until 1t be-
gan to rain. Wilfred had got about
mile when drenching shower came
up. He crouched under hedge soak
ed and miserable. AS he trudged on
again he observed a light and made
for it. AS he neared its source his
spirits frightened up magicaliy.
TITS where the Barclays live" h.
exclaimed. "Why, If Mr.. Barclay is
home, I'm all right. He is friend
Of mine, he Is. He's good to all the
fellows"
Wilfred had reason to feel conf
dence in Ira Barclay. The latter had
been calling on Leila for some time
past. He was not exactly looked upon
| as a suitor by the family, but they all
liked him. Wilfred timidly, but hope
| fully knocked at the door to find Mr.
Barclay home and alone and ready
with genial welcome.
Relieved but fearful, Wilfred told
his story. Ira Barclay went to the
telephone without his knowledge and
informed Wilfred's folks Of the cir
cumstances, suggesting that WiIfred
be allowed to stay all night. Then
the big-hearted fellow set about max
ing Wilfred comfortable and haHpy
'Oh. say abruptly observed Will
fred, his eye CHANGING to fall upon
a framed picture upon the mantel.
Leila has got one Of those, too"
Indeed" remarked Ira, and triflo
animatedly. The picture was one of
himself, cut from the local newspa
per at the head of an article boom
ing him for local iudgeship
"Yes, she has," ratified on the ire
pressible Wilfred "She keeps it on
her bureau and the other day Lois
Phelps noticed it and she said to
Lelia what's that for| and Leila
says, why, that's a gentleman l re-