The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-10-08
A Queer
Savings Bank
By PERCIVAL KEENE


BILE and a tartar. He had thought 4
selecting Myra Cloud, spinster, h
would have comfort and peace, for IN
lady in question he had always locke,
upon as circumspect and sensible
woman and neat and economical
housekeeper. All that Myra carec
about, however was the well-Orderet
and productive farm that Alvin owned
and possible outside resources.
At the end of the first year she in
PRODUCED into the house her invalid
brother. Jefferson Cloud.
All Alvin really had was the farm
and when Myra found this out she
insisted on his making it over to her.
One thing, however, Alvin sturdily in
sisted upon-he would run 1t i'm his
own way. Myra grumbled when he
declined to strictly account for every
cent of the income, but he told her
firmly:
You interfere and I'll let you run
the place Yourself and l won't lift a
niger to help you" And this silenced
her. for he was thrifty, industrious,
and an excellent manager in line he
| thoroughly understood.
One morning, Alvin Dorsey. going
out early TO begin his days duties in
the held, was attracted to the front of
the farmhouse by a low, wailing cry.
IL was to find in basket set on the
doorstep little boy baby less than a
year old. There was no note or other
cleW as to the cause Of it's abandon
iheht' ana none was ever later discov-
cred. A stray waif on the sea of hui
mainly, its parents had left il TO the
chances of circumstance Alvin loved
children. He aroused his wife, excit-
ed and pleased over this break in
home monotony.
"Pll have none of it :" she at once
declared. "Nor shall you, either Take
the brat to the poorhouse, where il be- |
longs"
Alvin tried persuasion, even bribery.
bat Myra was immoyable. His heart |
went out to the little abandoned ref,l-
gee as he started upon his enforced mis-
sion. A mile from his objective des.
tihation he halted, gazed longingly at
the innocent faced child and reflected.
Just off the road was an humble cottage
Where lived Ralph May and his wife.
Inc former was almost an invalid.
Ihey had lost their child only a wear
previously, and what with the bereove-
ment and the hard fight to get enough
10 eat they had little of JOY in life. AL
Vim made a decision and entered the
house.
Mrs. May greeted him eagerly and
with tears as he told of the aban-
Toned child, and asked her TO take
harge Of him.
Il can help you some in the way of
occasional money" he told her, but
he paid no attention to this.
oh! poor as we are, it will be
Tossing to our lonely home!" she
ried, and took the little sleeper in
er arms and rained welcome kisses
pom its face. =
AFTER that at least twice a week
win visited the May cottage, always
ringing something from the farm to .
clip out the family larder. One dav
appeared with an old-fashioned
obe, circular map set in a stout hol.
w stand.
Thought 1t would please the little
'llow to see it turn around when he e
ITS big enough to push it," he IL
II was great on geography "
hen was boy, and unearthed the q
ing from the attic and fixed it up and
eaned It,"
Then after that he would take the
lid, whom they named Alvin, after
m, In his arms, whirl the globe, and VI
lg childish nonsense to It. al
linen came dark days. In Telling q WI
'e the old man was struck down by an
branch and lay In bed for months. ap
'ra tired of his care. He seemed ey
piess physically and mentally. She OK
'anged for his care in a sanitarium. WI
er sold the farm, and disappeared. Ing
year afterward the neighbors
rned she had died and the worth. Sn
JEFFERSON had a royal time dissi- me
ing her little fortune. Of
wo years went by. One day Mrs. VIII
was in her garden, with little AL. str
hVi dDOuI CIbIterlnX nam | hC
,, when familiar figure came into chs
v, bent, decrepit, but recognizable VIII
Alvin Dorsey. sto
iot all well, Mrs. May" he hailed the
erily, and this is little Alvin! I've the
neither home nor friends left. but
fingered for sight of the dear lit
fellow"
You have both," declared Mrs. q
:, "as long as we have a roof or n new
mr." of
me old globe?" observed Alvin in colo
eased way. as his hostess led the of
into the house, little Alvin hold uset
10 the hand of the luclless wan If a
r returned is m
RS May FASTENED to prepare a self,
!. When she returned to the sit. time
room there lay the globe broken papt
Its standard, and the old man. rye