The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-01-01
"a Gentleman
Fairy
I an
Ru NnN VAJI -
: BY EDNA1DEANE,LYALL
Copyright. 1919. bt .thp Western News
paper UnioD.)

1t seemed as If maglcally quick some
telepathic signal had been conveyed
to every juvenile In the vicinity Of the
great tenement row where he had
paused to watch a little group make
mud pies. They wore soiled, ragged
pity and interest the kindly faced
young man studied these poor and
neglected, but happy children OF the
city.
Marsh drew out some small change
and dropped as many coins among
the four urchins who were engrossed
in their mock pastry task. There was
a scramble, a rapturous yell, babel
of voices from dOOrwayS and alleys.
Then poured into the center children
from far and near They surrounded
Marsh with grimed hands, extended
and eloquent pleas for consideration.
"That is ALL" announced Marsh, as
he detected specious repeaters in evil
dence and started away.
Only one of the throng ran after
him, GREATNESS and big eyed. He no
ticed that she was of different brood
to the general mass, being clean, poor
ly, but neatly dressed, and with a
winning personality.
"Oh, mister, please!" uttered the
little six-year-old miss. Are you
really throwing away money!"
''Why, yes, my dear, to good little
children, and l am sure you must be
that
Mamma says so, and Auntie Phyl-
p lis" came the prompt response. ION,
how rich you must be! But know
you're gentleman fairy! You see,
I've been saving up to buy the big
doll down at the corner. Come along
and I'll show YOU" and the little one
took his hand with a trustfulness that
caused him to thrill with pleasure.
She halted finally beside show Win
dow full of toys and pointed with en-
raprured ecstasy at the object OF her
admiration.
1T was marked two dollars. Marsh
took out banknOte.
"Oh! does it take all that money?'
4 cried Edith Waldron. "Please, Mr..
Fairy, I can do without the doll, and
I'd rather you'd buy an invalid chair
for poor sick mamma"
"You sweet. self-sacriticing little
cherub. You shall have the doll first.
and then we will see about the in
valid chair" said Marsh, and, his COM
panion /hugging and chatting to her
coveted acquaintance, they went back
towards the tenement row. Z
"There's where we live" little
Edith enlightened Marsh, and she
pointed to third story window.
There was box filled with Towering
plants. The windows were clean and
bright and adorned with snowy white
cwtains. MY papa is dead. and we
are very poor, and Aunty Phyllis is
nursing poor mamma, and she can't
get about, and if any of your fairies
have an invalid chair, won't you
please send her One?"
"Indeed, l will" pledged Marsh,
and within the hour an invallds
wheeled chair was on it's way to the
old tenement. 1t had been a relief to
mingle with the lowly and make at
least few humble ones happy. but
now Marsh's own troubles filled his
thoughts. He had come to the city
to defend lawsuit which, if it went
against him, would mean the loss OF
nearly all he possessed. He knew
that the claim against him was I'M
Just but it was in the hands Of legal
vampires.
Marsh located the rooms on the
third floor. He knocked at an open
door, noting the neatness of the place.
A woman, pale and careworn, seated
in q new invalid chair. greeted him.
II understand that Miss Worth does
copying at home" spoke Marsh. land
I have some work for her if she is
not too busy"
my sister will return in few min
utes. Won't you be seated. please?
said the invalid.
Marsh sat down in chair near a
typewriter Upon a table lay num-
Der of typed sheets. He could not
help but notice them. AS Mrs. WAL
dron wheeled herself into an adjoin-
ing room Marsh picked up one and
then another of the sheets. deeply alb
sOrbed.
at is fate!'' he whispered, quite
aroused, to himself. for by some
strange coincidence Miss Worth had
been copying the papers of the op-
posing counsel in his lawsuit His
face lightened as he became fully
aware Of the testimony and witnesses
to be present, made some hurried
notes and now knew what points to
guard in the litigation.
Bright voices and footsteps sounded
outside and Marsh arose to face a
young girl twenty and child Of six.
bearing in her loving clasp the famous
doll of the corner store.
"Oh Aunty, PhylliS!" cried Edith
ecstatically, rushing towards Marsh
and throwing her arms about his neck.
r,s