The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-08
TWO BITS.
By Vera T. Rogers.

copyright, l92l, Dy the wheeler
Syndicate, Inc.)
Tom wouldn't stay at the poor
farm. He would slip away t. amp
the back streets of the town.
searching for a suitable shop. His
kit, not an up-to-date one. was
waiting in the rear of old Andy's
candy store.
But the farm folks al,.ays locat-
ed the aged shoemaker and brought
him back. He was too old to be
left alone during the cold winter
a fact which nearly broke his heart.
When summer came he was free
to wander at will. and he managed
to make living. But ahead loom
ed the shadow of the poorhOuse in
the late fall. His tall figure would
straighten with pride-hurt pride
and his name of snow-white hair
would fling back from a pair Of
deep-set, angry eyes. faded to a
ghostly blue. He could weather
the cold snap" he was sure, il
they would only let him alone. :.
Michael, living in a suburb Of the
next town. heard of the plight Of
old Tom Grateful memories of
young Tom Davis stirred his heart
why, Tom was the niftiest shoe
maker in the block when Mickey"
was newsboy of the section. Morn
ings and evenings Mickey" had
flung a newspaper inside the door
Of the successful pegger; but on
Saturdays the boy always defer
entially entered. Tom Davis would
rise from the bench, straighten his
tall, young figure, fling aside his
leather apron and flourish forth an
extra silver quarter.
''Thankee, Tom, yer a prince:"
eager-eyed Mickey" would fash
back.
"Shoo! Away home now!" young
Tom would wave him out, and the
youngster needed no second bid
ding; his bare feet few home to
his widowed mother. He bestowed
the extra coin with q comical
sweep Of his ragged little cap; and
his mother came to depend upon
that faithful bit of money, which
often warded of the final pinch of
hunger.
Out Of the goodness Of his heart,
Michael sent for the old Tom; he
did his thinking afterward.
Mickey met his one-time prince
at the station and cached him in
a snug place while he went home
to start the music and to face it.
Tho music" in this case was
Aggie, wife Of Michael; and the
round. jolly face Of the man was
now drawn into straight lines az
he tried to think It out-their
house, on which the second pay
ment was nearly due, was filled 10
the roof with nine children, Aggie
and himself; the general trucking
business was at the falling off sea-
son; 1t required courage to fetch
another, a stranger and an aged
one into the well-filled domestic
circle.
h86lC was q uol Aeu6A1
eyed. peppery little woman. quick
Of movements she needed to
be-and nimble Of tongue as well /;
could she be induced to adopt a
"granfather" into the fold?
Michael wasn't q strategist; he
twirled his hat thoughtfully as he
| told the story OF old Toms mis-
| fortune-omittng. however, the
close proximity Of the latter. While
he stumbled through tho tale, she
rapidly filled three gaping holes
In as many pairs Of boys stock
ings; also. her mind was working
When he had finished with q long
deep sigh-so deep It seemed to
come all tho way from his boots
and meant to be impressive
turned upon him IKE . whirlvind:
And do you mean to tell mo you
let that shoe member get away q
thu poor.hopso$~ DyuU know that