The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-12-15
Little Joe's
Grand Idca
BY FREDERICK CLARKE.

he left Riverd lie. Mercy barrow
babe him udieu through swimming
eyes, but she had given him words of !!
blissful cheer and comfort. Little Joe
Dockrill, cripple as he was, lifted him
self On his crutches and waved en- :,
couragingly and hopefully. 1
you know what is best DEAR Wal !
ter's liuncee had told him. IF you
think the prospects in the city are en-
couraging, you should go there"
1T is only for Il year. sweetheart
said Walter. You and your parents
are practically dependent on your mar
ried sister All have is the lot and
the old house. ready to fall down any !
l:ly. could not think Of taking you
there" 4
ut would be home with you, any
where, DEAR declared Mercy bravely.
Yes, but the old folks have a COM
Portable home. | stuck to father from
a sense of duty because he was at
tached to the old place If l can get
enough ahead to put up even Il small
cottage l can always earn comfort
able living. Look after little Joe, won't
you, Mercy?" added the stulwart, hon
est-faced fellow, with fond glance at
the little cripple.
Don't you fear!" chirped in Joe
himself valiuntly. 9TH look after my
self. Why, you've fitted me out like a
prince, Uncle Walter, and I'm going to
make you proud of me. I'll help get
that house up you want so bad. I've
got an idea and I'm going to carry it
out"
Walter Rose was not Uncle Walter"
at all, although the little fellow called
him that. Joe was a waif, an orphan
city lad turned out of charitable insti-
tutions when he had outgrown the age
limit, wandering to Riverdale and was
run down by an automobile and
crippled for life.
1t was tender-hearted Mercy, true to
name and nature, who took him in but
her sister resented the intrusion. Then
Mercy spoke to Walter about the
friendless outcast. Walter took him
to the old house. His father was very
old and feeble. He needed constant
attention, and took great fancy to
the bright, jolly little stranger.
Little Joe was a faithful attendant
upon aged Mr.. Rose, and nearly the
last smile upon the lips Of the old man
was for the lad who had 80 frightened
his final hours on earth.
Joe had taken great interest in the
plans Walter had drawn for the new
house. When the latter decided to 60
to the city he wanted to arrange for
the care of his little charge with
neighbor.
mo, Uncle Walter; no, positively!"
asserted Joe. 1--WE planned it all out.
Let me stay here, only leave old Dob
bin and the wagon. l can't do much
real work. but can drive, and I'll pick
up enough odd jobs about town to keep
me comfortably and sometimes to put
aside for that famous new house
you're going to build. See If don't"
Walter agreed to this, but with some
reluctancy and misgivings.
Daytimes Joe drove down to
the depot and waited around for a
chance to haul trunk or carry a va
A6C VI pACAd8c III t1C OAO "o6Ou. ALICIA
he started In on what he called his
grand ideal"
Every week he wrote to Walter in
the city. Three times week he drove
around to see Mercy. She had no time
to visit him. for she had to slave hard
to please her narrow-minded, complain
ing sister.
With the end Of the year Walter
Rose wrote that he had not done rs
we'll in the city as he had anticipated.
He was homesick, however, and was
coming back to Riverdale to be among
friends, even If he had to work little
harder and wait little longer for that
new house.
Walter was puzzled at the gayety
and suppressed excitement of little
Joe as the latter met him at the depot
with old Dobbin and the wagon.
II had hoped when l came back
here" he told his companion, "that
would surely have earned and saved
enough to provide neat home nest
I for Mercy and the old folks. Instead
Of that I have less than three hundred
| dollars, mere beginning. Why, what's
that?'
Well might Walter stare! The old
! place looked like lumber yard.
cts the result Of my grand idea ~
cried Joe proudly. you know they
| are doing lot of tearing down and
rebuilding in the new factory town of
Blairsville, eight miles away. What
you see yonder is waste stuff thrown
away-nails that they let drop to the
/ ground, stone, brick and lumber that
the wrecking company crews bury or
! burn up. And, say, Uncle Walter :!
| there's enough bricks-Ive counted
| theln-to build as fine a house as "a:
ever put up in Riverdale!'
"You blessed little fellowv' said
| Mercy. when an hour later she knew
| that the new house was a certainty,
| and tears Of joy fell upon the bright
| golden head as she kissed Joe CRATE
fully.