Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-09
rgE DAILY NOVELETTE,
Catching a Whale
a.. MARTHA McC. WILLIAMS

a,esSsT aa,'s.yent I Iideas-as was manifest by his
ansNUako IL camfre. if you're bound
- do .termined to put something. It's
sorter sT clean, like paragoric, smells baby
"yy,, ",y,m treating you to my best--Es-
.ncc OF White Rose" his mother in
ssrr,,pted. "Be sure you shake out
yonr your hnnd'chif before you pass the
Allen pew. Stuck up as they. Pc. ,hey
nsycr smell of nothing at o.. S'pose
,nobody but country folk.s 4, notice. I
wont rem learnt good, country folks
arc lest as good and us> md coming as
sown ones, even cf w. don't have all
,Se money they squeeze Mt Of u.s.
Jaw. ma-savo that ..rrt O. dope for
enc club you wimnen folks have
startcd." Roy flung back, edging to-
wsrd the door. II he thought to 20
,csntess he was chcckmatcd---his mother
SET her back against &e door. hold
inr him prisoner whxs ,shc deluged his
head I and his 'kerchsS with her rose
essence then with q final yank to his
Jacket and twist 10 his tie showed
Kim throug' the door. with the parting
ndmonitic:ii BE sure to remember the
text, so you can tell me--nnd what
Oll NINE. hiIPu udu OH.
A catapult could scarcely have landed
Roy quicker than his own legs did,
Al his steady haven, the Bagby place.
II lay close. but beautifully remote,
thanks to clustering shrubbcry. un-
trimmeh for years, and rampant
hedge Of arbor- vitae, with a sagging
green gate that Roy utterly disdained.
Instead he shot himself through break,
invisible from the road but plain to see
within. Old Major Bagby upon the
piazza, with dogs and bis Sunday paper
iittering space about him. chucklcd at
sight Of the boy, but welcomed him
hushedly. asking very low: "Say-is
she waiting for you outsider"
mo. sir! Home with n beaut i ful
swelled Jaw" Roy answered undut-
fully. "And that amt all the luck
neither. Jimmy Higgs has done prom
me, tell me the text n everything-so's
can 90 long with you on this boob
Aunt'-whatever it's like"
You'll find out time enough, sonny"
said the major. PLENTY time--a Gods
plenty. Now let me see Love feast
now-0 o'clock; that'll hold the church
folk full hour or better. Singing,
preaching. sacrament and so on II give
Us three hours longer. Heap of doings
In that much time--if only you know
how to get it out"
"Yes. SIR" said Roy. not quite
easily. The major was his oracle, guide.
philosopher and friend. Suppose Jimmy
Higgs went back on himself, he. Roy.
would be crushed TO the dust. He
must not fail the major in this mystcr-
ious emergency-yet going homo NV
fortified with service facts was dread
full to contemplate. Fancy his relief
when the straggly division hedge of
cedsrs was violently stirred - Jimmy
Higgs coming through It like cannon
ball, but painting MS he stood upright
Roy. Hurry! mustn't bc-latc.
New scholars is worth n dime head
today. got to be rolled up a new
scholar, or know the reason why"
Action answered his appeal. But
tons, buckles, the cherished knot Of
rare blue tie, oil fell before fingers
That dared not shake.
The exchange quickly made. Jimmy
darted toward the gate; but Roy
yanked him back with stern; "T'other |
way, or III skin you" and was duly
obeysi. Then grinning over an outfit
much patched though clean, he looked
inquiry at the major, who said cnig-
we're going fshing-got hooks and
lines and poles all right. But we'll
have to dig up the bait to catch our
whale
I'm game" said loyal Roy, but |
with delighted shiver.
Speedwell, n mile from town, was |
worse overgrown than even the Bagby |
place. 1t was no trouble to ambush |
the fivyer in thicket midway between |
gate and mansion. The road was grass
grown, yet showed faint wheel marks. |
Major Bagby smiled to see them. Not |
two days Old" he said. then handing |
hoy fair sized covered basket: "Take !
this to the side door---when it opens |
hyou see a girl say: The eggs. madam J
and I'll come back for my change |
after bit You're apt to zee her
the pious elders will be away at church.
IL they shouldn't be, ask II Mr.. Den
MS Is awake yet and will he pay the |
hve dollars you must have to leave the |
p,arcel for him. Thnt'll get the door
smut In your face-so you can come
hack here on the dead run
IL amt truly to go back?" from Roy.
No--the change will come to us
We must be ready to take care of It,"
ne major retorted. Now on your
Sway-,and the Lord have mercy on those
bare feet of yours"
just twenty minutes later Roy, safe
rturned, started to see tall, stooped
nsurc in widows weeds, almost run
hhg toward them. Close up the weeds
showed ms disguise for roses, dimples
ana SILK k-clad ankles. Nobody spoke
!ne majors finger was on his lip. But
~. 1ms'ae another twenty minutes he let
w.. triumphant whoop: THE State
me, ne safe over it. Now Mr., Guardian
De'ii lnchpin, do your worst. ~
a. shaking white hand fell upon his
Mouider-hc turned to beam on it's
T ynner with Don't cry, honey girl
iVa re Sate-nnd going to he safer"
;. can believe it. 1t Is too good
oe true, the girl cried, her voice
"reaklhg. II had lost hope. faith.
s.,erything, in this awful month that |
th eM myself prisoner, helpless--I
s;.us a;uusht forgotten. You made no
~, Had to wait till you were twenty
mun.eLlucky ] knew the date" the
wss "r interrupted. Until you were it
/, sn safe to mcddle with you--hard-
even to think of you. Kidnapping
iTu know. pretty serious oifensc.
ne said ! was only nineteen and
r.t nSuIG never live to see twenty il kept
~, s,'S'ng to marry his nephew" the
a.; Hilary Arkworth. said tcnscly.
irs i"i. ~, N" ma ior pntted her hand. sav-
bis N Forget it !" Forget him and nll
ins,;ana oo:ngs. Or rather leave him to
shue---and Jimmy Raynor. Wen stop
thras mnd phone for him: he's one of
And n nriioWS safe not to he at church.