Arizona republican., 1922-05-07
The Garden That ELY Found
THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY STORY
A COMPLETE NOVELETTE,

veranda of the house and stood lean
ing on his crutch. looking at them.
81 guess we better move on" Roger
said, drawing ELY away. "He does
not act very friendly. Regular old
crank, presume from his looks"
"He did not look cranky to me,
sighed ELY. He looked just lonely
and miserable. Poor old man! Poor
old gardenl"
They said no more until they got
within sight of home, and then Roger
said. looking up at the brave gera-
MUM SO far above: II wonder how
many flowers there are in that gar
den going to seed without doing any
good to anybody"
ELY dreamed she and Roger were
pulling down the fence that shut IN
the roses and trees and green grass
and that a crowd of little children
was waiting so that they could enter.
When. afternoon came she went
again to walk in the quiet narrow
street outside the garden, this time
on the opposite side. The old man
was nowhere in sight, and she crossed
over. The rose bush that was trying
to find room to grow in by Struggling
out over the sidewalk had put forth
touched Ely appealing. She took 1t
in her two hands, bent her face to IT
and then tried gently to put it back
on its own side of the fence.
Now, / don't allow anybody TO
pick my flowers" said a, deep voice.
1t was the old man. He stood there
behind the rosebush leaning on his
crutches and looking at her with
Scowl.
ELY returned his look bravely. Il
don't see how You can prevent their
being picked if they run away from
you like this" she replied. "They
take up half the sidewalk"
Folks can go on the other side,
said the old man. II amt going TO
cut my rose bushes down for them" ;"
"and they'd be better for it. Don't
you know you're killing them by leav-
ing them alone? My father always
said that children and roses mustn't
be allowed to do as they pleased"
"Was your father a gardener" de-
manded the old man, with show OF
interest.
NO: he was just a plain farmer.
But he loved flowers and he grew q
great many. love them, too. l
hated to come away and leave them
all behind"
You talk intelligently," said the
old man. Suddenly he opened little
gate that Ely had not noticed be-
cause it was hidden under the tangle
of the rose bush. Come in" he re-
quested.
ELY obeyed. She was no longer
afraid. She was only sorry for the
old man.
"Maybe you can tell me what ails
that bronze beech there" he said.
ELY went to the tree. It seemed to
be covered with curious Shiny
growth.
promptly. Soap and water will kill
it. But you'd have to apply it with
a spray, eh?D said the old man.
His face almost frightened. I've got
one. I've got wagon load of such
truck, but can't use them, and I'm
| too poor to hire anybody. You
couldn't use 1t, either?'
my brother could" ELY returned.
"Your brother? Was that young
chap 1 saw with you the other night
your brother? Yes, see you do look
alike. Bring your brother and let me
talk to him." He turned his back,
signifying the conversation was at
an end.
ELY almost ran home. And she
could hardly wait for Roger to return
from his work. I've found way
in!" she said the instant Roger
opened the door.
"The way in where?" he asked.
Unto the garden. This afternoon
And Roger, he'll let you in, too. He
wants 10 talk to YOU. Let's go there
right after supper. Think how much
nicer that will be than sitting here al
home! II you think the garden is
| lovely from just looking over the
| fence you ought to see it from the
| inside.''
you're like father. crazy about
flowers Roger said, smiling. BY
the way, Ely, / found out something
| about your old man. His name is
Mclean and he lives all alone. He
used to be wealthy, but he lost his
| money and he has acted queer evei
! since. They say he won't have any
thing to do with people and people
won't have anything to do with him.
Mr.. Mclean would not let them dc
anything for him, though he gave
them leave to do what they pleased
with the garden. They not only cured
the bronze beech, but they cleared
the little pool Of rubbish so that Il
could again turn a smiling face to ths
sky.
Roger chopped dead limbs from the
naples and together they trimmed
and trained the wild running vine:
and overgrown bushes. They spen
many pleasant evenings there work.
ing. happy, and just as much alone