The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-03-31


"Humphi I've heard Of 'em," Aan
Wetherby had returned crisply, "but I
never took much stock In 'ern. A
choir made o. boys just as II music
could come from yellin', hoofin' boyslf'
An hour later at St. Marks, the
softly swelling music Of the organ was
sending curious little thrills tingling
to Miss Wetherby's finger tips. Then
family In the distance sounded the
first sweet notes Of the professional.
Ethel stirred slightly and threw a
meaning glance at her aunt. The
woman met the look unfiinchingly.
Them amt no boysr' she whis-
pered tartly.
Nearer and nearer swelled the Choir
us until the leaders reached the open
doors. Miss Wetherby gave one look
at the whife-robed singers, then she
reached over and elutched Ethel's
fingers.
.'They bei-and in their nfghtfes.
tool" she added In a horrified whis-
per.
One of the boys had a solo in the
anthem that morning. and as the
clear, pure soprano rose higher and
higher, Miss Wetherby gazed in undis-
guised awe at the young singer. She
noted the soulful eres uplifted de-
voutly, and the broad forehead
framed In clustering brown curls To
Miss Wetherby 1t was the face OF an
angel.
At dinner that day Miss Wetherby
learned that the soloist was Bobby
Sawyer" She also learned that he
was one of Ethel's "fresh-airr mission
children. and that. as yet, there was
no place for him to go for vacation
HThat angel child with the heavenly
voiceand no one to take him I'M"
Miss Wetherby bethought herself of
her own airy rooms and Towering
meadows, and snapped her lips to-
gether with sudden determination.
aT'H take him r. she announced
tersely, and went home the next day
to prepare for her expected guest.
Early In the morning of the first
Monday in July, Miss Wetherby added
the finishing touches to the dainty
white bedroom upstairs,
Dear little SOUL hope he'll like
It'll" she murmured.
On the table In the corner were
hymn books, the great red-and gold
family Bible, and a aBaxter's Saints
Rests'--the only reading matter suited
to Miss Wetherby's conception Of the
mind behind those soulful CRIBS up
raised In devout alteration
Just before Ann started for the
station Tommy Green game over to
leave his pet dog. Rover, for Misc
Wetherby's .fresh-air. boy to play
with.
Now. Thomas Green" demonstrated
Ann severely, syou can take that dir
ty dog right home. / won't have him
around. Besides. Robert Sawyer Amt
the kind Of a boy yeu be. He don't
care fur sech thiags-I know he
don't"
Half an hour later, Ann Wetherby,
her heart humping loudly against
her ribs. anxiously scanned the pas
sengers as they alighted at Slocum-
Vile station. There were not mauy--
an old man. two girls. three or four
women. and a small. dirty boy with a
dirti~r dog and q brown paper parcel
in his arms.
He had not come!
Miss Wetherby held her breath
and looked furtively at the small
boy. There was nothing familiar in
his appearance, she was thankful to
sayl He must be another one for
somebody else. Stifl. perhaps he
might know something about her own
angel boy-she would ask.
Ann advanced warlly. with disap-
proving eye on the dog.
Little boy. can yeu tell me why
Robert SAWYER didn't conner she
asked severely.
The result of her cautious question
Disconnected her not little. The bog
dropped the dog and bundle to the
platform. threw his hat IN the air.
and cspered about m Wild giee.
'R1, there. HoneSi were all right I
GeIly--but I tf1crefst w~ we're side
tracked, FIR suref~
Miss Wsfhorby sark fa iiTpp ds~nay
TO bex of freight resr by-the barcsl
head disclosed fhe clustering brown
curls and broad forehead. and the
eyes upiifted Co the whfrffng bat com
pIeted the teil-tale picture.
The urchfn caught the hat deity
on the back of his head. and praneed
up TO Ann with his hands In his
pockets.
"Gee-whizl marn-but I thought
you'd fiunked fur sure reckened me
an Bones was barkin' up the wrong
tree this time. II looked as II we'd
come to a jumpin'-off place. an you'd
given us the slip Tn Bob, myself,
We see. an I've come all right"
aAre you Robert Sawyer she
gasped.
"Jest ye hear that. Bones!" laughed
the boy shrtlly. cnperjng round and
round the small dog aguin. ~I's 'Rc-