Evening star., 1922-07-30

L1ESE IN HER PRESENCE.
law, the four of them stepped back
dumbly and Michael Higgins picked
up the gaudy plaything. Never be-
fore had he wished SO earnestly for
success. The times he had gambled
against winter to get a dam in,
against the thaws of spring in the
mountains, against bankruptcy and
professional ruin seemed trivial now
and overrated.
Skeptical and aloof. the three
watched him. Only Stephen wished
for a miracle. Finally Michael Hig
gins stopped and placed the toy in the
water. His long fingers seemed
scarcely to touch the machinery.
Then suddenly there came a sharp
report and another and another.
Gee" gasped the miniature Michael
Higgins.
Then the magician headed the tiny
craft in the broad, quiet waters of
Like a valiant and ridiculous otter
the boat slashed its way along.
Look out" he said. Catch her,
Mike, before she bumps that mud
bank"
Instantly two boys in extremely
grimy English suits sprang to obey
the order. On the heels of the boys
ran Stephen and Michael Higgins.
Knee deep in the mud. Michael, jr..
received the onrushing vagrant. and.
dripping and exalted. held it aloft
for the worlds admiration. Gee"
he painted, the darn things still go
ing. I'll betcha it keeps on all day
and tomorrow and maybe forever.
Funny" he concluded. how much
nicer a boat is that runs, isn't it,
father?'
A dull flush crept slowly toward
Michael Higgins temples. He was
happy. happier than when his first
contract had been accepted, than
when his first dam had held.
THEN he turned. very cautiously,
l toward Mrs. Higgins. Cynthia"
he said-and his voice was very
low-"it's all my fault. of course,
that he got wet. but don't you reckon
he ought to get some dry clothes on?"
Cynthia Higgins nodded. Bring
him into the kitchen in a minute. L
1 really ought to look in that oven"
She stopped, suddenly abashed. I've
got cookies in there baking"
After two more successful excur-
sions across the pool Michael Hig-
gins captured the boat. Stephen saw
him struggle not to blunder. He was
facing his first adventure as an act
offending the United States Senate
he feared offending this freckle-faced
youngster. Bob, you and Mr.. Doug
las might wash the boat up. And
Mike"-the appeal in his eyes was
unmistakable-''you and / have got
to find some dry duds."
Michael Higgins. jr.. Joined his
father without aemurmur Sure" he
said. 81 generally fall in worse than
today" He was trudging stolidly
beside his parent. Then 1 go in tho
kitchen and mother dries them by the
stove, and we get the party ready.
Happens that way bout every Thurs
day"
quizzically "Why every Thursday?
That's the day we get kidnapped"
For an instant Michael Higgins
suspected he was being made fun of.
but the gravity of the boys manner
reassured him.
ITS a secret" he went on, but
s'pose you might as we'll know,
cause you're here. Every Thursday
afternoon everybody goes out but
Mathilde. She's the French one.
Well, mother gives her 4 present and
lets her sit in her sitting room, 30
she won't tell Mr.. Ruskin. He's the
English one" He scufiied dustily
and with delight through a pool Of
leaves. "well. we skin on and meet
mother here. That's all"
Michael Higgins looked at the boy
with = sort Of hungry yearning.
"Have q good timer"
"Oh, sorta." He would rather die
than betray enthusiasm.
At the kitchen door they both
stopped and Michael. jr.. shifted
skeptically. "Gee, mother, III bet
they're burned"
Flushed and excited, she met his
challenge. II think It will scrape on.
Besides, II we put lots Of sugar
on
The boy nodded sagely. worked
that way once" He sat down on the
floor and started tugginG ut the wet
shoes. II think II w0u1d pay me to
ksep q whole shift down here. stead
- x srvinus n,,f seuarafe every time"