The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-09-28

Uokms 1oA yoo AAoW Nv
bettery"
Bobby Potter had been rushing up
the stairs, two at a time. Now he
stopped abruptly to rub his barked
shins, and to glover into the dark at
the huge bulk that proved to be a
man.
1t stood up, fiattening itself against
the wall.
II didn't know you was coming up.
There's nuff Of 'em go'n' and comm
downstairs; but, there don't nobody
get to comm up"
I'm looking for my cousin, Mrs.
Harry Wentworth-M Simpson, she
Is now."
Guess you mean Maggie, I'm Simp-
son." the hulk announced.
"And me calling you a poor T.
Bobby held out a hand that was
grasped by the other.
"Oh. that's all right Maggie calls
me that, tool Go up-second door to
the right Is the parlor."
And as Bobby moved away "The
Worm" sighed and settled down on the
stairs, again pulling ut dead pipe.
From his place he heard the welcome
accorded Bobby; heard an indistinct
gable Of voices as Maggie and her
mother talked and laughed with Bobby
and at him. But, presently, Maggie's
voice, petulant, complaining, rose out
of the muddle:
"'Tisn't much of place we've got
here, Bobby"
"The Worm" stirred uneasily. He
was seeing the little parlor now as
Maggie had taught him to see it
shabby and mean, with its secondhand
furniture and cheap carpet. But, they
had meant home, once, and Maggie
had seemed to be as hungry for
home as he had Been.
And she had made her contributions
secondhand stuff, too, but sacred
to poor Harry" her first husband, az
"The Worm" had found.
There never was such husband
as Harry!"
"The Worm" could see her, gazing,
misty-eyed at the portrait CT her for
mer husband that hung in the place
of honor, over the mantel shelf.
II don't seem to remember that
Harry was such-a-much," Bobby chal-
lenged. "You didn't have much that
you didn't get out and earn yourself,
either"
"Bobbyv' Maggie was on the defen-
sive.
"Well, Harry was always good to
mel" Maggie had told that to The
Worm," morning, noon and night.
"He never got sent up for wifebeat-
ing, I'll admit, but he knew how to
hold you down. Maggie!" Bobby's
laugh rang out again. "The Worm"
chuckled and moved up to the bend
in the stairs. There he was nearer the
parlor door.
"Well"-Bobby's every word was
distinct now-''you used to be Tar
tar when you got to having a tan
truml Shaping 1t out of you was
what Harry was always saying he'd
dol"
Maggie chose to ignore this.
"He was good to me, just the same"
she persisted, and "The Worm" knew
how her eyes must be flashing, her
chin straight out. "And he loved
mother" NN
"Sure, he didi" Bobby's swift an
swer was replete with sarcasm. "a
long way off, l remember. The long
er, the better. He used to say so him
self"
"How can you talk like that u "The
Worm" wondered IL Maggie would In
dulge in a tantrum now. Bobby had
better get out before the storm broke
Bobby must have thought so, too,
for suddenly he came toward the par
lor door, and as "The Worm" slipped
hastily down the stairs he heard the
rather cool "GOod-by" that Maggie
offered.
Down in the street "The Worm"
stopped Bobby as that youth came
from the house. "Heyl Was all that
true-the things you said to Maggie
up there?"
Bobby smiled into the pale eyes that
searched his own. "Surei Did you
think I was giving her the air7 Well,
didn't say half-not halfw
As THE Worm" entered the little
parlor and sat down In the morris
chair, Maggie came in from the next
room. Her eyes flashed fire, but "The
Worm" spoke before she could think
what to say:
Tomorrow you take this chair and
all the other things that are sacred to
your first husband and put them In
your mothers room. amt likely to
ever harm them none while you keep
them there. Hereafter wen use what
/ pay forw
"The ideap Maggie spluttered.
"Motheri" f
But her mother discreetly stayed
away from the room. Her temper
famed In her eyes.
''The Worm" smiled, saying slowly :
Your cousin mentioned man who
knew how to cure you when you went