Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-10-12

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the huge bulk that proved to be
man.
1t stood up, fattening itself against
the wall.
Il didn't know you was coming up
There's nutr of 'em gon' and comm
downstairs; but, there don't nobody
get to comm up"
I'm looking for my cousin, Mrs.
Harry Wentworth-Mrs Simpson, she
10 now"
Guess you mean Maggie, I'm Simp-
son." the hulk announced.
"And me calling you poor worml"
Bobby held out hand that was
grasped by the other.
"Oh, that's all right! Maggie calls
me that, too! Go up-secOnd door to
the right is the parlor."
And as Bobby moved away 1.-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 a place we've got
here, Bobby"
1.-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 as
"The Worm had found.
"There never was such husband
a. Harry!"
"The Worm" could see her, gazing
misty-eyed at the portrait Of her for
mer husband that hung In the place
Of honor, over the mantsl 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!"
"Bobbyl" Maggie was on the defen.
Ave.
well, Harry was always good to
mel" Maggie had told that to 1.-THE
Worm." morning, noon and night.
"He never got sent up for wife-beat-
ing, Ill 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'-BObbys every word was
distinct nOw-''you used to be Tar
tar when you got to having a tan
rum! 'Slapping 1t out of you was
what Harry was always saying he'd
DOR
Maggie chose to ignore this.
"He was good to me, just the same"
ahe persisted, and "The Worm" knew
how her eyes must be flashing, her
chin straight out. And he loved
mother
"Sure, he didl" Bobby's swift an
swer was replete with sarcasm. "a
long way of. l remember. The long
er, the better. He used to say 80 him
self"
"How can you talk like that !" 1.-THE
Worm" wondered If 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. Hey! Was all that
true-the things you said to Maggie
up there7"
Bobby smiled into the pale eyes that
searched his own. Sure! Did you
think was giving her the ART Well,
I didn't say half-not half"
Az THE Worm" entered the little
parior 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. l amt likely to
ever harm them none while you keep
them there. Hereafter we'll use what
pay for!"
1.-THE ideal" Maggie spluttered.
"Mother!"
But her mother dlscreetly stayed
away from the room. Her temper
famed in her eyes.
1.-THE Worm" smiled, saying slowly:
Your cousin mentioned man who
knew how to cure you when you went
into tantrum-"
"You heardT Behind the anger in
Maggie's eyes was shadow Of un-
eaSiness.
every word And Bobby said It
wasn't halfv"
"The Worm" smiled again as Maggie
founced out Of the room. His eyes
lifted to the portrait over the mantel.
"she never drove you to. sitting on
the stairs. Ill bet" He filled his pipe
and began to smoke. "And she amt
going to drive me no mDre"
SNFh> Worvx.V ho A turnoA1