Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-12-12
THE POOR WORM!
BY MARY J. HITCHCOCK
%, 1928. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate. }
"WHAT the =! You poor

pSAiOls
Bobby Potter had been rushing up
the stairs, two at a time. Now he
stopped abruptly to rub his banked
shins, and to glover into the dark at
the huge bulk that proved to be d
man.
1t stood up, dattening itself against
the wall.
Il didn't know you was coming up.
There's nulf 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
is now
Guess you mean Maggie, I'm Simp-
son." the hulk announced.
And me calling you poor worm ="
grasped by the other.
'Oh, that's all right! Maggie calls
me that, tool Go up-second door to
the right is the parlcr."
And as Bobby moved away "The
Worm" sighed and seItled down on the
stairs, again pulling ut a 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 a
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 n 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 manIel shelf.
II don't seem to remember that
Harry was surh-a-much," Bobby chat
lengcd. you didn't have much that
you didn't get out and earn yourself.
either!"
Bobby" Maggie was on the defen
sive
well, Harry was always good to
me-" Maggie had told that to "The
Worm morning. noon and night.
''iIe never got sent up for wife-beat-
Ing, I'll admit, but he knew how to
hod you down. Maggie' Bobby :
laugh rang out again. "The Worm
chuckled and moved up to the benz
in The stairs. There he was nearer the
parlor door.
''Well''-Bobby's every word was
CN tlitt no - ~ used to be a Tar
t,t "heh 80" got to having tan
ur,tt! $ "3p.ng it out of you was
"..., Haul o,u, always saying he {
dot'
..." tgie cnu.e 10 ignore this.
'nr Was 5000 20 me, just the same,
sue p,.s.sl>u, and "The Worm" knew
how her eyes must be flashing, hes
chin straight out. And lie love,
mother"
Sure, he did!" Bobby's swift an
Swer was replete with sarcasm. "a
long way off, remember The long
err, the better. He used to say so him
self"
How can you talk like that - "Tht
Worm" wondered if Maggie would in
dulge in 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" sIippeC
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 thar
rue-the things you said tc Maggie
up there?"
Bobby smiled into the pale eyes tina,
searched his own. Sure! Did you
think | was giving her the air? Well
| didn't say half-not half"
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 ana
all the other things that are sacred to
your first husband and put them in
your mothers room. | amt likely t.
ever harm them none While you keel
them there. Hereafter We'll us ul,t
| pay fort"
The idea !" Maggie Spu.lereG
"Mother!"
But her mother dscreetlA stayed
away from the room. Her temper
damned in her eyes.
The Worm" smiled, saying slowly