Evening star., 1925-03-30
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

little customer whose first name was
Mike was the leader of the gang. He
was the terror of Q street. (This was
before this portion Of the street was re-
named Volta place.
II any modern householder imagines
the kids of the neighborhood are some
what Of a nuisance, and have no re-
spect for property he should have ex-
perienced the . street gang.
The man of today, who appreciates
the tulips in his front yard, would have
sat up nights over the old gangs. Never
flower was left anywhere when the
gang decided upon an expedition
Stones flew at the slightest provoca
tion. To get the Q street gang against
you-as it was against old John Fogarty
was to sign up for A permanent lease
on misery, for, although the boys grew
up. the gang never did. 1t was a Peter
Pan perennial.
Say. fellers," said Mike, the leader,
as the gang met on the dark corner at
the east gate of the cemetery. Lets get
some worms
Then we can go fshin' tomorrow"
chirped In Bill, round, fat and 10. The
dark, slim Mike eyed his lieutenant
with approval.
Wen get some of them great big
worrums, you know, those great big
ones" said the chief The eight other
members of the gang present voiced
as many approvals.
Ihere was one spot in the cemetery
where the worms were thick and
hearty. Any fish in the world would
bite on them there. .worrums. A fish
what wouldn't bite on them there
worrums was no fish at all.
Tom, you scout around first" or
dered the leader.
NJ
soever, was complete without bit OF
scouting. While street lights were
few and far between. and the ceme-
terry was deserted at night, a lookout
was necessary. 1t made the affair
complete.
How about the west gate, Mike?'
whispered Lieut.. Bill. Maybe you
had better"
Maybe had better nuthin'," sneer-
ed the leader. "Tomll scout around
here, an then we'll go in an dig up
the worrums. Who would be at the
other side?"
Well" weakly protested Bill
Well, nuthin'." retorted Jim. How
is 1t, Tom?'
IAN clear" whispered Tom, just back
from his inspection.
One by one the boys slid through the
gateway. AS they got inside instinct
lively they huddled into a compact
gang. The tombstones stood white,
immense, in the dark.
over yonder big trees cast intense
shadows, even darker, deeper than
the night itself. A feller was glad to
LOOK up an see the friendly stars way
up there.
Here we are" came the command.
The boys halted. Just ahead was the
biggest, broadest tombstone in the
cemetery. And right here was the
worm patch.
The boys fell to with will. An old
lantern being produced, and lit, its
glare showed the worms already
coming out Of the ground. Get that
bfg feller-get that big feller." called
Mike.
Il got inl-I got i'm"
The boys dug away.
suddenly Jim stopped. Ssh III" he
commanded. What was that"
Silence-and night. Then, from be-
hind the big tombstone came an awful
sound. low. slow voice.
eal-those-worms'' IL
auavered slowly. 'They-are-my-
worms"
The lantern flew one way. worms
another, and the boys fed for life. and
never stopped until they came to the
Potomac, II is said. But the Cemetery
was not deserted
From behind the big tombstone
arose white-haired figure wearing a
stovepipe hat.
Hey. hey. hey" chuckled old John
Fogarty. Hey, hey. hey"