Evening star., 1926-04-18
LEAP FROG y z1l141 1111s9z1


| ing good to anybody. She's certainly
made Apples life miserable all day.
Poor little kid!'
you don't understand. She's about
the only one left of my wife's family
| took her, in after her mother died
and some day she'll leave her all she
has"
Apples father. who wasn't so very
old himself, flushed. II don't want
YOU to think that it's for myself that
care. We were married pretty young
and she opposed 1t. She never liked
me and''--with a sudden burst of can
dor-"I'm not very fond Of her. But,
YOU see. I'll probably never make
| lot-just go along working for some,
body all the rest Of my life. SO feel
that haven't the right to take away
from Amy and Apple anything she
can give them"
why don't you start in for your
self?"
Because it might be years before
made as much as I am making now.
I've never dared take the chance. Amy
has to recognize too much as 1t is."
He spoke little bitterly. "Competi-
ton is keen here in the East. You
need more than a willingness to work
to build up a business. You need capi.
tai and pull-and haven't got them"
sharp tap of heels preceded the ap-
pearance of Apples mother. One
glance at her was n guarantee that
something had occurred.
Even to q small boy in a hurry
fight of stairs is a fairly stiff grade
Apple had slackened little as he
reached the top. but there he again
got under way and made the turn
through the door of Aunt Etta's room
ot Sto Yt1 n
Mrs. Martin was standing at the win
dow, looking out, but Aunt Eta was
enthroned In a straight-backed chair
directly facing him. For the issuing
of edicts or the acceptance of tribute,
she could not have been more perfectly
placed. AS Apple skidded to n stop
she leaned back, raising her hands.
Only eager friendliness was in his
face as he thrust a paper-covered OBJ
iect at her, yet she reacted as might a
czarina confronted suddenly by the
bearer of a bomb. Apple FASTENED to
reasSure her.
IT'S for YOU" he said. ''Uncle
George-he bought it, and
Then came the deluge. Held firmly
at the top, the paper opened at the
bottom. Apple felt the bottle going
His frantic clutch served only to ac-
celerate it's downward speed. Almost
feet and disintegrated. The contents
did it's bit by the rug and various
articles Of furniture, but concentrated
she being in the direct line OF fire
on Aunt Eta. No mosquito ever born
or larva would have been bold enough
to annoy her then. Like the victims
of the first gas attack, she ciapped
her handkerchief to her mouth ana
nose. The present which was TO
Aa6 fn W
mission.
Stricken, Apple turned. His exit was
not retarded by the sight OF Aunt
Eta rising from her chair. Climbing
to the floor above, he tried manfully
to swallow the lump in his throat. He
had failed Uncle George.
x i x <
THE closing OF the door of his room
behind him was the clang OF
a prison gate. His bed was prison
cot. Miserably he threw himself upon
1t, q small bundle, face hidden In
curving arm.
But presently a sound forced itself
upon his consciousness. There 1t was
again. "Plop.' Silence and another
"Plop"
The frog. Apple had forgotten him.
YEARLY he went over TO the box. Yes.
there was the frog, noppiHS uouil ~
along inclosing walls-a captive, too.
Apple was deeply affected. 1t wasn't
just This prisoner at least should
be free.
The door was technically barred, but
there was the window. Prisoners
often escaped by means Of ropes.
Naturally he felt in his pocket and
his fingers encountered the spool, sal.
vaged earlier in the day. What could
be better? First. the frog was fitted
with thread suspenders. Through
these was passed another thread. long
and doubled. Now all was ready and