New Britain herald., 1926-12-10

the open door. Stretched on the side wall you see mighty canvas fort, feet from bottom to top and sixt, feet long. It Is & theater curtain ant the scene spread over its broad ex' panse portrays the story of Othelle as. on pended knee. he pours out hi: defense to the father of the mur. dered Desdemona-
 ] The painting Is almost completed Only the lower border remains to be put in. The two artists and partners father and son, are clad in overalls daubed with every color of the rain- bow.
 It is here that we meet Prof. FL well again and are properly intro- duced to his son Jim, tall, straight and broad-shouldered at the age of twenty-two. Jim.. who was just five on that memorable night in October or 1898 when the storm brought two little strangers who were to grow up along with him and tieck the years of his youth with dots of laughter and companionship. And now our narrative takes up once more. Y. :.
 Jim spoke up suddenly. turning away from the curtain where he had been painting, and laying down his brush. What's the big idea, Prof, stalling off Sacku on that job for Ole Swanson's sidewalk"
 "Too hot in the summertime to work on sidewalks" replied Prof FL well as he, too, laid down his brush and paused to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Besides, Jim." he went on. bending a whimsical smile on his tall offspring, I'm getting along. Don't you realize that? I'm forty-four and past, Jib."
 You don't look it, Prof." said Jim, as he looked his parent up and down with an appraising eye. You don't look a day over thirty"
 Prof's smile widened. He made an elaborate gesture.
 You've got the know-how touch all right. my boy" he answered. ," suppose you get 1t from Mollie-tl little touch of tn Irish blarney."
 And, speaking of Sacku's work. h. informed Jim that could wall There's something else, however, and that's my thirst. I'm dryer than a fish! Find the can an get a pail O suds!"
 Jim saluted. Thanks for them kind words. l was thinking of it my self"
 He started for the rear of the shop. which adjoined a place run by one Bill Tyler. a place that in 1916 was designated as saloon.
 Prof sat down to await the coming of the 'suds." He liked his bee when he was thirsty did Prof El well. But beer was the nearest ap proach to intoXicants that he or Jim ever drank. Jim never had whisky Prof knew that for Jim had told him so. And when Jim told him so he knew 1t was true. Jim didn't lie, al though he could be very deceptive at times in his whimsical way.
 Prof glanced casually across the sunlit street. Something he saw there brought a slow smile to his lips just as Jim returned from the rear of the shop Juggling the suds.
 "Giroflle and Giroha," remarked Prof with cryptic utterance to his son, "are coming to pay us a visit" He jerked thumb in the direction of the street as he reached for the pail with his other hand.
 Jim Elwell shot a quick glance through the window and glad light leaped into his eyes. He grinned. A moment later he was almost knock ed off his feet when two young girls charged joyously through the open doorway.
 Instantly the drab shop became alive with their beauty. Every color seemed to take on brighter tint. The great painting on the wall changed into a scene of palpitating life and nothing about the place but appeared to reflet the spontaneity and charm of glorious youth. l. These two were the blooming flowers of the little buds that had opened their petals to the world on that stormy night in October more than seventeen years before: They were Jim's pals. They had been his pals since babyhood. His mother had mothered them from the night they were born. To Mollie and Prof FL we'll they were as much their daugh- ters as Jim was their son.
 When they were old enough to understand, the girls had been told the sad story of their mother. For 1t was best, agreed Prof and Mollie, that they should know the truth. One had been christened Margaret Callahan Elwell after Mollie's moth- CT, She had been called Peggy for several years. Tke other was named after Prof Elwell's mother, Eliza beth Brooks Elwell. The first named had been shortened to Betty.
 When they had reached the age of eight Jim had tied Peggy up with the nickname of Rusty, because of her russet gold hair and the little gold specks in her dark brown eyes.
 And Jim was their escort always whether to church, to parties or the picture shows. And he owned a motorcycle "scoot-cart" they called it-with a side extension built for two. He called them his bud dies and he called them his sweet hearts. But he never made love to either of them after the fashion of lover. He treated them both just as an older brother might treat two dearly and equally loved sisters. And he treated them with the utter lack of seriousness that marks the rela- tionship of an older brother to his sisters
 This old-fashloned chivalry in the makeup of Jim Elwell was not only ] inbred but had been nutured and fed from infancy by careful fath- or and 8 wise mother. When he was old enough to grasp the meaning of things Prof had begun to tell him what he considered healthy, grow | ing hoy ought to know