Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-07
BY ". BOYCE MORGAN.
NSTAUxsMENT n.

"y ND FORD hurried from the back door
~ OF his home, took the porch steps
ID IN two jumps, and hastily drew his
Oicycle out of its garage" under the
porch. Because his alarm clock was
not tine most accurate timepiece In the world,
he was almost 10 minutes late this incoming.
Perhaps It would not matter II the people along
inns route got their morning papers 10 minutes
lwter than usual but Ted belteved I'M being ON
time.
He snnoe up several OF the 40 minutes be-
SweUn ms home and the -o1i1Ce OF the news
paper agency. masking the pedals OF mis- bicycle
fairly spin When he reached there, several
81 the carriers had already left and tine Others
were seated on the 1oor, folding papers tightly
ard ytufnug them into their bags.
Ted wzs just getting his papers-the biggest
bundle that went to any carTier-when Mr.
P1elan handed him complaint slip. Ted
uttered an exclamation. T1e seldom got COM
plant slips, although a few of them now and
then were inevitable. But this was the second
one ne had had this week.
He glanced at It, and then his face took On
. puzzled fFown. Miss Berry, at 34l Emerald
street. had reported that her paper had been
thrown clear Down at the curb, instead OF on
the porch and the corner was torn why It
Was A4is Berry vino had sent In THAT complaint
earlier this week. He was sure he had got her
paper on tire porch yesterday morning. Wen,
ND time % worry shout 1t now.
and packed them into what Inc called mis-
saddlebags, the double canvas sacks that fitted
over the rear mudguard of his bicycle. so
rapidly did he work that he was only five
minutes behind his schedule when he left the
agency.
Once started on his route, he rode down the
street, winding first toward one curb, then the
other, throwing the folded papers toward the
pofches with unerring aim. So expert had Ted
become that he was easily the star OF all the
carriers He had the longest route IN the best
part OF town, the fewest complaints, and he
earned the most money. Last year ut Christ
mas time q number of his customers had shown
tl1efr appreciation of his faithful service with
gifts.
50, although he was late this morning, he
worked carefully, and as he approached EN-
eYald street, near the middle of his route he
would have sworn that every paper had gone
on Its proper porch. Just as he reached the
200 block on Emerald, "a little fox terrier puppy
came racing out at him. barking at the wheels
Ted had to swerve to avoid striking the dog,
and he stopped his bicycle, his face pale and
ms legs trembling.
You crazy dogl" he stOrmed. leaning his
bdcycle against a telephone pole. The puppy
came bounding TO him, wagging his tail and
rOmping gieefully. Don't you know you are
liable TO get killed, running under wheels like
taaat?"
Ted picked up the puppy and petted him. and
there was suspicion Of a mist before his eyes,
Only two weeks before, Spot his own fox ter
T1er, which he had had for five years had been
struck by an automobile and killed and Ted
would never have admitted how deeply he felt
the loss
But he realized that he could not stop to net
TINS puppy now, much as he would have liked
TO- Mounting his bicycle again, he proceeded
to deliver papers to the five subscribers in that
block, including Miss Berry. And he was care