Evening star., 1930-06-15
BY ". BOYCE MORGAN.

led MAILETT paused for a moment in
his work of loading one of the Monaco
Produce Co. trucks and wiped the
streaming perSpiration from his eyes.
The big boxes of fruit were heavy and
~ he had been lifting them steadily for
several hours. But the muscles that had won
for jed the city high school championship in
the shOtput and hammer throw were not easily
tired.
"All right, Tony" he said to swarthy man
on the truck Three more and we're finished
with this load.
He caught up another box in practiced hands
and heavad it up on the end of the truck At
that moment q gong at the door Of the loading
shed sounded, announcing the end OF the work
ing day.
"Just in time" said jed lifting up the last
of the boxes We'll, so long Tony. See you in
the morning
so long" The swarthy man ON the truck
showed his white teeth in grin, and Jed
started down through the loading shed to get
his hat and coat and check out.
The pavements were sizzling in the waning
Midsummer sun as Jed left the big wholesale
market and started his short walk home.
He pleasantly tired, as he had been every
evening since he took this job for Summer
vacation and he looked forward hungrily to the
hearty supper that he knew would be waiting
for him when he reached home. There
never any extra money in the Mallett house
hold, but Jed's mother knew that hard-working
boys required good food and always saw that
her son got his share, even though it some
times meant some pretty close figuring.
A Jed walked home through the hot streets
he did not notice how shabby this section
of the city really was. He had lived here all
his life and he was used TO it. Some day he
would live in a much finer neighborhood, for
Jed was that kind of boy, but he never thought
Of feeling unhappy about his present surround
ings.
At the main corner two blocks from his home
Jerry Coughin the policeman ON that beat
hailed him cheerily
Hello, Jed. Hot enough for you?" the big
policeman inquired.
Plenty" replied Jed And I'll bet you're
about boiled in that uniform and with that big
tin star weighing you down"
Officer Coughlin laughed. He was used to
joking with Jed. who he had cheered on in
every track meet since the boy first started TO
perform in grammar school.
IAN right, young fellow" he returned with
mock severity. But that tin star isn't any
heavier than the fake medal you wear around
a watch fob"
jed acknowledged the hit. The medal re-
ferred TO was not fake however Ie was gold,
and 1t was the boys most priced possession
the emblem of his championship in the shot
put and the hammer throw.
HE Mallett home was a small house in need
=. Of paint, almost hidden between q store
building and small factory. Small it was and
not in too good repair, but at least it was oc-
cupied by only one family. Most of the dwell
mgs in this neighborhood crowded with
hah-do8en families and had far too little
room for them.
The Mallett house had a bath room, tooi Jed
appreciated the luxury of that he scrubbed
his body in the tub and finished up with a
shower delivered from homemade attachment
above. Then he put ON his good suit, a clean
shirt and a tie and hurried out to the supper
table During the meal he chatted with his
mother, his younger brother and his two small
sisters about the affairs of the neighborhood.
Where has Joe been lately?" his mother in
quired, pushing huge dish of potatoes toward
him for his third helping. During school term
you and Joe Pollock were together all the time
but he hasn't shown his nose around here fol-