Part 1 (1/2)

Toh

CHAPTER I

STICKS AND STONES

It happened in Barrel Alley, and it was To a barrel-stave out of theWo's laundry, opened the door, beat the counter with a resounding clarand climax, hurled the dirty barrel-stave at a pile of spotless starched shi+rts, banged the door shut and ran

To In one particular (and in only one) Tom was like ”Old John Temple,” ned the bank as well as Barrel Alley Both took one day off a week ”Old John” never went down to the bank on Saturdays and Toan his school week on Tuesday; and the truant officer was just about as sure to cast his dreaded net in Barrel Alley on a Monday as old John Temple was sure to visit it on the first of the month--when the rents were due

This first and i the opening nura Wo, often disturbed, like a true philosopher, and knowing it was Monday, picked out the soiled shi+rts, piled up the others, threw the

Up at the corner To into the brighter spectacle of Main Street Here he paused to adjust the single strand of suspender which he wore The other half of this suspender belonged to his father; the two strands had originally forle pair and now, in their separate responsibilities, each did duty continuously, since neither Tom nor his father undressed when they went to bed

His single strand of suspender replaced, Tolory

At the next corner was a coal-box This he opened and helped himself to several chunks of coal A little farther on he carabbed the pole-rope, detaching the pulley froed, shook his fist at the retreating boy and sent a few expletives after him Tom then let fly one piece of coal after another at the rear platforle chunk for future use

For, whenever Toe of a dozen times a day), he invariably picked up a stone Not that he expected always to throw it, though he often did, but because it illustrated his attitude of suspicion and eneral, and toward other boys in particular

So firmly rooted had the habit become that even indoors when his father threatened hie of a dozen tis, as if he expected to find a stone on the kitchen floor conveniently near at hand

First and last, Toood deal of unfavorable co stones Mrs Bennett, the settle stones was despicable, which went in one ear and out the other, because Tom did not knohat ”despicable” meant

The priest had told hione straight to the heart of theto lock him up for it

And yet, you know, it was not until To Mr Ellsworth, scout on the subject which stuck in hisa little further down the street he came to the fence which enclosed John Teaudy posters and with his re piece of coal he proceeded to embellish these

He was so absorbed in his decorative enterprise that he did not notice the person as standing quietly on the sideatching hi very sociably

”I don't think I should do that, my boy, if I were you”

Tom paused (in the entle pleasantly at hie suit, and to Toeous

The boy's first impulse was, of course, to run, and heperhaps that there was not a clear get-away, he stooped for a stone

”What are you going to do with that?” asked the young gentle to throw it atthree feet from you”

Tom was a little nonplussed ”I wouldn't t'row no stone standin' near yer,” he gru h, of course, you're no sport--or you wouldn't have picked up a stone at all”

Now this was great news to Toentleman; Mrs