Photoplay (Feb - Jun 1921)

Photoplay Magazine 'Wait!" he muttered, huskily. "Stand right here!" Siill wearing the exalted took) Tommj rushed into i lufray. Once there, he used his ^-t 1 1 1 1 1 \ little lists to such good advantage thai -ill but the boldest ol the lads dre« back in startled astonishment. Noi for nothing had Tommy lived on the streets of London. A dreamer he was. but in tliL instance, at least, one who could make his dreams come true. "Due — two — three!" lie counted, Using the famous knockout blows which established his fame in Thrums from that time on. Corp, biggest of them all, went down, to rise, boj like, Tommy's greatest admirer. "You're a queer little deevil, but you e.\t\ ficht!" was. Cork's tribute and the two shook hands before Toinim strutted on up the hill, a girl on either hand now. From the corner of his eye tie was quick to note that while Elspeth worshipped and adored, the new girl kept her little pointed chin in air and hummed a tune of unconcern. "My name is C.ri/el." .-he said presently, "and m\ mania is sweet and nice, only once in awhile when she is sick and doesn't know just what she does. We live in the old house at Double Dykes and everybody is afraid to come there, so of course you will be," the scornful glance with i i s touch of wistfulness took in both boy and girl. "We don't want company, anyhow," she went on hastily, as it to forestall refusal. "If they come we lock the doors because we like being alone. Kut you may teach me to tight if you would like to." "Where?" gasped Tommy, astounded. "In the glen back of Double Dykes. There's a little wood there where we shan't be seen. Will you?" She was on Tommy's right, looking at him witli bright. mocking eyes as if ready to scorn his refusal. On his left, a little hand plucked piteously at his sleeve, in anxious protest. "I — canna leave my little sister, whiles I go teachin' strange lassies to ficht," he faltered. Then as the laughter in Grizel's eyes deepened, his color flamed. "I do na want to leave Elspeth!" he declared fiercely. "I — I like having her with me!" "Bring her," said Grizel, indifferently. "You don't think I care about your being alone. do you?" And suddenly Tommy knew — and desperately fought the knowing — that he wanted this new lassie to want him to come alone! Confused, he fell back on the male weapons of bluster and bravado. He would teach her to fight, because she needed to know how to defend herself. It was his duty. And he would tiring his little sister because he wished to! And all the time the girl's eyes mocked him and her laughter flouted him. "Ye're an English lassie!" he accused sullenly. "I am. Do you think I would wish to be Scotch? We only came here to live because we had travelled everywhere else in the world and my mama was tired." "And for why did you travel all over the world?" asked Tommy. "My mama was looking for someone," she said, sadly, forgetting to mock for a moment. Then she remembered, and with a forced little laugh ran off up the hill, calling back over her 41 should, 1. "it you're not .ih.iid. • to the glei In the morn* ing. And don't I. ill In tiring Klspet h "' •sin's „uii bold, I'm thinkin ," wai Elspeth's judgment. "I'm thinkin' v< « .til tier bonny and ve',1 tiki o> teach In 1 to ficht!" Thus did Elspeth prove her dawning womanhood. I « .1 1 1 1 1 1 \ gave .1 good iiuit.i I i< hi ol .1 1 1 "I contempt. "She's na bonny, with her hair all flyin' over hei face and her eyes like the eye ol wild tilings in the dark. I'll teach her to use her fists, because it's my duty, and ye'll come along with me to do it ." So began the conflicl which was to rage for long yea the heart of Touiniv. On the one hand his little Bister, loved with all the tenderness of his heart and soul; on the other, tile teasing, inn, king Oii/el with the strange under, urrenl ,ii wistfulness breaking out through her scornful airs in stir him in a waj he could neither understand nor prevent. Me taught tier to light, and better than that, he taught her to play. \o one could imagine hi, h games ,is Tommy invented! From the cupboard in Aaron Latta's kin hen he brought an old suit of bright plaid kilts, with moth eaten stockings to match and a lam with a gay leather. Could the bent and silent Aaron ever have worn them? And from the trunks and bags at Double I )v kes C.ri/.el brought frayed Silken shawls, trailing sashes ol gorgeous hues, tal lered Imery ol all kinds to adorn herself and Elspeth. {Continued on page 96) "Can't you cut it out — th be a good e bad blood, doctor? I won t mind the hurt. I do so want to girl — and I can't with bad blood in me, can I?"