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Show THAT ZERO LUNCHEON By CORNELIU8 VOIQHT. "Oh, mother' mother! Do stop youl nrk' Something awful has hap poned' ' This came from lluth, as wildly excited, her brown eyes at round as saucers, she bounded into th room, "What, child V "iero? Wheu?" ea claimed her mother, whllo her ltttlc brother stood by, breathless. "In school' Dorothy told on inl And It's not true! 1 didn't do It!" "Do what, dear? What did Dorothj tell!" "She said I whispered And I didn't) Honestly, truly, mother, I didn't!" "No, she didn't." chimed In little brother, who knew nothing whatevoi about It "How did she happen to say ot did?" asked her mother "I wouldn't let her play In the doll house yesterday She wanted to b tho teacher and 1 did, too. And then ) told hor It wnB my yard nnd my doll house and she'd bettor go homo Sin said sho'd get even, nnd when Mlsi Marlon came back Into the room thli morning nnd asked who whlspcroc! while sho was out Dorothy mild I did And I didn't, either And all the girls'!' provo It, too Emily nnd Klsle and all of 'era." "Well, I wouldn't got bo excited i Ruth, dear You can tell MIbb Mnrloi that you didn't whisper, can't you'" "But maybe sho won't believe me And I'll hnvo to stay nftor school. And, oh, m-nwnother, mother'" Great sob! shook hor frame "I'll got a zero In doportment. nnd If you net three zeioi you can't ever, ever go Into another grade." Here she broke down com-pletely com-pletely Little brother began to cry with her "Come, come, children, lot's luivei our lunch," urged the mother In sooth lng toneB, putting her arms about Ruth und wiping away the tears "Maybe while we're eating we can' think of something to do about It " "I don't want any lunch," Ruth mau. aged to say In n choking voice "Me neither," accompanied little brother, who then senmpered to the luncheon table as (ast as his legs would enrry him, followed reluctantly by Ruth The big jUter unci the father came In and took their places at tho table Between nobs Ruth again related her troubles. "I'll go and see Miss Marlon," an pounced the big sister. "Or I'll write her n note," added tho mother "Well, let's eat." suggested the father. "Well, let's eat," echoed the little brother For a few moments the mother was kept busy serving Ruth was begin lilng to forget her troubles in tho sol acu of Introducing steak and potatoes Into her hungry, growing little body when Hie brother, with his mouth stuffed' full, Innocently remarked "Daddy, don't you think these round potatoes that Kvn tnakeB look llko zeroes?" Instantly Ruth Mopped eating. Tears begun coursing down her cheeks Tho little brother continued: "Tears look like zeroes, too." We con't talk about zeroes," coin manded the mother "Como, Ruth, clear, finish your lunch." Wiping the tenrs on her bib, Ruth began again to eat As t,he was about to put somo of her favorite vegetnblo Into her mouth she walled "Mother, dear, ' don't you think peaB look like zeroes nnd spoons do a little lilt too' Oh everything's Just fall of zeroes'" The father burst out laughing. "Well, Ruth." ho said, "If we could have 'cm nil In r. row with ones In front of them and dollar signs wouldn't wo have lots of fun? Come on, now. Let's forget nil disagreeable things, because thoy'ro bad for our digestion. Mother's going to help you " "Say, dnd," exclaimed the little brother, "do you see thoBe round things on the tablecloth " "I lush, brother," commanded hie mother. Hut ho wouldn t be hushed "These round things on the tablecloth " Ruth's eyes bcrnn to fill. "Thoy they look Jiibt like little pumpkliiHl" My the time the meal wiih over the mother had decided what to do She would go to the school nnd give that teacher a piece of her mind for exciting ex-citing n little child over such a trifle. If neci'Fsary, she would go to see tho school principal also The father blandly suggested that she might cnll In tho pollen force or take the case to the supreme court. She found the teacher a pleasant, bright looking young woman, who was itch surprised to see her "You enme about Ruth?" fIiu asked "I'm glad to sen you. She'n the best behaved child I havo In the room "Hut sho catno home crying nt noon today. She said she was going to be punished because Dorothy snld she whispered." "Why, I didn't pay any attention to that, for I knew It wnsn't true," answered an-swered Miss Marlon --Chlcngo Dally News |