“The Octagon Crystal”

Franklin Times, Volume XXV, Issue 57, 20 May 1935, Page 2

“The Octagon Crystal”

1* * By PEARL FOLEY (PAUL DE MAR of Toronto). T

My home life revolved in and around i a tenement of the East Side. The only kin 1 knew were a man and woman who, as you know, went by the names of the Vulture and Mugg., One fact that stands out in my memory is that the Vulture spent very few nights at home. Often I would he awakened out. of my slep by him and his companions returning in the early hours of the morning. On such occasions there would be no more sleep for me. Mugg would j6in them, and their hilarity, wild and raucous, would fdl me with a creeping, nameless terror. However, the real cause of my breaking away from that life wasn’t fear —it wasn’t ill treatment —no, it was neither of these. The chief reason —the only reason for my running away from the life fate had thrust me into, was the octagon crystal.”

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path of the Vulture and Mugg made me tremble. Distance meant safety— I was now fighting for life itself.

“It was late afternoon when a long line of freight cars -barred the way of my haphazard wanderings. I climbed into one of these and was about to leap from the other side when curiosity got the better of me. “As I was investigating, steps approached. Up to then I had avoided every one as the direst enemy. My wits had been sharpened sufficiently by life of the East Side to know that people asked questions: and questions answered would eventually lead me back to The Vulture. So. when 1 heard some one enter the car I crouched back into a corner, concealing myself behind a packing case, where I stretched my cramped body out on some straw and waited for the person to depart, After my hot, dusty wanderings the straw bed seemed a veritable haven of rest. A pleasing drowsiness pervaded me, and very soon I had slipped into the land of nod, unconcerned, and unheeding the next move of fate.”

Ralph looked at her mystified. “It is strange on what frail pivots fate revolves her great acts,” continued Forrest. ‘lt all comes back to me very vividly, that day which was to he so momentous for me.

‘I had been called to do an errand for the Vulture. In my haste to obey I let fall the crystal and stopped to search for it. For the moment the desire to find the beloved toy dominated me and for once even fear ot the Vulture had a minor place. Dropping to my knees I continued to peer over the dusty cracked boards of the floor and to search around the rickety furniture. The Vulture’s temper must have been dumbfounded into tethers. But it very soon broke bounds, and with a roar like an angry bull he lurched toward me. But 1 had spied my plaything and with a relieved cry pounced upon it and out of the Vulture’s enraged clutch.

“Poor little kid!” It was an involuntary murmur from Ralph. Forrest, nodded. “Yes, I have often pitied her —the sunshine of the past years throws into cruel contrast the first few years of her journey. But if you want me to complete the story I’ll have to. be brief — 6 o’clock striking, and Anna will be here in half an hour with supper. By the way, I hope you announced yourself as you came in.” “Yes, she is prepared for me: I met her in the hall.” There was a slight reminiscent smile on Forrest’s face as she continued, and Ralph fervently trusted it was an indication that the sordid and gruesome were soon to be left behind. “I was awakened by a sunbeam doing a hot dance over my eyes. I was dazed for a few moments. I couldn t understand being aroused that way and lav still, wondering why I didn t hear Mugg* shrill rail and feel her rude shahe whirling me into » murky world of reality. And then I remembered and realised that never again should I be awakened m that —that I had flung Mugg and the bast irrevocably from me. “I made haste to leave the freight car as secretly and as unobserved as T had entered it. Outside a surprise awaited me, for there in front of me surely stretched the magic land I had heard about in the kindergarten. Flowers, green trees and a mossy-edged stream surrounded me 1 had pee n borne from the city to the country during the night.

“I can hear his hoarse voice now bidding me hand the bauble over to him. The rumble of insane rage caused me to crouch out of his reach, while experience bade me be on guard and as much as agility would permit, on the defensive

he demanded the crystal, but instead of complying, even to my own surprise, I jerked it behind me. To demand that crystal was like asking me to part with a hand. As have already explained to you, in a mY short life, this toy had been the only thing I had ever been permitted to call my own. Now, I called upon to part \wth it, t justice of the command crept to the edge of my child mind and then submerged it. The right of the individual urged me into action. “I watched tensely the grimy hand of the Vulture’s reach for a thick leather strap dangling from its rusty hook on the wall, but my hold on my plaything did not falter. A primitive force was sweeping over me , and in an instant I was transformed into a little savage. The thrill to defensive action sent me darting from the wide, whistling sweeps of the thong ns it cut through the air. All fear had fled, and in its place defiance and a wild desire for something 1 only halt sensed existed in the world—a desire for freedom —possessed me. •As the Vulture, now insane with hatred and revenge, bore down on me, reckless self-assertion seized me, and simultaneously with the new impulse, the tin pail in my hand —I had been on my way to get beer —went whirling through the air, collided with the face of The Vulture, and crashed with an ominous din to the kitchen floor. ‘The clash, mingled with a roar of pain and rage, calmed me into a realisation of my action, but instinct gave me no time to reason things out—instead it sent me leaping down the rickety steps, and with the wild cries of the Vulture growing fainter, sped me on to freedom.” , CHAPTER 11. Forrest paused. The pallor of her l-ace denoted this delving into the past, was taking no ordinary effort. Ralph, who had reseated himselt beside her, showed concern at her nervous tension. ‘Hadn’t we better leave the matter for another time. II isn’t necessary that I get the whole story to-night.” “No. I'd rather finish it now, it s a little too much of an ordeal to attack at intervals. Pm afraid though rm going info a great deal of detail b u t 1 want to emphasise the fact that Hie crystal has played a very import- ! ant part in my life. You can see it is little wonder I look on it as a soi , of talisman.” „ lr . “Detail is necessary,” replied Ralph- “ Sometimes the seemingly most unimportant incidents are the strongest clues.” , j Ralph’s matter-of-fact manner had the desired effect and Forrest s pallor was less pronounced as she continued her recital. “I had no idea where my flight was leading me whcp 1 began to put distance be I ween myself and the home fate had allotted to me. My single ; aim was to gel far away from familiar streets and scenes. T realised that ; with the tin pail I had flung from me • anv chance of re-entering my old life (he mere thought of crossing'the

“We suffer and enjoy by contrasts. I hove often bad people exclaim oyer my enjoyment of life. I cannot give ihem my secret —they would not understand if I did—but I give it to you now, Ralph. My capacity for real living had its origin in the first years of my life.’’

Ralph nodded understanding^

“Tn the next half-hour I truly lived for the first, time in my short life. For the first time my body knew hours free from pain—my mind from cruel, blighting jars, and my physical wants were temporarily appeased by wild berries. And when late afternoon arrived, fate, who had been smiling hitherto, pulled out a laugh and gave me the most wonderful gift of all— Guardy Selwyn.

“lie was standing fishing when I came upon him. I had never seen anybody quite like him before. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a mop of reddishbrown hair —in a brown outing suit tiiat blended in with the hair. He did not surprise me, for he just seemed to ,be a part of the woods. I tip-toed up to him, almost afraid that, big as he was, he would disappear. And then he turned and looked at me, and I saw the surprise in his grey eyes give place to little fwinklv lights, and I somehow knew 1 was safe. “Half an hour later 1 was given in charge of his housekeeper, with instructions to use plenty of soap. Fhe did work a marvellous transformation in me, even more than Guardy had bargained for. You see, when he found me 1 was dressed in ragged trousers and a flannel shirt; my mop of tangled curls served as a head covering. When Mrs Marley turned me loose 1 was swathed in a soft blue kimono, and 'my hair was

sorted into smooth, silky curls —in fact, Scarthe Selwyn, to his amazement, and. I think, consternation, discovered he had captured an atom of the feminine sex instead of a boy.” Ralph gave a perceptible start. “Do you mean to say, Forrest, those people had disguised your sex?”

“Well, whether it was meant as a disguise or not. T cannot say, but certainly they had never permitted me to dress as a girl.” Ralph whistled softly. Forrest, looked at. him inquiringly. “You don’t think any significance is attached to the dress part., Ralph?” Forrest smiled incredulously. “You see. they were so poor, so utterly dissolute. that 1 suppose they just put me into whatever clothes came to hand.”