The Little Red Chimney

A candy wagon on a busy city corner becomes a meeting place for people whose lives might otherwise remain separate. On a rainy October afternoon, its owner helps a young woman who has fallen during the confusion surrounding a traffic accident. A talkative reporter, an observant child and an elderly neighbor known as the Miser share the scene. Mary Finley Leonard builds her love story from such encounters, with street life and social distinctions close at hand.

The Candy Man's resemblance to the reporter's prosperous cousin adds another complication to appearances and status. His feelings for Miss Bentley make him painfully aware of his occupation, while a shabby philosophical book prompts him to reconsider his discouragement. His practical care for the ailing Mr. Knight gives kindness a place alongside romantic hopes. Readers interested in courtship across social boundaries will find humor, wounded pride and small acts of neighborly attention.