so but was not the of the sure and contented himself with them as they flashed by they acknowledged the warning promptly and on the next turn of the path as promptly forgot it which is also a custom of boys in bright colored shooting out through the entrance to golden gate park they turned into san and took the long sweep of the descending hills at a rate that caused to turn and watch them anxiously through the city streets the bright flew turning and twisting to escape climbing the hills and when the steep hills were doing to see which would first gain the top the boy who more often hit up the pace led the and the was called joe by his companions it was follow the leader and he led the and in the bunch but as they into the western addition among the large and brother and sister table his laughter became less loud and frequent and he unconsciously in the rear at and streets his companions turned off to the right so long he called as he turned his wheel to the left so long see you to night they called back � i can t come he answered aw come on they begged i ve got to dig � so long as he went on alone his face grew grave and a vague worry came into his eyes he began resolutely to whistle but this away till it was a thin and very subdued little sound which ceased altogether as he rode up the to a large two house oh joe he hesitated before the door to the library was there he knew working up her lessons she must be nearly through with them too � i the of the for she was always done before dinner and dinner could not be many minutes away as for his lessons they were as yet untouched the thought made him angry it was bad enough to have one s sister � and two years younger at that � in the same grade but to have her continually head and shoulders above him in was a most intolerable thing not that he was dull no one knew better than himself that he was not dull but somehow � he did not quite know how � his mind was on other things and he was usually unprepared joe � please come here there w as the slightest possible plaintive note in her voice this time well he said thrusting aside the with an impetuous movement he said it but he was half sorry for it the next instant when he saw a slender little girl regarding him with wistful eyes across the big reading table heaped with books she was curled up brother and sister with pencil and in an easy chair of such generous dimensions that it made her seem more delicate and fragile than she really was what is it he asked more gently crossing over to her side she took his hand in hers and pressed it against her cheek and as he stood beside her came closer to him with a movement what is the matter joe dear she asked softly won t you tell me he remained silent it struck him as ridiculous to confess his troubles to a little sister even if her reports were higher than his and the little sister struck him as ridiculous to demand his troubles of him what a soft cheek she has he thought as she pressed her face gently against his hand if he could but tear himself away � it was all so foolish only he might hurt her feelings and in his experience girls feelings ere very easily hurt the of the she opened his fingers and kissed the of his hand it was like a rose leaf falling it was also her way of asking her question over again nothing s the matter he said and then quite he out father his worry was now in her eyes but father is so good and kind joe she began why don t you try to please him he does n t ask much of you and it s all for your own good it s not as though you were a fool like some boys if you would only study a little bit � that s it he exploded tearing his hand roughly away even you are beginning to lecture me now i suppose the cook and the stable boy will be at it next he his hands into his pockets and looked forward into a melancholy and desolate future filled with interminable lectures and innumerable was that what you wanted me for he demanded turning to go brother and sister she caught at his hand again no it was n t only you looked so worried that i thought � i � her voice broke and she began again what i wanted to tell you was that we re planning a trip across the bay to next saturday for a tramp in the hills who s going what that little he interrupted i don t think she is a answered with spirit she s one of the sweetest girls i know which is n t saying much considering the girls you know but go on who are the others pearl and her sister and and french and that s all the girls joe who are the fellows then and dick lay ton and � the of the that s enough milk and water all of them i � i wanted to ask you and and she said in a voice that s what you in for � to ask you to come and what are you going to do he asked walk gather wild flowers � the are all out now � eat luncheon at some nice place and � and � come home he finished for her nodded her head 