The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-10-22
PETER POND.
An Interesting Story Of Mrs.
Stones Queer Protege.

Stones Queer Protege.
Mrs. Stone, looking up from the ket-
tie in which she was poking something
with a steel fork, discovered the for
lorn, eager figure of boy in the door
way, eying her and the kettle greedily.
I'm Peter-Peter Pond" he said, in
n tone of abashed announcement.
Mrs Stone examined him rapidly.
''Peter Pond?" she questioned.
swell, where'd you drop from?" Her
voice implied doubt and her manner "a
suspicion. She was habitually grudg-
ing of her good opinion, yielding it in
driblets, as q miser delivers up his
store.
aye don't look such Gerry bad boy"
she continued, with concession, plung-
ing her sharp little eyes into him and
then withdrawing them suddenly as if
to examine the wound she had made.
Tho ye may be-" she added with
another stab.
The boy Strengthened himself on both
feet
81 don't reckon I'm much wuss'n
most kids o. my age" he answered, an
expression of resentment crossing his
face in shallow ripple. 81 knoao I've
seen wuss 'uns o. my age" he added.
Mrs. Stone transfXed him with a
basilisk eye.
HAS yer chances fer seein' bad 'uns
been so very eXtensive?" she inquired,
sarcastically. "'Cause if they h'aint,
ye might be mistook, n if they have,
amt sure yed be safe party to have
.aroun'.'
The boys resentment increased.
eff ye don't want me, 1 kin try
somers else" he said.
II amt said l don't want ye-la, how
We do fly off fer shaver! In fact, I'm
Jest tryin' to see if 1 do want We. A
boy orter be able to STAN tryin',
reckon"
'-Oh, yes, I'm able to stan tryin',"
said Peter, with certain grimness.
Mrs Stone jabbed her eyes into him
again.
E'Ever tend baby?' she inquired.
t'Oh, yes"
Like it?''
''Purty we'll"
''Not overly well, eh?"
F'Well, nough so't none o. 'em ever
killed the'rselfs while 1 was lookin'
arter EN-" said Peter.
-'Tend many?"
"'Dead oodles o 'em!"
Mrs. Stones hard features relaxed.
She liked his straightforward, half-de
finat tone. 1t gave her more confidence
than if he had been effusive and pro-
testing. Then she drew down her chin
and snapped her eyes at him once more.
+'Ye sec that child?" she demanded,
pointing dramatically toward sprawl
ing baby on the floor
Feter nodded.
rt'Well, that's my Adelia. Lemme see
how ye kin hold 'er."
The boy took the child upon his knee
with deft assurance.
ftIye raised lots O. 'em," he said, not
referring to this particular act. "More
a 1em n we could shake stick at, :" he
added, smiling down at Adelia, who
gurgled and crowed and made desultory
Aabs at his nose.
Mrs Stones eyes lost something oi
&heir sharpness.
Big family?" she inquired, in g
friendly tone, while she lifted the lie
of the kettle, whose contents were
again boiling over on the stove.
+@Yessem; n I'm the oldest. That
stuff smells good in there. Corn beef
amt it?"
'-Yes," replied Mrs. Stone, absently
-1'We7re goin' to have billed dinner.
Then with quick glance of compre
hension: Good lands! ye amt hun
CRY, hope?"
Peter exhaled long breath.
@'Pll show ye if yen try me-" he an
sWered, with an anticipatory sigh.
Mrs Stone tried him at once. "Well
good land! The idea o. havin' starvin
Kid aroun'" she said, as she sat dowr
with Adelia on her lap and watched
him. "Have some more? La! we take
1T in like ye was an empty barl!'
When he had eaten his fill, the baby
was transferred to his arms, and hi
held her quite easily. Mrs. Stone
nodded approvingly. "Ye'll do" she
said. "They's folks t nachelly tends
GO hOsses, m they's folks t nachelly
tends TO babies; N / reckon ye're Ode
o. 'em"
And with this ambiguous approva
the family.
Peter had reached the ranch late on
midsummer forenoon. He told Mrs
Stone he had slept out of doors the
might before.
-'Well! M whered ye come from?'
she inquired.
"Eden City"
s'FollSs live there?"
@-No."
--Well, how'd yOu happen to be there
1hen?''
A change came over Peters face.
II rode there on the cars"
Mrs Stone was stabbing her eyes int
him from all sides now, while her hare
little knob of hair seemed to rise anC
point with suspicion.
swell, where'd ye ride from, them
n child o. yOaY age" The words amount
ed TO an accusation of awful things.
Peter drew himself up little anC
settled Adelia firmly ON his knee.