The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-09-23

AS the shadows Of tha trees length
ened on the lake and the water dark
ened in the twilight, Perry would some
times take boat and row for an hour
or two, after walking around through
the deserted woods to pick up things
lost by the picnickers. : / - s,;;..- ;.. :. -.
The keeper Of the cafe always set
out Perry's supper, and then left fo-
Crofton. After eating his lonely meal,
time would drag slowly with the boy
Until nine o'clock, when he turned in'
for the night. He slept in a bare little
room at one end of the cafe building
an unpainted and upholstered struc-
ture. 49, :: w. -..
AS the season advanced, the loneH-
ness Of Perrys nights came to an end,
but he would have preferred solitude
to the company that then resorted to
the grounds. Nearly every night the
| place was visited by tramps, whose
shouts and quarrels and brawls IN
situation. ~' '.-'
| The tramps would wander around
the grove, picking up and eating the
food thrown away by picnic parties,
before going to sleep in the dancing
pavilion or on the long covered piazza
| in front Of the cafe. Here little that
could be stolen or eaten was kept over
night by the proprietor, who took his
stock in trade to Crofton every even
ing and returned in the morning before
the arrival of picnic trains.
| The tramps never came around in the
day time, and Perry tried to believe
| that they were ignorant Of the fact
that he had money in his possession.
Usually they paid little attention to
| him. ...-
Perry's instructions were that he
should send to the city every Thursday
morning his receipts for the three pre-
1'vious, days, and bring in with him on
Saturday night the money taken during
the three closing days of each week.
On Wednesday night of the fifth week
of his stay his takings from three large
picnics on successive days amounted
to nearly a hundred dollars. T..
The money made a package of con-
siderable size. Almost half was in sill
Fver, and the rest in: bills: Perry had it
all tied up in. a handkerchief.
The third picnic party left the grove
at 5 in the afternoon and Perry was
alone on the grounds, sitting in one of
the boats counting the money. He had
made the silver into piles of five dollars
each and the bills he was running over
in his hands. Suddenly he was startled
by a shout.
Good morning replied Perry, gath
ering up the money and putting it back
into the handkerchief.
kind o. struck it rich, amt you,
young feller?' said one of the men,.
| NO.. replied Perry, II haven't. It
isn't my money
| "Oh, it hain't? Whose might it be,
/ then?" :-..
! 1T belongs to the company that
owns the grounds y ~. sz.:5g<<
/ While he WIS speaking he picked up
the oars and sent the boat out from the
shore. - . ,s': - - ~
Where are you going?' called one Of
the men.
Nowhere in Particular said Perry,
still rowing.
.'Well,> wait a minute, We want to
talk to you"
Il haven't got time" called out Perry,
rowing faster than ever. =.
The two men exchanged few words
which the boy could not heac Then
they jumped into another boat and
rowed after Perry, who now threw of
his coat, and rowed as hard and fast
as he could
He had learned to row very well at
the lake, and was well out ON the
water before the tramps started. But
they were two to one, and he soon re-
| allied that they were gaining on him.
They shouted to him to stop, declar-
ing that they meant him no harm; but
he paid no heed, and rowed on stead
lily. They were gaining, and Perry
feared that the two boats would reach
the opposite shore at the same time.
But one of the tramps broke an oar
Ihe men became angry, and called out:
| Were after that money, and we'u
have it, boy! It'n be the worse for YOU
If you don't stop!'
| Perry's boat grated on the pebbly
bank about twenty feet in advance Of
his pursuers': The boy jumped out and
ran swiftly through a narrow strip of
timber to a wagon road, on the opposite
side OF which was a field in which a.
tall, thin, elderly farmer was cutting
grass with a scythe: Perry slipped be-
tween the rails Of the fence and ran
toward the farmer.
| 'Help me to defend myself! he
shouted to the astonished man. There
are two tramps after me. They're after
the money that isn't mine. Here they
| arew e.. =:
The tramps came running across the
road, jumped the fence and advanced
boldly:
"Hand over that money of ours, YOU
young thief, you!'' said one, and shook
his fist at Perry, who was standing
close to the farmers side.
| ssV0y1r rnnnor3,, oc;1~ Doe
nantly: TT isn't your money, and you
can't touch it!' =: ar. 80.
1--WE can't, hey? See if we don't!'
he advanced few steps.
Hold on, my friend,' said the farm
er. Jest stop right where you air
until we talk this matter over. Now,
boy, you go on and give us: your side Of
the case" = = 80 =
"It belongs to the owners Of the lake
grounds I have charge; Of sthe boats
over there, and these fellows have been
trying to take it from me-, 5@ =.
"Wea, If that amt good onev'
sneered one of the stramps. But it