Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-03-23

children gathered. she saw, with a
sinking heart, that both Pete and
the lag were missing. Her fears
were not allayed by the remarks With
which the children greeted her.
"Mtss Katy, Pete's been took off
in the patrol wagon this from a
little boX whose envy at Pete's no.
toriety, was i'll concealed.
"Miss Katy, he was a-flghtin'
awfullY about your bag"
81 seen him knocked down."
IA man said he'd bust his head
OPEN"
Certainly something had happened;
but hopeless of obtaining reliable in.
formation from such an excitedgroup.
order was called for, and tho days
work went On. What a long, long,
morning it was, and how she missed
the merry smile ana roguish twinkle
Of the blue eyes! She realized now
how the boy had wound himself
about her heart. Could he, indeed,
bea thief A thief! Her little Pete,
of whom she had hoped 50 much?
The children went home alone that
afternoon, for Miss Katy stayed be-
hind to arrange some work for the
following day. She was bending
over a table, with her back to the
door, when the well-known creak
made her turn quickly, hoping against
hope. A burly policeman filed the
doorway meeting her glance with a
friendly nod; for Officer Smith was
always a welcome guest at the kim
%dergarten, having helped the teacher
in many ways. In his hand he held
the little bag that Pete had carried
SO proudly.
"Here's you bag. Miss Katy" he
said, with a smile, sand 1 guess
you'll want to hear how Icame by ii.
~ am almost afraid to ask. Did
Pete steal it?:"
"Steal it,: Not he! That there
Pete's the gamcst little cock l ever
did see" settling himself against the
wall, with the evident intention of
getting all out of the story it was
worth. "Why, bless you! no sooner
were you of yesterday when Dan
Granger cume down on the little fell
low, and ordered him to give up the
bag. You know Dana big fellow
about l6, and the bully of his ward.
And what do you think Pete done?
Set off to run first as fast as his legs
would carry him, and when he seen
that wouldn't work, put the bag be-
hind him against a wall, and stood
there, that little chap, ready to fight
that hulking fellow. .IIl knock the
life out of you Dan said, and Pete
answered up as game as you please.
You won't get it until you do, Dan
Granger Bless your eyes! they were
in the thick of it when l come round
the corner, and that Granger took
off pretty sharp while Pete-he run
right into my arms, put the bag in.
my hand. and tumbled over in a
faint. with the blood running from
a big cut in his head.
The tears were falling as Miss Katy
asked eagerly:
"But where is he now? Have you
taken him to the hospital? The chill
dren said he was carried off in a pa-
trol-wagon."
The big man looked a little sheep
ish as he answered:
"nc amt gone to no hospital, Miss
Katy. The doctor at the station
house said he "a not much hurt, and
a little care would put him on his
feet again"
"You did not take him back to
that dreadful place." clasping her
hands in distress.
A smile chased itself over his face,
and he spoke half alphabetically:
mo. he hain't gone back there"
"Then where is he?:" wondering If
she would ever solve the mystery Of
his whereabouts.
Then he drew closer to her, and,
looking yer his shoulder furtively,
answered in a hoarse whisper:
"Well, you see. Miss Katy, he was
such a game little chap it seemed as
If he'd ought to have a chance, SO 1
spoke to my wife, and-and-well,
she's been grieving awful for the lit
tie fellow we lost last year, so she just
held out her arms, and I put Pete
into them, and there he's going to
stay"
Miss Katy took the big red fist in
her two hands and gave it a hearty
shake.
"You good man. God will surely
bless you BOTH" then seeing his
embarrassment, and the anxious
look he turned to the door, as though
contemplating immediate flight,
changed the subject by asking:
"But Mrs. Browne"
"She amt got one bit of claim
on that boy, hut 1 thought I'd
better shut up her mouth
with a dollar or two. I guess
she'll drink herself to death with the
money, but she was bound to do that
sooner or later. Pete's just about
wild to see you, and 1 promised him
I'd ask you TO step around after
school"
Pete, in a clean, white bed for
the first time in his life, and his
wounded head bound up most scien-
tiically. was perfectly unembarressed
BY the elegance of his surroundings,
but met Miss Katy's eyes with the