Hutchinson gazette., 1900-04-12

sally, and the "littiJ fellow" Max,
Ioined heartily In IL.
"Come, III match you in any way
you like" continued Sandy, "Come,
low-rowing, riding, running, wrest.
ing-which shall IL be? Come, ! dare
you, Max Guerney."
A little murmur OF approval ran
lround the group, and the boys wait
I'd for MuN's reply Well they knew
he would never refuse dare,
~, as the challenged party have O
ight TO choose the weNpons?" inter.
'ogated Max, with n side glance from
Ms laughing black eyes, "Well, then,
I'll neither ride, nor row, nor rth,
nor wrsete; but I'll saw wood with
you, Sandy, and you may beat me il
you cam
What n clamor OF high boyish
Voices met him.
"Oh, no foollng, now"
"Whosc wood?"
"IIn! hn! hal"
"I'n tell YOU" MaX's voice rose
slear above the tumult, "I'm in ear.
nest enough. There's old Uncle Ma.
,han Blines and his wife, poorer than
louble-distilled poverty and nobody
10 do n hands turn for 'em since 'Siah
lied. ! saw Uncle Nathan chewing at
his woodpile. You know they hauled
him some cord wood last winter,
your father, Sandy, and mine, and two
or three others, and ] made up my
mind TO go over and saw for him
some Saturday, anyway, poor old fell
low. There's pretty near five cords
IF wood, guess, and we'll have some
body divide and measure ii for us
Then wen saw to win, and II you
whip me in II, Sandy, the next Satur.
lay I'll match you in splitting and
housing II for him. What do you
say?"
Sandy Joined in the cheers and
laughter with the utmost good ma.
mre.
"Done," nodded he. am do IT,"
Up spoRe n slim, wiry fellow ut his
,lhow "You shan't do the whole NJ
t. Say, Charlie Bucbcc, I'll split fcn
sandy and YOU for MnN,"
"Agreed," soid Chaplic
And we'll wheel in for You two,
Art IIunphrew and IT, declared
Sundy's brother, Jack, "Won't we
Art?"
"Whew! How far my li'tlc candle
.hrows ita hcamM" liughed Mas, "ln
tell you, boys, We might have the
match in luclc Nathan's hnoli yard;
charge - r"nts or so admission and
give Uncle Nathan the money"
"Hoorny!" shouted Reub Story
'My brother Fob works in the Gear.
endon Star Office and III get him to
print our handbills, lie owes me 10
cents anyway"
"Good for you, Reub" cried Max,
'Grand saving match! Ditto split.
ting match! Ditto wheeling! Fif.
teen cents admission. Children full
price Gate open from 10 n. m, to p,
m. Good enough"
Next day the prospective saving
match was noised about the town,
md n day or two later the handbns
were out, II made n great deal OF
talk, both sportive and serious, in
the little village,
"Tt's a very good idee-a mst-rate
ldec," That was Captain Winty Cool.
dge, you might know. at larns the
boys that miXin' Kindness to other
folks with their fun don't hur
nuthin', It's wuth quarter and
I'm a-goin' to pay IT,"
There was every indication that the
saving match would be grand sue
cess financially.
81 don't believe the back yard will
hold 'em ALL" laughed Max to the
half-dozen boys who with him were
taking their way homcward after
school Friday night. "lIave you got
the tickets, Reuh?"
eyes, ahundred and fifty OF 'em.'
Good; now all we want Is n fair
day."
TTazy clouds veilcd the burning face
pf the sun, and there was cool
breeze blowing, The saving was to
begin at o'clock, and before that
time the board benches ranged along
the back yard fence were filed with
merry lookers-on. Uncle Nathan sat
In his low yine-draped doorway.
bcaming at everybody over his brass
bowed spectaclSs. There were Max
md Sandy fresh and smiling. with
theill saws; Dick and Charlie. with
their axes, and JEk and Arthur with
4 4