The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-07-05
AFTER HTS FIRST LESSON.

What the dickens are you thinking
of, Hal?" demanded Garth Tenant as
he impatiently regarded the blue-eyed,
lbroad-browed lad, who was serving
him as model for the central figure
in his picture.
1t represented a young Christian
Briton boldly renouncing the gods OF
his fathers before the primitive tri-
bunal formed by the wild warriors Of
his tribe. He was clad in parti-col-
pred tunic, which revealed the firm
molding of his throat, and supple
strength of limb with the sunbrowned
warmth of coloring.
II be thinking I'll let Dick CARMEL
feel the weight O. my fist next time us
meet" answered Hal Pollok.
II must request that you don't en-
ter into any such pugilistic encounter
until this picture is finished. You've
come here to pose as martyr, not as
prize fighter"
"a martyr? What's that, sir?"
queried Hal, with an ignorance that
did not surprise Tenant, knowing as 7
he did the wild, almost barbaric life
that this lad of 10 led among the fish
ers and smugglers of the Cornish
coast.
"a fellow who would rather die the
death than 60 against his conscience"
he answered.
And what's his conscienceY
THAT something within you which
tells you what is right and what Is
wrong is your conscience. And you
must heed it, through thick and thin,
3|if you would be like my young hero
here"
4 A few deft touches of his brush hap
|pily caught the enthusiastic ardor his
words had brought to the lads express
sive features.
Poor old Scamp! That sneakin'
Dick went fiingin' stones ut him, and
one of 'em hit his paw" said Hal, with
q return Of the bulldog" expression.
And, gently picking up the mongrel
dog, he showed Tenant bad cut on
the muddy little hook.
"Humph, that's bad," he said. "Hold
him minute and I'll put wet rag
round it. So this is the reason you are
wanting to pitch into that bully?'
GAY, and I'll have it ~out WI him,
too" declared Hal, fondling the dogs
head, while Tenant dexterously ban
daged the injured limb.
There, keep the rag wet, and I will
see to it again tomorrow" he said,
kindly.
I In the early part of the night a
goodly vessel struck on sunken reef,
and since the first streak of dawn
more than half the population of the
village had been busy securing what
they could lay hands on. Tenant, at
work on his picture, had Just succeeded
IN producing the desired CLINT when a
whining and scratching at the door at
tracted his attention, and on throwing
1t open he found Scamp minus his
master.
!. There was no mistaking or resist
Ing this dumb appeal SO, picking up
his cap, he followed the dog down the
steep stairs of the old-fashioned house
where he had taken up his quarters.
Scamp led the way in bee line for
the sea-facing hollow, where nestled
| the lonely cottage Of the Pollicks.
Passing in through the open door
J, Tenant found himself in long, mar
row room, at one end of which wo-
man sat swaying her bowed form be-
side a trundle bed. On the pillow lay
the bandaged head of Hal Pollok,
look Of patiently endured pain about
his closed eyelids and ashen lips.
81 know Scamp been and fetched
ZEE WI his bad leg, too| said the boy,
feebly caressing the nose that was
thrust into his palm.
"How came he like this? What has
happened"
: She burst into tears and wrung her
hands in mute distress.
A quick suspicion came to the art.
list.
"Surely 1t was never your father
who did you this mischief" said Ten.
nsnt, bending shocked look on the
boys bandaged head.
Bimeby when be gone," he be-
; gan, slowly, II wish tiiee'd tell mother
r bolt the chap in the picture. She'd
. know Their why wouldn't listen to
3 her-'twas worse going agin her wishes
! nor fathers threats"
''What did he want you to do?"
asked Tenant, his heart swelling with
wrath. *,
II wish zee wouldn't ask me. sir,
cause I can't tell ZEE" he said, plead
! lngly.
From what heard coming along I
think I can guess; he wanted you to
fire some beacon. Was 1t decoy
oneY
"Ay, SIR was the reluctant affirma-
tive. 1--we done it more'n once, but
last night that voice you told. me o.,
1t KEEP sayin' quite plain, It's wrong,
It's wrongv and so wouldn't do it,"
!. The dog whined uneasily and jump
ing on the bed fell to licking his mas.
ter's other hand.
poor old Scamp! don't know
what'l become o. 'ee," he said, mourn
> fully.
Don't let that trouble you," said
Tenant, patting the dogs head.
Scamp shall make his home with me,
) and ], promise you he shall find me a
) kind MASTER
. "Ah, thank zee, sir, thank 'ee," said
the dying boy, with grateful relief.
And thon ho In cl1op<