The Washington bee., 1901-05-18
THE CONDUCT OF JIM

''You don't know the first thing about
raising children" said Mrs. Delabar Jones
to her sister, Mrs. James Hurst. James
is a year younger than my Percy, and yet
you let him roam about as if he were
man. Here he has taken my boy away,
and goodness knows where they may be
or what coarse children they may come
in contact with"
"Well, Carrie, there's no need to worry,
said Mrs. Hurst. Jim knows Chicago bet
ter than l do, and he'll b, home before
dinner time. l suppose they have gone
over to the lake to play"
"By the lake." shrilled Carrie. "You
say it as if boys were never drowned IN
the lake. Why, Percy would no more think
OF walking alone in the streets or of going
near the water than OF fighting or swearing.
You shouldn't permit James to do it, either.
He'll grow up into regular ruttian or some
thing worse"
'"Oh, don't know" mused Mrs. Hurst,
with a vicious little jerk of her needle.
"Pd hate to see him a milksOp. If he did
fall into the lake he'd probably swim out
all right"
Mrs Jones ''Nonsensel" was followed
by a silence till her sister asked:
Can Percival swim!'
''No, he can't swim, and what's more,
don't propose that he ever shall learn in
a vulgar, exposed place the way James did.
When he's old enough l shall send him
TO the natatorium to a good master"
"It's well you can afford it," said the
other. II can't, and Jim wouldn't wait for
that, anyhow. He's just a hsTum- m-scarum
boy. know, and I'm glad of it, too"
"Well, if they're not home in ten min
utes I'm going to get policeman to look
for them" said Mrs. Jones.
Then Nfr. Hurst came in and his sister.
in-law pounced upon him.
James" she began, that boy of yours
has taken Percy away and is keeping him
out until I'm almost insane with worry
| You and Jane haven't the slightest idea
| of what is due 10 your child. He's a regu-
| lar bully. Why, only to-day he skinned
| Percy's neck playing cowboy with a rope.
| Now he's got my darling out of my sight
| and there's no telling what he may do"
| How did Jim get him out? Drag him
out with a rope"
NO. he didn't. l suppose he would if
he had dared"
"Quit worrying, Carrie" Jane broke in
| "The boys are all right. If they're not
| here when dinner is ready Mr. Hurst will
go for them"
Give them plenty of time 20 get
drowned! Well, 1 won't. I'll go myself. F."
Mrs. Jones rushed for her hat.
Cool off, Carrie said Hurst. eff moth
! ing else viii suit you I'll go for Percy. You
! surely don't think Jim is going to Kill him,
do you? Why, he's year older than Jim,
anyhow, and he ought TO be able TO take
care of himself before dark"
Hurst went out after the boys, and the
two women sat IN silence.
Dinner was on the table when Percy came
in, alone.
where's JIM" asked Mrs. Hurst.
cover in the park fighting, said the boy,
breathlessly.
Hurst brought his son in a moment later.
Jim's clothes were covered with mud his
coat was torn and his nose was bloody.
His father took him into the bathroom.
divested him of his tatters, washed his face
and tried his best 10 make him presenta,
bic.
When the boy appeared at the table he
wore his Sunday clothes and white shirt
waist, bat his swollen proboscis and the
growing shadow over his left eve pro
claimed his disgrace. Mrs. Jones fairly
glowered at him, Percy kept his eyes of
Jim and Mrs. Hurst looked distressed but
defiant. There was gleam of merriment
m Hurst's eyes. Jim seemed to be oblivious
Of the strained relations and uneonsciou.
Of his own degradation.
'Whateha run fur" asked jim.
Percy feigned deafness, blushed anc
glanced at his mother.
"Whatcha run fur, Pe-ce? Wuz VI
> skeered o tn big duffer?"
"Such vulgarity! Don't answer him
,, PERCY" commanded Mrs Jones.
jim watched Mrs. Jones out of the cor
ner Of his inflated eye for nearly a minute
and then he said: "Aunt Carrie, that ki,
o yourn is a stiff"
"Jim!"
"Jim!"
The parents looked aghast as they mad
| these exelamations.
He's little gentleman, that's what d
-! Is, and Mrs. Jones glared in triumph a
her sister and her husband
= Hes got yellow streak" CONTINUES
Jim, quite unabashed; hiss a COW"
81 Silence, James," thundered his father
!. whereat the boy resumed his dinner