The Washington times., 1902-05-04
A COUPLE OF KIDS.
By ALICE D. BAUKHAGE.

Guantances generously allowed the re-
membrance of unfragrant details to slip
out of their minds. They were sorry for
Gus to be caught like that; that is, until
after the advent Of the Kid from that
time on any of them would gladly have
stepped into Gus shoes and shouldered
the burden of a faded camp beauty for thu
privilege of owning. or, more correctly
! speaking, being owned by the Kid.
! AS baby he was a thing of beauty in
| spite of the yellow flannel petticoats and
| indigo crocheted sacks with which his
mother adorned him. AS toddIer he was
| tewitching, albeit his gingham slip was
often artificially stifened with molasses
and whatever other food remained on his
active fingers after meals. AS five
yeay-old he was still eherubic in his
diminutive trousers and all-embracing
sweater"
| In the first days of her motherhood
Mrs. Saxton had spoken OF the child as
Simon Henry. explaining to visiting fem
ininity that the first appellation was in
honor OF poor pa" commonly known
as Dryhone SD. and the second for dear
brother who died young tat Butte City
of strangulationl but as the novelty of
her position wore off she followed the
son as the Kid
small house had been built some little
distance down the trail for the accommo-
dation of the new family, and though the
madam" kept pretty closely indoors
(where it was suspected that she ex-
tracted more comfort from a certain fiat
bottle than from her family. Gus and the
Kid ate and bunked as it happened, and
the latter invariably spent the long days
with the men at the hole
AS rule lumbermen are a decent lot,
but even their conversation, taken ver-
batim, might not always look well in
print. and since the Kid went and
came as he chose, and might at any time
attach himself to any particular group.
it was agreed that only dictionary Lam
guage should be used. Never but once
had this unwritten law been violated, and
that was when Jim Pendleton had fatty
refused to tack when the kid" sud
denly presented himself among them. Gus
himself had warned him, but, though he
looked the latter straight in the eye. he
finished The tale with u particularly often
sive oath.
The others had Il oked up In surprise
when. instead OF resenting the insult. Gus
led the child away, and though he was a
general favorite, and the camp was a
peaceatle one. it was agreed almost
unanimously that he ought to have made
Jim back water or take the conse
quences.
Some days after this Sunday Mcdonald
made an astounding discovery. His pile"
was missing from its corner in his bunk. |
1t had not been hidden. to be sure. and |
anyone might have taken 1t. but just as |
easily might he have taken theirs, and as |
the one was impossible. so was the other.
Sandy was silent and miserable. Then, |
a few days later, Hickshaw's bag was
Hickshaw also was miserable, /
and confided his misery to Mcdonald.
That afternoon the two observed the
Kid putting small stones In u canvas bag |
ON which the letters s. NJ. were boldly
stenciled. When they questioned the boy
he very cheerfully admitted that his
mother had given him the bag and that
she had told him his father had given it
to her.
That night Gus was detained at the
bunk room and interviewed. He turned
pale at the accusation and paler still
when he was shown the bag and told the
,hild's story, but he denied the charge.
Bill Saxton had gone to town for sup
plies and Jim Pendleton had followed
he next day. complaining of toothache
md declaring that he would overtake
Bill In his haste to reach dentist. There
vas full quorum left. however. and
Stand close. and death to traitors" was
heir simple code.
Mrs. Saxton came In tears when sum-
moned. with many protestatious of her