The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-17

hain't got nothin' on'y thist the clothes on his backi'
 Yes and I bet" broke in the milk faced boy, abruptly, with his thin lips compressed, and his big eyes fixed on space-"yes. and l bet he kin lick Billy Kinzey, ef his arm Is broke!'
 At this juncture some one inside coming to raise the window, the boy at the broken pane leaped to the ground and, fiocking at his heels, his frightened com rades bobbed one by one over the horizon of the high fence and were gone in an in- stant.
 So 1t was that the hero of this sketch came to be known as '"The Boy from Zeeney."
 The Boy from Zeeny. though evidently predisposed to novel and disastrous hap penings for once, at least, had come up- on a streak of better fortune; for the doc tor, 1t appeared, had someway taken a fancy to him, and had offered an asylum at his own home and hearth-the com pensation stipulated. and suggested by the boy himself. being a conscientious and efficient service in the doctors sta- ble. Even with his broken arm splinted and bandaged and supported in a sling, The Boy from Zeeny could be daily seen loping the doctors spirited horse up the back alley from the stable to the office, with the utter confidence and careless grace of a Bedouin. When, at last, the injured arm was wholly we'll again, the daring feats of horsemanship or which the boy was capable were listened to with incredulity by the 'good' boys of the village school, who never played nook ey' on long summer afternoons, and, in consequence. never had a chance of wit messing The Boy from Zeeny lopin' up to the swimmin' hole" a mile from town. barebacked, with nothing but a halter. and his face turned toward the horses $ tail In fact, The Boy from Zeeny dis played such a versatility of accomplish ments, and those, too, of a character but faintly represented In the average boy of the country town, that, for all the admir- alton their possessor evoked, an equal en- " was aroused in many a youthful breast.
 The boys in this towns down on your said a cross-eyed, freckled-faced boy, one town?" said The Boy from Zeeny. The Boy from Zeeny was sitting In the alley window of the hay loft of the doc tors stable, and the cross-eyed boy had paused below, and, with his noward-look- ing eyes upturned, stood waiting the eff. feet of this intelligence.
 What do l care fer the boys in this town?" said The Boy from Zeeney. "The boys of this town" repeated the cross-eyed boy, with a slow prophette flourish of his head-"the boys in this town says cause you come from Zeenv | and blacked Bill Kinsey's eye. at VOL think you're goin to run things round here! And you'll find out you aint the bosst O this town!" and the cross-eved boy shook his head again with dire fore | boding
 ''Looky here, Cockyi" said The Boy from Zeeny, trying to focus a direct gaze l on the boys delusive eyes, "w'y don't | you talk straight out from the shoulder I reckon the boys in this town as you | call 'em, didn't send you round here tc | tell me wat they was goin' to dol But ef you want to take it up fer 'em, and | got any sand to back you, jest say it and I'll come down there and knock then durn twisted eyes O yourn straight ag'inl'
 Yes. you willr' muttered the cross, eyed boy, with dubious articulation glancing uneasily up the alley
 "Whatg' growled The Boy from Zeeny thrusting one dangling leg farther out the window, supporting his weight by the palms of his hands, and poised as though about to spring-"w'at id yor say?"
 Didn't say nothin'' said the cross l eyed boy. feebly: and then. as sudder