The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-10-17
.1AAANANANNANANANANA/\A
TIFF TRIUMPH OF |
BAREFOOT TOM !
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

IlHVVN
f was early in March when he first
tood up in line with the Bancroft's
~, p boys or the 3. B. BIS, as they
r.ro called for short.
:, tbe long row of black stockingeFi
.,s his bare brown ones made dis
,orjont spot. and they certainly looked
mile out of season. None of the
.bor boys had as yet taken off his
-i,tar garments, let alone his shoes
md stockings.
Harry Ashton was the acknowledged
to5or of the class. There had been
Hsentina voices. but until the day
mqt Barefoot Tom crossed the horiZoL
\ 4 his kingdom they had been under
me- breath grumblings.
why don't you wear shoes?" Harry
sked him the first day.
'Ain't got any"
Harry sneered, but one Of the dir
vnting grumblers, seeing perhaps i'll
bns clear eye the qualities of lead
g,bip. said stoutly: Gee, how bully!
wish didn't, Then pa couldn't make
r ne wear EN-" Barefoot Tom wig9led
4 n toes to show the delights of free
lam and grinned in friendliness. That
VAS the beginning. About his life up
h this point he was extremely reti-
4 mt. In the learning of books he was
\ complete ignoramus, but he pos
pssed other qualities that, if they did
hot influence the judgment of grown
Inns TO the boys were certificates of
|lgh quality. He could turn a hand
|rring lightly as a cat, grasp the end
hi a dangling rope, swing straight out
lind turn somersault to earth. hang
|N his toes and nose and perform nu-
ferrous other exploits not less wonder
|hl So it resulted in a short time that
|he B. b. BIS were di9ied into two
factions the Barefoots and the Shod-
dies, Shoddies being applied to the
|OyS who reached the school Shod as
their mothers had sent them, the 9th
|ES having removed the burdensome
hOes and stockings on the way. 1t
would be superfuous to mention the
names Of the leaders.
Then came the circus. OF course ev-
gy boy in the school went. They had
been saving up pennies months ahead
Or the occasion. A few were so unfor-
hnate as to have to go with their
parents, but when the two factions
gathered inside they made two quite
goodly gatherings. There had been Il
number of fights between them lately,
50 they wisely kept on different sides
Of the tent as much as possible.
There never was another such men
sserie, and Barefoot Tom was in his
Cement He seemed to know all about
tigers, wildcats and snakes, and he
held his small audience spellbound.
Decidedly today the Barefoots were
having the best of it.
Is luck would have it, in front of the
performing elephants the two factions
net. "Golly, amt they big. Let's feed
them,' said a Barefooter, suiting his
ictiOn 10 his words. The Shoddies fol
owed suit, and soon the elephants
we're having a fine time chewing up
ne well sucked ends of candy.
Harry had sucked all his candy, and
le was beginning to feel rather out of
" As be looked down he spied the
MOking end of a cigarette and saw
way 10 relight his fading glory. Stand
ng with his legs far apart before
ruge animal whose blanket was in
Elbed Big SAM" he held out his
land with the unlighted end toward
ne elephant. Trustingly Sam extend
y his trunk for the expected dainty,
'nd Harry, turning the cigarette, just
Duched the soft flesh with the burn
ny end. With a roar, Big Sam thrust
lS trunk between the boys legs, seized
ae seat of his trousers and lifted him
U his feet. At the sight of Harry's
rsS dangling in the air the boys burst
mo shout of laughter. but stopped
Y terror as they saw that the elephant
'aS shaking the boy in fury, stamping
DS ieet and roaring. The keepers came