Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-09-26
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
SAVING A REPUTATION


Ralph had moved almost 20 tho end
'ot his swa,h when the wi"atle from
tine nearby Town lo'd MIN that it Was
noon. lie dropped his srytho. took OF
his hat, and wiped the thick drops Of
rcrspirauon from his forehead. the
while he glanced with affected uncud'
Germ across his swalh to Sc" how bis
nc!ghbor Jared. pretty stih piece, he
said, ana then stopped abruptly TO
stood alnn" in the field. Gone FOR Jhs
water jug, thought Raiph. ana ne I'M
proved the opportunity to tax" good
look at his neighbofs sWath WIDE
rs mine, dnd-Nes' conloAhu lt!-aP
q! Two feet ahead Of mine.
look OF dlsm1! came mo RaInh s.
face He had been 50 sure "t outdolnS
his nrighD1r ana winning the plize
pledged by the owner OF the held II
me mower VINO Ieveicd the widest
swain III the shoiiehl time" II NAYS
mat cali, SAID Ralph, setlInS MS Jaws
ana cIUlchihg the scyiho handle.
promised that cali TO Emmy.
The lad sent / swift gIansc over ne
Arld. There was no one IN siHht
Queer no" he disappeared so sud
denly Wish ! had not saiu so much
about 1t, but ! was so sure. Hes the
FIRST fellow that ever beat me
CunIOuni IL he sald again, ana
hositated, half hoping to catch Il
glimpse OF his rival or some ne COM
ing across the lot. Then he sent the
srythe through the tall grass, ard
again and again.
Two good feet ahead, he said, and
walked over to the big apple tree close
4 to the wall. swung his scythe over !
/ convenient limb, iished out tin pau
from under the bushes and began hic
MONDAY repast.
! Between the mouthtuIs Ralph took
. more time than usual. The Tread and
, cheese had lost its flavor. and seemed
TO stick in his throat. "Wish ! hadE
Dragged so much about II, he unused:
but | couldn't AFFORD to lose my repu-
tation. nohow,' he concluded.
/ still the bread and cheese refused to
go down, and Ralph tshed around
under the bushes again and brought
out the water jug. 1t was empty, and
he sprang over the wall ana ran down
to the spring. "Halloa!" he exclaimed,
as he was starting back, ana then he
shouted, "Halloa,' and setting the jug
down in shady spot, began TO make
his way through the BURBERRY bushes
toward big nut tree where lad
about his own age sat, his head bent
down and his hands working at some
thing Ralph could not see plainly.
Got a board across his knees said
Ralph. as he drew nearer. Writing. /
swan Then he shouted again, Hal
loa, 10! scratching for a prize COM
position"
The boy under the tree looked mp.
His face was glowing with the JOY OF
victory. writing nome, ne SAID.
And then, as he saw who his question
er was, he tried to moderate his feel
ings a little out of Difference to the
vanQuished. 81 promised the calf 10
Sue he said, as II apologiZlng Tor his
haste.
And promised 1t to Emmy. Sorry
you will haze to disappoint Sue, but
both Of us couldn't have II, you know
What cried 10, springing to his
feet, while the board pencil ana letter
tumDled into the grass.
Did you think you beat asked
Ralph, regarding 10 with an incredu-
lous smile, you ought to know bet
ter than that, 10. No man this side
the Rockies can beat Ralph Horn,
10 was fairer and Of more slender
build than his rival. lie TOOK a long
look at the thlckset figure and the
knotted muscles, y was Il good two
feet ahead he said armly.
Go way said Ralph, indulgen'lT
you were too excited Your eyes de-
ceived you Come right out to tho
iheld ana settle IT, he SAID as 10 be,
gan to speak again.
10 looked puzzled, but unconyInced
as he followed Ralph back to the hay
! E.I