Courier Democrat., 1904-04-28

failed. I'm going to work hard these
holidays and earn enough money to fin
ish with" said Jack, swinging along be-
side his father.
ayes, indeed" replied the older man,
"While We are all we'll and have plenty
of work to do, we should be contented.
And am having the rest from business
that your mother has so long urged me
to take" he added, laughing.
"Well, here we are at home, and here
are mother and the girls"
Jack bounded up the steps and threw
his arms about sweet-faced little
woman, and kissed his two pretty sisters.
| The Nortons were an affectionate
family and they had not been together
for three years. So they had great
deal to talk of. And such funny things
they did! Alice kissed her father and
asked him if he wasn't glad to leave those
horrid old lessons. And Jack assured
his mother that she was quite grown up.
Then they all went to. supper. And
what a good supper it was! There we're
the delicious fried chicken his mother
had always excelled in: the pickles and
jelly that Alice had made, and Eleanor's
splendid biscuits; and last, but not least,
there was that triumph of cookery
| CNclS Ouo Ac0 AdO q poIG
in preparing the simple feast.
They laughed and chatted. Jack told
college stories, and they had to tell him
all the dear foolish little things one does
not put in letters. After supper, farm
er they knew came and took Jack and
his sisters and the other young people of
the town for delightful hayrack ride in
the moonlight.
But Jack did not always have such
hilarious times. He started out next
day to find work. But desirable posi-
tions seemed to be rather scarce, or, per-
haps our hero overestimated his quail
fications.
At supper, one evening, in the second
week of his job hunting, Mr.. Norton
said, ''Too bad about Bill Higgins tax
ing the typhoid fever, isn't it?', eyes,"
said his wife. s.The doctor told mo to-
day that he thinks he may not get well"
"Who is Bill Higgins?" asked Jack.
| "Oh, he's a good hearted sort of fel-
low who drives tourists from here to
Pixies Peak, for his father, who has the
contract for the season with the Pixies
Peak Transportation Co. They have two
other stages. But Bills rig will be idle
for a time, I fear, for it is hard to get a
competent driver
"What wages dses he get?" Jack ask
ed, carelessly.
Zone hundred per month"
"Why, Jack, you must be thinking Of
applying!" laughed Alice.
Ode" echoed Eleanor; "We can have
free rides whenever we want to, and
just love coaching"
"It is rather serious undertaking.
You would have to take the contract for
the season, good weather and bad
weather. And they drive four horses.
Then there might be hsld-up. It isn't
! likely; but there have been some at
tempts.'
Jack made no further allusion to the
stage. But next morning he went over
to interview his future employer.
William Higgins, senior, was big,
burly man, with loud velce and aggres-
sive manners. But there was humor-
out twinkle in his shrewd gray eyes.
Jack found him at the barn complain
ing to the hired nan of his bad luck.
II could have made thousand dollars
on that rig this summer 1t is fine
season for tourists. But Bill won't be
we'll before fall. What's that you were
saying. young man! Hurry up. I have
no time for dudes"
Jack stated his errand bravely, For
''Faint heart never won-anything" was
his motto.
"What have you been working at?"
Mr.. Higgins asked.
'Going to college,"
$50 you're college boy, eh? Well. |
they're quantity 1 don't take much
stock in. Had any experienced"
"Iwenty-one years." answered Jack.
"Ha! Ha! Ra!' laug ghed Mr.. Higgins,
and slapped his knee. He liked the boys
perseverance. "Experience with horses,
1 mean" he said.
"Oh, yes; am a fine driver. I spent
all my vacations herding cattle on my
uncle, Jim Benson's ranch, before
went to college"
Well, we'll! who'd have thought it! 1
school with him. And there isnta Ben
When can you start?"
''Now," said Jack, hardly trusting his
ears.
II think had better go with you to-
day, to give you some pointers. Flax
round now, Sam, and bring out Bills
team," he concluded, turning to the
hired man.
Together they hitched the four horses
to the big black and yellow tally-h
Then they went around to the depot, get
ting there just in time to meet jolly
party bound for the "Peak."
Jack had glorious day. He found
managing the fine horses and spinning
swiftly through the cool, clear, mountain
air very exhiliarating. Besides, his new
friend proved the best of company. He
was famous story teller, and he regaled
Jack with some of his choicest yarns
At noon, they stopped for dinner at
quaint little tavern in the mountain,
called "Wares Inn"
The gay crowd of tourists thronged
into the little inn, testing the seating ca
pacity of the dining room and laughing
good d-naturedly over the homely fare.
Mr.. Higgins introduced Jack to the
breathless, perspiring little landlord,
who was scurring about like dancing
dervish, trying to wait on every one and
talk to rybody at once. He also
pointed out to him the landlords pretty
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