The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-09

mower in front of him, and that cuff
| on the ear lasted him for three whole
| blocks. Then he saw bob-tailed dog
| trotting along the other side of the
! street. He began to wonder whether
the dogs tail had been cut off when he
was puppy or after he was grown
up, and whether it was cut off with an
ak Or by being shut in a door, and the
against a man who was carrying a
bundle on his shoulder The man and
his bundle went down, but they got UP,
in about two seconds and seized Hum
Ply by the coat collar and .batted his
feet against the fence and growled out:
Run an Internal old lawn mower
against me, will you'll BY thunder, but
If you have barked my shins and cry
sipelas or lockjaw sets in I'll have you
hung by the neck ~e-e4-- -
Humpy was dazed and so slow about
getting started that the Warner boy,
who was on his way to school, over
took him and said e.
.sTou could sue that man and getva-
million dollars out of him. All you
was doing was going along. Does it
push easy, Hump?'' rs .s
Yes :. .-.s,
you hold my books and femme
push it few rods. We are going TO
get one next year to NOV our grass,
and want to surprise dad. You are a.
good boy, Hump. If Christopher Co.
lumbus came along with a lawn-mow-
er and I asked him to let me push IT
he'd tell me to go to. You hain't that
kind, and all the boys know it, and
you ought to hear how we'll they speak
of you. Isn't that goat tied to a
tree down there ?''
EIt looks like it, -
''Then I'm going to run the mower
at him and see him jump. Say, III
bet I'll scare him half to death. A
Teller once told me"
But you mustn't interrupted Hum
by, as he reached for the handle
But the Warner boy did. He started
off on a run, with the mower wheeling
and rafting and paid no attention to
Humpy's call. The goat saw him COM
ing and knew what was up. He was
their ways for five years. He stood
with his legs stiff and his head up,
and just as the mower was about to
run him down he made a bound to one
side. Then he turned and hunted the
boy in the back. and Humpy found
the three all mixed up on.thex grass.
He had just come up when an old
woman arrived with a club. She didn't
she whacked away with all her might
When the Warner boy had fed for his
life and Humpy had skipped across
the street and the goat was smelling
of the mower to see If it was good to
eat. she called out:
Never in all my life did I see such
conduct. III have you arrested for try
ing to murder my soat!"
1T wasn't me-" protested Humpy.
But you set the other boy on, and
if there was a policeman about you
should go to the jug. VIII anyone |
tell me what this country, is coming |
to? Take your old machine and away |
with YOU
Humpy got possession of the mower |
and started off down the street. He |
was now within three blocks of his |
destination, and he could see neither |
boys nor goats ahead of him. 1t I
seemed easy enough to make the rest |
of the distance, but he had only start
ed to cross the street when a butcher |
cart came along on the zip. The driv-
er called out. but Humpy was looking |
at a little girl with a cat in her. arms,
and next minute the deed was done. |
The cart ran over the mower and left |
only the handle in his hands. I
BOY" said a policeman who had
seen it all. do you know enough to |
come in when it rains -
Mono sir" replied Humpy.
That's what I thought. If was
father to such a boy as you I'd bat
some sense into his head :zazs. "a,
Yes, SIR q $3.50 II. e4efl,
70 Don't talk back to me- cTalee otha t7r
handle on your shoulder and n1akeria
skate for somewheres.'' 79t17fccE rS-l1 ii
But where's my skates sir %
The officer made a jump for him.
but the honest and innocent Humpy
headed for home.-(Copyright 1905,
nv Mcclure