Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-04-19

were the interlacing tracks and he
yond them cornfield and Billup's
Fork, with its inviting shade of syca-
mores and willows and its tempting
swimming holes.
Suddenly he heard scrambling ON
the opposite side of the fence. and ten
brown fingers clutched the tops of the
boards, then battered straw hat came
on level with the fingers, at the same
instant a bare foot and leg were
thrown over the fence, and the owner
Of the battered straw hat swung him.
self into view. All this while a dog
whined and yelped; then followed a
vigorous scratching sound, and present
ly small, dilapidated looking yellow
cur squeezed itself beneath the fence.
Clarence recognized the intruders. II
was Branyon's boy, Augustus, COM
monty called "Spide," because of his
exceeding slimness and the length of
his legs, and his dog Pink.
As soon as Branyon's boy saw Clar-
ence he balanced himself deftly on the
top Of the fence with one hand and
shaded his eyes elaborately with the
other An amiable if toothless, smile
curled his lips. When he spoke it was
with deep facetiousness.
"Hi, come out from behind that roll
of paper"
But Clarence said not a word. He
puffed away at his cigarette, appar-
emily oblivious of everything save the
contentment it gave him, and as he
puffed Spide's mouth worked and wa
tered sympathetlcally. His secret ad-
miration was tremendous. Here was
Clarence in actual and undisturbed
possession of whole cigarette. He
had to purchase his cigarettes in part
nership with some other boy and 90
halves on the smoking Of them. II
made him feel cheap and common.
Say, got one of them coffin tacks
that amt wOrklng?" he inquired. CIar-
ence gazed off up the tracks, ignoring
the question and the questioncr.
Splde's presence was balm to his soul.
But as one of the Office force of the
Buckhorn and Antioch he felt ce..
tain lofty reserve to be incumbent up
on him. Besides, he and Spide had
been engaged in recent rivalry for
Susie Poppleton's affections. 1t is true
he had achieved brilliant success over
his rival, but that mere schoolboy
should have ventured to oppose him,
a salaried man, had struck him as an
objectionable piece of lmpertinence for
which there could be no excuse.
Spide, however, had taken the mat
ter most philosophlcally. He had rec
ognized that he could not hope to COM
pete with youth who possessed un-
limited wealth, which he was willing
his experience being that the sex was
strictly mercenary and incapable Of a
disinterested love. OF course he had
much admired Miss Poppleton. From
the crown of her small dark head, with
It's tightly braided ''pigtalls," down TO
her trim little foot he had esteemed
her as wholly adorable; but after all,
his affair of the heart had been an af-
fair of the winter only. With the COM
Ing Of summer he had found more Sc
rious things to think OF. He was
learning to swim and to chew tobacco.
The mastering of these accomplish
ments pretty well occupied his time.
Say" he repeated, got another"
Still Clarence blinked at the fierce
sunlight which danced on the rails and
said nothing. Spide slid sklllfully down
from his perch, but his manner had un-
dergone change.
"Who throwed that snlpe away any
how?" he asked disdainfully. Clarence
turned his eyes slowly in his direction
"Lookee here You fellows got to
keep out of these yards or I'll tell Nc
Cllntock. First we know some of you
kids will be getting run over and
then your folks will set up lively
howl. Get on out. 1t amt no place
for little boys"
He put the cigarette between his lips
and took a deep and tantali2ing pull
at IT, Spide kept to his own side Of the
ditch that ran between the fence and
the tracks.
Huh" with infinite scorn "Who's
a kid? You won't be happy till l come
over there and lick you"
First thing l know you'll be stealing
scrap iron"
'NIy gosh. The Huckleberry d have
to stop running If l swiped a coupling
PIN"
Clarence had recourse to the ciga-
rette. and again Spide was consumed
with torturing jealousies. Where did
you shoot that snipe anyhow he In
Cuirel insultngly.
once more Clarence allowed his
glance to stray off up the tracks.
For half q cent I'd come across and
do what | say" added Spide, stopping
down to roll up his trousers leg aud
then easing an uuelastic "gallus' that
cut his shoulders. This elected a short
and conttmptuous grunt from Clar-
ence. lie vas we'll pleased with him
self He felt Splde's envy. 1t was
sweet and satisfying.
say" with sudden animation. You
felle.s will be going around on your
uppors in a dag or 50. I'll bet you'd