Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-08

and Trux was already as tall as MS moOnei'
Bright, active and industrious, he was the lie
of the family, with promise Of being man
of affairs when really grown up. Everybody
liked Trux Dana Willing, weImannered
and good-tempered, he made friends wherever
he was known, and the wealthy young fellows
who comprised the Arno Hunting and Fishing
Club and had bungalow two miles from the
village, when they left the previous Septem
Der presented him with q handsome rowboat
as a mark of their regard. Every day during
the season he had fetched their mail, and the
city papers, and anything else they might re
quire, from LAl1eview. In this wise he had
made himself not only useful, but won the
clubs lasting friendship also.
Trux and Gale were out in their boat one
day when smart pony cart, in which were
seated man and a boy, stopped ON the
shore of the lake. The boy was, perhaps. a
year or so older than Trux, but SO pale and
frail-looking that he did not appear half his
size. The strange lad seemed greatly inter
ested in what the boys in the boat were do
ing, and, turning to the specialized young man
beside him, said, wishfully:
'Td like to be ables to do that. Do You
believe / ever shall, Mr.. Temple?
IT trust So" replied the man, who was the
boys tutor, in a matter of fact tone of voice.
Mr.. Temple was not very sympathetic per
son.
Noticing the boys wistful look, Trux, in his
frank, friendly way, approached and asked if
he would not like to take row out on the
lake.
Before the boy could answer, the tutor shook
his head negatively and ordered Patrick, the
coachman, to drive on.
How pale and thin he looked" said Gale,
when the occupants of the pony cart were out
Of hearing. II know he would liked to have
had a row if that spectaeled chap hadn't been
go alfred bossy. l wonder who he is-the boy
I meant"
"I don't know" replied Trux. 'He's stop
ping at the Bellevue Hotel, at least the man
with him is. I've seen him quite often, but
never the boy, only driving as you saw him
now. Sometimes he goes out in the pony cart
and has man in livery with him."
boy, in his fashionably appointed cart, drove
along the lake side again., and this time with
out either the tutor or the man in livery
At word from the boy Patrick pulled up
the pony just as Trux drew in o two-pound
bass. Without moments hesitation, he ran
up the bank to the road to show his prize
to the wan-eheeked, delicate boy in the cart
wouldn't you like TO try your luck?' said
Trux, cordially. TITS fine sport when the fish
VI 4 ssn't,S replied 6 tie boy, boy, sadly "Irm
lame"
.oh, Tn sOrry.' apologized Trux, II did
not know.
And then ne saw that one leg seemed to
be much shorter than the other. and the boy
wore kind of iron brace, or shoe, to make
up for the difference in length.
1--WE often thought I'd like to row and fish
and swim and play ball like other boys" con-
tinued the pale young stranger, "but I can't.
Pm too much of cripple"
"0h no, you are not; come on" urged
Trux. ut, will do you good. You. are not
lame enough to always have to ride"
"Pd like to," replied the other, waveringy
''Is the water very Deep"
Not Just here" said Trux. 6'But out in
near the shore if You like"
Patrick grinned his approval, and glanced
admiringIy at Trux, which was as much as
he dare do when on duty.
II believe I'll try it, decided the boy, ''but
first, will you tell me your name?"
Dana-Trrrx for short. The fellow in the boat
/. is my brother Gale, and you are?"
"Clyde Elgar," was the quick response. "Pm
staying at the Bellevue Hotel. My people
thought I'd get strong here. But 1 don't
know" and he sighed doubtfully.
ooh, I'm sure you will, !" encouraged Trux,
careful not to notice the lame foot as the boy,
with difficulty. alighted and stood unsteadily
on the ground something he was not used to
doing unassisted.
"Row in, Gale" Trux called to his brother
"Clyde Egar is going to try his luck with
the fish"
Gale promptly complied. and the three soon
pushed off Trux sxillfully baited the hook
with very lively grasshopper. The pole was
just birch sapling that he had made him
self, and hardly had Clyde been given his first
bass that made game fight to free itself
from the hook. But Clyde held on manfully
his white cheeks beginning to glow with
healthful excitement and unwonted exertion.