The Cairo bulletin., 1908-06-29
900
;OURBOYSAND GIRLS
SWEET SISTER

strapped on the backs OF two mad
horses, who were apparently trying
to tear him limb from limb, Peter
felt thrills of admiration trickle
down his spine at the sight
He sighed blissfully.
Hello. Bubby," said man who
had been watching him with spec
ulative eye, going tc tae circus to-
morrow"
Peter shook his head and straight
| ened the milk pitcher he held, so
/ that the stream that had been lssu-
ng from IL no longer meandered
down the leg of MS abbreviated
pants.
Would you like tor" continued
the man insinuatingly.
You bet" said Peter em9hati-
cally,
Well. | want boy Jour size to
ride one of the elephants in the pa
rade. If you d like the job III give
you a ticket to the afternoon per
formance and 25 cents to boot
What yer giyin' us?" he scoffed
Sure thing" declared the man,
DO you want to do it? If not
can easily find a boy who does
Peter promptly laid his pitcher
on the sidewalk. and standing on his
head knocked his h, els ecstatically
together in space.
Il guess you want to all right
Come around to the side door OF the
tent tomorrow morning at $50
You will be as safe on the elephant
as In your mammy's rocking chair;
50 don't get scared and back out
Back out! Peters eyes sparkled
with Indignation. He dashed home
In a whirlwind OF excitement, thor
oughly convinced he would never
wait for morning to come.
Where have you been all this
time, Peter Andrews" demanded
h. mother sharply. Sweet Sister
haa been yelling for her milk at
east an hour"
But Peter was breathing hard,
deaf to his mothers complaints, and
the enticing COOS of Sweet Sister,
who held out short, fat arms, to be
taken up for her usual evening
romp. Peter scorned the bandish-
ments of Sweet Sister. What was
romp with a baby to a fellow who
wGs going to ride an elephant?
Peter" said his mother the next
morning as he was hurriedly gulp-
irg down his breakfast, II have got
to go up town this morning. and you
must take care of Sweet Sister.
| ont for the life of you take your
eyes off her; she's as full of mischief |
as monkey
Peter sat in stricken silence. |
knowing from experience. the USE
lessness of protest. 1t was after
his mother had hustled off with a
parting warning that he D.oke into /
open mutiny.
Il say" he burst forth violently, |
darn Sweet Sister,"
Peter eyed her disgustedly as he .
backed stealthily TO the dor. Seiz-
Lg an opportune moment when /
s. eet Sisters attention was engaged |
n a cannibalistic attack on her doll,
be sneaked quietly from the room
and few on wings of expedition to
he circus grounds.
1t was Ave o'clock in the afternoon
before Peter gave Sweet Sister an
1ther thought. The intoxicating
experience Of his ride on the ele-
'hant's back ard the enchantment
If the afternoon performance COM
'letely wiped her from his mind.
Even when he turned his face
lomeward Peter was so far exalted
ibove the ordinary grooves of his
ife that the memory of his base de-
ertiou gave him no twinges of re-
'ret. He would, without fail. get
thrashing for it; but he had learn
ID even at that early age to philo-
take the bitter with the
weet.
Poor Peter came to earth again
With a sudden crash when, reaching
What had been his home. he found
n its place nothing but smoking
Ieap of ashes.
He leaned. white and faint from
he shock against a telegraph pole.
nd gazed around him with terrified
yes.
The street was strewn with ia
niliar articles of household furnish
ngs, and Peter. fearful OF what he
night see, turned his head from the
light.
Where was Sweet Sister? On.
That had become of Sweet Sister,"
e questioned himself in an agony OF
emorse and fright. He dare not Z
SIX. At his feet lay a singed and
lackened rubber doll. Peter re-
oiled from 1t in horror. He re-
rendered Sweet Sisters laughing
tile face as she flourisheI IT at him
bat very morning. Beads OF icy
ampness sprang around his tremb-
ng mouth. and he rushed franti-
ally from the scene.
Dawn was Just breaking when
eter. disconsolate. wretched little {
tom of humanity. sat down on a
eserted doorstep and fell into the {
eavy sleep Of utter exhaustion. he