Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-10-24
Kitty, Sam and the
Peacemaker.
BY COLIN S. COLLINS.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press
BY COLIN S. COLLINS.

and Kitty felt the strain. though each
took mental obligation to do nothing
that In any way might he construed
into an overture of friendship
II had all started innoccntly enough
Kitty on her way to the postotlicc en-
countcrcd Jim Saunders. She regarded
Saunders as persistent pest. but she
could not very well refuse his sugges-
ton that they stop in NJ the drug store
and have glass Of soda.
Then II happened that they turned
into Bedding street in animated con
vcrsaton. and Sam could not know
they had met just around the corner.
or all the summer visitors 10 Au-
burnvlllc sam dlslikcd Saunders the
most. and Kitty knew IT, 1t looked To
him as though she had deliberately ac-
cepted Saunders attentions 10 punish
him for trivial quarrel of the night
before
Kitty was just finishing the last tiny
lump of ice cream from the bottom of
the tall glass when Sam entered the
store with Belle Paulding. klttys
dearest enemy
He had bowed stifIly in salutation.
and Kitty had responded with Good
morning. Mr.. Hastings" emphasizing
the name MS sweetly and rs coldly as
the frozen delicacy she had just con.
sumcd
That had been the start OF the trou-
bile. hut the end had been slow In com
ing. That afternoon Kitty went mo
toring with Saunders. though she hated
motor ears. and Belle went buggy
riding with SAM to punish Saunders
for his imagined diSloyalty
Saunders and Miss paulding had
quickly patched their quarrel NJ. but
Kitty was unyiclding. and there was a
squarcncss 10 Sans chin that did not
argue in favor Of pliabllity Of person
atty.
With ceIVmonious politenesS each
s;rovc To show the other how little IL
mattcrcd. hut Kitty cried herself To
sleep night after night. AMI Sam sworc
softly. but fcrvently. nj what he was
pleased TO term the foolishness OF wo-
mankind
So matters stood when the excursion
of the Auburnville cornct band was
announced The boys needed new uni
forms. and Dick Potts had promised
TO learn the cuphonum II they would
buy him one
All public spirited citizens purchased
tickets Sam bought two through
force If habit and then yiclously tore
them up whereby the band proiitcd
another 80 cents. for Sam was de
tcrmiaed 10 20 on that excursion II
only TO show that he could go without
Kitty.
He had never gone on an excursion
alone save once, when Kitty was
spending week with her aunt over IN
Cadyvillc and he had had miserable
time. Now he did not look for enjoy
ment. but Kitty needn't think he could
not 90 alone II he wanted TO.
Much the same sentiment animated
Kitty. though she arranged to 20 with
n married sister. and II so happened
that they passed over the gangplank
together. with the formal greeting that
was now customary.
The picnic was held on Paddle Is
land. oft In the lake. favOritc picnic
ground 4 narrow strip of land con
nectcd two rough oval extremities that
by an abuse of the Imagination might
he said 10 resemble paddle. Bobby
Seaton. who was In the primary class.
aptly. II improperly. described II rs "a
peninsula with an island nj each end. ="
As soon rs lunch was disposed of
the elders settled themselves near the
baskets, while the young folk wander
cd of to either end of the island. fol-
lowed 10y fusillade OF injunctlons 10
hurry back the moment the first wills.
tie sounded
Sam and Kitty followed suit but
Sam made certain that Kitty was
headed for the southern blade Of the
paddle before he started north II was
dreary work sitting all alone on the
point. and presently the fresh mir and
the soft bed OF pine needles combined
TO bring sleep to the worried brain.
II seemed To Sam that he had en-
ioyed only brief nap but by the
time he had hunted mp the cabin some
Of the boys had built for use in the
duck season and had borrowed the
bathing trunks he found there he WAS
In the cool water few minutes when
the warning whistle blew.
Madly he dashed from the water into
the hut 10 find that In that brief In
terval some one had "chawed' his
clothes His underwear was as full
of knots as n snake that had been
lunching of full set Of pool balls.
his trousers We're tied into a true low
IRIS knot that suggested anything but
sentiment. and the laccs OF his shoes
offered II good ten minutes OF unpck.
ing sam was still surveying the dam
age when the second whistle sounded.
"Blow. durn ye." he cried sayagely
as he attacked the knots III you
can't wait for a fellow I'll swim for IT,
I'm not goin' TO make my dee-bu In
this"