Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-09
CHAPTER l.

NY, but it's hot! Phew!"
tM Whiff-hap Whiff-hap-
wv "And this old hat is about as good
as nothing at all to fan with"
Whif-Aap! whiff-hap-
Guess this is about the hottest day we've
had this year"
Whiff-hap! Whif-hap-
Hello! here comes King and Endicott."e
Whiff-hap! whif-hap! whiff-hap! whiff-
flap
Ed Doty, who was endeavoring, under the
disadvantage of an depressing atmosphere and
a "winded" condition of body, to speak, was
a remarkably corpulent youth of seventeen,
standing in the shade of a small maple tree,
one of the principal streets in city OF
Pennsylvania, vigorously tanning himself
with his light straw hat in one. hand, and
drying his very much flushed and persplrlng
face with his handkerchief in the other hand.
He was a pretty good fellow, good hearted,
good-natured, generous, and fond of an oeca-
sional joke, even though it be on himself. But
he had one bad fault; he was very lazy, re.
markably lazy, SO lazy, or "habitually tired
as some of his friends jolingly termed it,
that simply walking about was an effort for
him. Yet this might perhaps be excused II
the fact is taken into consideration that when
he walked about he was obliged to take with
him one hundred and sixty pounds OF sohd
flesh.
One of the two youths approaching was
tall and slender, apparently year or SO Eds
senior, and the other was an ordinary, we'll
proportoned boy of about his own age.
The tall one was Will Endicott, well liked
by everybody who knew him, and especially
by the boys with whom he associated, for his
good nature and sociabei unassuming man
ners.
The other was Herbert King, in whose al
ways smiling face could easily be detected a
love of fun that might carry its possessor
beyond the limits of simple joking; a, lover Of
practical jokes yet fellow whose bump OF
''common sense" was quite as fully devel-
oped as was his bump of 'humorosity," and
who, therefore, was sensible enough not to
allow his fun-loving disposition to drag him
into doing things actually mean,
Will and Herb were conversing earnestly
as they came along the street, and were
about to pass Ed without perceiving him
when he hailed them
"Well, do. you fellows intend this for a
@Ohl Why, hello, Ed" they both ex-
claimed, laughing, and stepping to the side
of the walk where Ed was standing.
Then Will jocosely apologized for their con-
duct by saying:
fact of the matter is you're getting so awfully
small of late that it takes fellow with re-
markable eyesght to see you"
This ironical remark sent Herb into a con-
vulsiVe. fit of laughter, and brought a good
natured retort from Ed to the effect that he
would rather be in the condition he was any
day than be a living skeleton like VIII.
"Where are you fellows bound for?' ask
ed Ed, when this light chatting had ceased
Y. M. Q. A. Come on along" answered
"Wen, if you'll wait till run down to the
postoffce and mail this letter."
wait till you run DOWN." repeated Herb,
with an assg%ed VoSTs lot look Of s"e
"Oh, well, walk, then!P corrected Ed.
GO ahead" said Will.
And, taking off his hat, he leaned his arm
up against the tree under which they were
standing, and began tanning himself with an
air of good d-natured resignment, which said
quite as plainly as words that he expected to
remain there some time.
Herb sat down on convenient horse block
and took out his watch, remarl1ng as he
did SO that he intended to time Eds move
ments.
And Ed started on brisk walk (for himl
in the direction of the postoffice which was
hardly stone's-throw away down the street.
He'd make good messenger boy" said
Herb, dryly, smilingly watching Eds wad-
ding form "run down the street" "1 won
der what he would do if he had to work for
living?
81 don't know, I'm sure; but it would be
a good thing for him if he did have to work
little" replied viii. He'd get rid OF
some of that superfuous flesh, and feel fifty
per cent. better for it. I'd like to be his
father. for a few days. I'd make him hustle
around lively, you bet, and earn his salt"
Ed disappeared inside the postoffce, and
after waiting three minutes for his reappear-
ance, and seeing nothing of him, Herb OBJ
served, with satirical infection:
wonder if he's got stuck fast in the door
dim! Wouldn't be bit surprised, -
laughed VIII, though it's more likely he's
sat down to rest"
'No, here he comes! Ha! hal hal" ex
claimed Herb, as Ed staggered out between
two women, who, in the excitement of ar
effort to catch passing car. had endeavoret
the result that all three reached and went
through the doorway at the same moment.
"He doesn't look as though he'd been en-
joying himself to any great extent, either
poor fellow" said Win, pityingiy, as Ed, will
the sidewalk and put it on his head, ant
straightened his coat collar and crayat.