The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-09-18

or ten days on the banks OF a beauti-
full river mile distant from their
homes. The place chosen for their
outing was within short walk of a
big flour mills and was on a rocky
cliff overhanging the bank of the
river. Piercing this cliff were numer-
Gus cavelike tunnels, scarce large
enough to admit of a small ground
animal. But the boys who had come
there to camp out" imagined that
within the cliff at certain distance
from the small entrances they might
find large cave or inner cavern
where might be found relics of past
age.
Il tell you, kids" declared Hank
Jones, leader of the band, shat we'll
find something worth our while il
we'll dig into this cliff All we've got
to do is to enlarge one of these tun-
nels and then we can walk right into
a cave that may Guido the Mammoth
Cave of somewhere don't just
know the place"
Pennsylvania, amt it?" asked
Bert Jackson, meaning the noted cave
in question.
"Ho-ho-ho! laughed Andy Thomas
at Bert's expense. Pennsylvania?
WE'LL guess not. The Mammoth
Cave Is in old Kantuck, or SO the
geography says. You'd better find out
something about caves before you
talk about them"
"Wo1I I 1npsf Lnaxv .. ~
importance-the Mammoth Cave"
said Hank Jones. "The question Just
now before the public is: Shall we
organize cave diggers' union-and
go to work at once?'"
yep" cried half a dozen voices,
and not one said mo"
well, we'll have to go up to the
mill and borrow some digging imple-
ments, said Hank. "It's too far to
go home for 'em. know old Mr..
Perkins, the miller, and he'll lend us
some spades and picks. He trades
at my fathers store, and he'll remem-
Der me all right, all right"
So 1t was agreed that Hank and
Bert should go to the mill-just
around the bend in the river-andask
to borrow some digging implements
with which to gain an entrance to the
imagined cave. But upon reaching
the mill the boys were told by the
head miller that Mr.. Perkins had
gone to town, and that he would not
take the liberty of lending anything
from the machine shop of the mill
Filled with disappointment Hank and
Bert started to return to their camp
ground when they saw a little chap
busy about the mill. He was what is
commonly called small hand" and
was performing small chores. At the
moment that Hank and Bert beheld
him he was cleaning dried dirt from
a large spade, while nearby lay an
other implement waiting for cleaning.
Say. they're the very things we
want" declared Hank, pointing to the
spades. But I'll bet we'll have
time getting them from that kid.
He's old Perkins favorite 'rousty,'
and Is an orphan that he got from
somewhere forget where. But,
say, let's ask him for the spades, any
way. He can't do anything but re-
fuse"
So saying. Hank approached the
boy-whose name was Jimmy Malone
and said: Say, Jim, don't you
Know me? I'm Mr.. Jones' kid. Pa
mas the grocery store up town-the
one by the postoffice. you know"
on, yes" said Jimmy. putting
down the spade to chat with the boys.
Yes, l know your pa. I often go
there on errands for Mrs. Perkins"
We'll, us kids-a lot of us-are
down here on the river camping
explained Hank. And we've decided
10 DO some cave digging, If we can
get the implements to dig with. Now.
we want to borrow those spades you
have there. If Mr.. Perkins was here
he'd let us take EN- right off,"
Jimmy looked undecided. II don't
know about that" he said. beginning
TO clean the spade. "Mr. Perkins is
awful particular about his machinery
and tools. He gives orders that moth
In in the tool shop be loaned"
On, he'd not refuse me, kid, de-
clared Hank, determined now upon
getting possession of the desired
spades. Come, let me take them.
IN give you my word that they'll both
oe returned to you early this even
ing"
But ! mustn't let anything 60 out
OF the mill while Mr.. Perkins is
away insisted Jimmy. And there
upon he took the spades and put them
IN the implement shop which was at
tached to the mill.
Hank and Bert turned away: but as
.aey did SO Hank called out to Jimmy.
wen get even with you yet, kid. for
your smartness. So long!p
that's all right" laughed Jimmy:
Tnen, whistling merrily, he went
about his work.
A Few days later Mr.. Perkins sent
Jimmy on an errand to a farm a. mile
instant from the mill. Jimmy. in
making shortcut" to the farm. was
oniiged to pass the town boys camn
situated. as have said, Just round
ina pend In the river from the. mill
as ne was passing the camp he heard
familiar voice calling out to him.
Hsll0' there Smart Alec! Want to