The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-07-09

ed with, would only thrash him or
treat him in such wise as to show that
he at least thought it an extraordinary
crime, instead of an Unborn desire to
write about sugar Jumps, he wouldn't
loathe his lot so.
He'll do nothing of the kind" in
terpcsed Brown Senior, firmly. This
is some of your. nonsense, Jane" The
boy looked up. startled at the unusual
diversion, and met glance of some
thing very like disgust
We'll not discuss it before Alger-
non, William" she gently retorted.
"I'll not have a milksoppy, girly
boy" he continued.
Go to your room now, darling"
gently interposed the little woman,
and Mr.. William Brown, with a NUT
tered ''somethin' bad" stamped from
the house, leaving them alone.
That night the doodgates burst,
and Algernon cried as though his heart
would break. Mother came in and
tried to comfort him, but he would
have none Of her. He wanted to fight
it out alone. And, anyhow, whose
fault was it that he could be capable
of writing such note? Whose fault
was it that he had to wear shoes all
summer, and had to dress up every
night? His mother! She It was who
made him forego the delights of the
swimming g-hole, and called him "dar
ling" and stroked his hair before the
gang; she boasted of his love for SOAP
and water and his aversion for torn
clothes, and football and fighting, to
the other boys mothers, and made
his name thing of scorn in the ward
wherein he dwelt, and his presence
merely tolerated. s.
Next day he received permission to
stay away from school provided he
would keep in his room and study.
Father talked loudly about taking
his medicine" but it only showed how
little he knew, and widened the gulf
between them. Last night he had
thought for a minute his father un-
| derstood. but to want him to face that
gang the very next day showed now
| all alone he really was now.
Day followed day in rapid flight;
week piled upon week, and the Incl
dent was well-nigh forgotten save by
Buck Jones.
Buck was the best fighter, runner,
swimmer of them all; his fertile brain
conceived their many deeds of daring,
stealth, and cunning. Buck it was
whose supremacy as leader OF the
gang had been established one short
week alter his family moved to town
from Idaho-and had never since been
even Questioned He never had to
come in at eight o'clock; he 1t was
who KEPT the other gangs from utterly
wiping out the south side bunch by
his own personal prowess.
1t was only few days later, while
Buck Jones had to stay after scnooi'
that the north siders came and falling
upon the leaderless bunch" put them
to a sorry flight-nay, more, chased
them through the very yards into their
houses and daringly stood outside ana
made jeering comments. Buck heard
the tale and decided at meeting neio
next day at recess that action was
l
necessary.
. Their did feeling of great Joy
enter the breast of Algernon Pinckney
.. Schuyler Brown. At last-at last
his opportunity had come and
found him ready.
|. "Can i go too, Buck?'
There was an incredulous pause
Could this be the pretty Algernon OF
fering to go into combat, where 1t was
direst disgrace to come out with cloth
ing whole or features unmarried! In
cold tones the leader spoke:
I'VE don't want babies, Sugar
Lump
It vas too much-too cruel that
even in the moment of self-immolation
of struggle and triumph, he should be
denied the palm He pitied his miser
!, able lot as he sadly walked back int
the schoolroom, sunk in the deepes
!. depths of despair. Don't want ba
bies; don't want babies!" echoed ant
reechoed the words in his ears til
a mighty defiance gripped him and
desperate determination. He'd go any
how.
= That was the longest school-da.
ever recorded, but the teacher hnali.
q nut down the last Of lot OF very ba'
grades. and the school trooped gayl
II out on the sidewalk, with Mary Foste
this once walking alone. For Ia
J ahead, punched closely together Il
ragged array, helter-skelter down tn
middle of the street like SO man
sheep, trooped the south side gang
j Buck Jones at their head, brandishin