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.
'l'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 foodgates 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-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. se
Next day he received permission to
stay away from school provided he
would keep in his room and study
Father talked loudly about "takine
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 after his family moved to town
from Idaho-and had never since been
even questioned. He never had to
come il at eight o'clock; he 1t was
who kept the other gangs from utterly
wiping put the south side "buncn o'
his own personal prowess.
| 1t was only a few days later, wnlle
Buck Jones had to stay after scnooi
| that the north siders came and falhns
upon the leaderless bunch" put then
| to a sorry flight-nay, more, chases
them through the very yards into tnei
houses and daringly stood outside ant
made jeering comments. Buck hear'
the tale and decided at meeting nell
next day at recess that action wa
necessary.
Then did a feeling OF great 1o'
enter the breast of Algernon Pinckne
SCHUYLER Brown. At last-at last
his opportunity had come and
found him ready.
Can ! go too, Buck?"
There was an incredulous pause
Could this be the pretty Algernon O
fering to go into combat, where 1t wa
direst disgrace to come out with clotl
ing whole or features unmarried! l
cold tones the leader spoke:
1--WE don't want babies, Suga
Lump
It vas too much-too cruel ths
even in the moment of self-immolatiol
of struggle and triumph, he should b
denied the palm. He pitied his mise
able lot as he sadly walked back int
the schoolroom, sunk in the deepe'
!. depths of despair Don't want b
bies: don't want babies!" echoed an
reechoed the words in his ears Il
a mighty defiance gripped him and
desperate determination. He'd go an
how.
That was the longest school-ds
ever recorded, but the teacher final
nut down the last Of lot Of very bs
Z grades, and the school trooped gay
Il out on the sidewalk, with Mary Fost
this once walking alone. For 4
ahead, punched closely together
ragged array, helter-skelter down Il
middle of the street like SO mai
sheep, trooped the south side gang
Rnck Jones at their head, brandishil
L be OF