Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-29

"You, wouldn't say that" was the conf
"Loof here" said Jim, growing trife
impatient at the boy. who acted as if he was
the owner of the boat and all on board, I'VE
certainly shall say that we won't take you
il you don't make some explanation. We
don't propose to carry boy who refuses to
tell us anything about himself"
But | haven't refused" !"
Then, why don't you tell u.s.?
What do you want to know!
Under all the circumstances, this was pro-
yoking question, and it is little wonder that
every one lost the small amount of patience
remaining to him.
eve want to know where you come from,
where you want to go, who you are, and
all about it." said True, speaking slowly IN
order to give greater emphasis to his words.
II come from New Albany; | want to go
down the river; my names Pete Dunham'
and that's all there is to it.
"There, now you've got the whole story
said Bent, fairly shouting with laughter. and
you know just as much now as you did be-
fore"
''We, we know what his name is, and
that's something new" answered True, trying
hard to repress a smile. for he wanted to
appear stern before the boy, who, it seemed
to him, was willfully stupid,
The reserved youth would have been OBJ
iged to give more extended account OF him
self, or at least to have asked for passage IT,
just at that moment shouts from the bank
had not been heard.
Running out on the deck, jim saw a man
frantic signals for the River Queen to stop,
and all hands, even including the uncommu-
ncative boy were soon doing their best to
urge the fatboat toward the bank.
On making fast 70 the t trees on .t the 81 shore; ore
been hailed for trading purposes.
The farmer was anxious to sell oats, barley
and chickens, and equally anxious to pur-
chase stock of groceries; therefore, no time
was lost in settling the preliminaries, such as
the price of goods who should bring the farm
products on board and whether or not chick
ems should be taken.
Jim was opposed 70 taking any, live stock,
with the farmer at all unless he would buy
at least fifty chickens, he concluded to take
them.
Peter Dunham proved to the satisfaction
of all that he could work much better than
what to do neither did he wait to be asked,
handling the heavy bags of grain readily
as he did a pound of tea, and helping. the
farmers boys make the coops for the chick
ems in very expert manner.
The transaction required so much time that
jim saw it would be useless to think of leav-
ing the place that night. so the work was car
ried on more leisurely toward the middle of
much to the delight of ALL for the labor was
necessarily quite severe.
When Jethro called the party to supper,
Peter Dunham responded to. the summons
without waiting to be. specially invited, and
he had surely earned it.
By dint of much questioning, True. sue.
ceeded in drawing from him very limited
story in regard to himself.
He had lived with farmer about two miles
back from the river for nearly a year, had
become dissatisfied, or thought he could bet
ter himself, the boys could not decide which,
and had concluded to go to New Orleans.
Some one. when he arrived at the river, had
given him the skiff with which he boarded
the fatboat.
He had nothing in the way of baggage, not
even a handkerchief. unless he had it very
carefully secreted about his person, and he
appeared to think that silence was indeed.
Pete had made himself entirely at home,
and without further discussion, the BOYS ap-
peared to have decided to, allow him. to re-
main, for bed was made up for him in
Jethros room, and, as soon as it was shown
him, he retired without even so much as
''thanlS you"
said, that evening. while the others were crit
;csing the boy "but he ought to know
heap cause he does much thinkin'."