The bee., 1908-11-12
Percy and Harold
Their Adventure In q
Sweet Potato Patch

handkerchief that contained their
wardrobe was hanging on a bush, and
close by we're the rations that had
been accumulated along the back-door
route.
Percy. old fellow" remarked the
smokeful tramp, lazily pushing a piece
of wood on the fire with his foot, so
that he wouldn't have TO get up, Il
have just been thinking Of the poor
Did 1t ever occur TO you how greatly
they must envy US? Did It ever occur
TO you"
"lt has, indeed, Harold" interrupted
Percy, glancing up from his newspa-
per, and while deplore their condi.
ton, can see no way in which Il can
be helped. AS long az the world en-
dures there must necessarily be differ.
ent CLASSES OF society. There must be
the rich and the poor, and sometimes
II grieVes me that the less fortunate
cannot camp in the woods as we are
camping and enjoy q life that briugs
one 80 close to the glory OF nature"
That's right, dear chappie." yawn.
fully assented Harold. There is moth
ing like camp life. would rather lis
ten to the song OF the birds than the
seven o'clock whistle any day In the
week. BY Che way. what are The Fred.
die Smiths and Billy swintons doing?
The last time was at the club Fred
die"
They are camping, too. old fellow"
interjected Percy. "Freddie's party
is in the Adirondacks, and the Billy
Swintons are in the Catskills. This
paper gives quite an account OF their
camp. as we'll as a picture OF dear
Mrs. Freddie in the act Of landing q
fish from the lake She is"
Every time I see Mrs. Freddie"
smilingly broke IN Harold, Il think OF
a bale of hay. n she wasn't pressed
In and tied up she would occupy more
space than a circus tent"
This camp life is making you shock.
ingly rude, my dear Harold" said
Percy why can't you act Just as II
you were at the club or In your apart
ments? As for dinner. we are having
roasted sweet potatoes tonight. A good
friend of mine who lives over the hill
yonder has beautiful patch Of the
tubers. and he insisted that I should
call on him and get some. We will be
just as soon as I have read
this delightful story about Mrs. Porter
Griggy. who takes her sweet little dog
Fido out in go-cart for an airing
every day at Newport"
Thus the conversation continued I'M
I'll the woods grew dark, and then the
hoboes rambled down the road and
stealthily climbed over the fence into
the sweet potato patch Of Percy's dear
friend.
Two minutes later they were indus
triously digging. and Percy had mined
five potatoes and Harold six, when a
farmer with q wicked-looking gun and
a dog to match bulged from behind
the bushes.
I've got you gosh -dasted tramps at
last" said the farmer, raising the ham, |
mers Of his gun and walking up to !
the surprised hoboes, IAN IL Their con-
sarned coroner o. this county was q
instead Of a Dimmycrat. |
would give him q job here right now. |
T."
Pardon me-" put in Percy, who
quickly recovered his compOSure, but
would thank you to be more choice |
of your epithets. win have you know,
sir. that we are not. tramps. but sci.
sntists, and that wo ara investigating
he different strAtas Of earth In this
ocality with a view of discovering .
clay deposit and"
rs that sol" sarcastically interject.
ID the farmer. Well. II yer so gosh
larned fond o. clay, spose We jes' pick
few Jumps O. dirt an drop them
weet pertaters. ] don't mind ye takin'
II Their gravel ye want, but at Their
present price sweet pertaters IL too
larned good for hobo grub. Now, then,
march straight fer ther house, an
ince yer scientists an like ter dig in
her earth. I'll let ye play around all
ay termorrer."
Il regret. my dear man" protested
WY hh0A We Will DC uuhDlc 10 HC- !
ept your kind invitation. We have a
Fevious invitation which We"
Hike straight fer that housed" per.
mptorily commanded the farmer. 'Tf
er don't ! splash ye full o. shot, even
the coroner is a Dimmycrati"
There was no help for 1t, so the
oboes marched for the farmhouse.
here they were locked In a corn crib
'r the night with half dozen growiy
ogs placed at the door 10 prevent
heir escape. !
On the following morning they were
'ken back to the sweet potato patch.
nd all day long they were compelled {
} dig while the grinful farmer sat on
he fence with his gun in hand and a I
,rappy dog lowering near. At sunset ,
ley were given six potatoes apiece {
nd told TO sneak. a
20, Harold" plteously moaned q
Grey, as they reached the woods and 9
INK beneath q tree, wasn't it awful? S
ist think OF working in the field like 1
common meniall | was 80 afraid q