Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-27

~ was nearly . CLOCK DeIofS AdFt
Il owoke on Monday morning hi'
~ adventure with the enemy having
quite tired him out; and it was ff
teen minutes after before he could get Ed
and Percy aroused. Then the three boys lay
in bed for some time, talking, and O'Clock
found them just sitting down to breakfast.
Samuel was late with the milk, also, and
came just as they were finishing the meal.
"Hello What's the matter with you this
morning Sammy" inquired Ed, as the farmer
boy came trudging into camp.
ooh, nothin' only Bess kicked pop in the
ribs, and famed him SOS he couldn't milk;
and | had to do all the chores and the millxin
too" replied Samuel.
who's Bess-your sister," asked Percy.
Samuel laughed uproariously at this ques-
tion.
"Naw!'' he replied Il amt got no sister.
Bess is one of the COWS and a burned ugly
critter, too. She hooked in the back and
slung clean over fence one time; and
pops got kicked two three times by her"
"Why don't you sell herr" questioned Ed,
laughing.
O. milk, l guess. Pop had offer o twenty
five dollars fur her once. but he said twan't
enough; and he amt had no offers fur her
since"
Mark during this conversation had kept his
eyes fastened closely on Samuel, part of the
time turning them toward his nose-cross-
eyed fashion-and part of the time rolling
them about in their sockets, he imagined
lunatic might, II annoyed, accompanying his
facial contortions with few meaningless re-
marks and now and then a simple movement
of his hands, and Samuel Was more fully con-
WINGED than ever that the "lunatic' was COM
pletely demented.
"Crazy as a loon, amt he?" he said nod
ding at Mark.
Ed smiled.
E'Well, yes; he is pretty loose in his upper
story, that's fact: He does some very queer
"He don't never hurt nobody, though, does
hep
mo- at least not Intentionally Some
times he gets to throwing things about, and
accidentally hits one of u.s. but-hello! / be-
now," as Mark, catching at the idea, reached
down and picked up stick. Look out for
YOURSELF"
There was no need to caution Samuel. The
moment he saw Mark reaching for the stick
he made a dash for cover, and didn't stop
until he had placed trees between himself and
the "lunatic." Then he stopped only long
enough to hitch up his trousers and make
sure that he was not being followed continu-
ing on his way home as soon as he had satis-
fed himself on this point.
The three boys had a hearty laugh, then
cleared away the breakfast and washed the
dishes, and sat down to await the arrival of
the steamboat.
It was sighted a few minutes after 10
o'clock and soon two handkerchiefs could be
plainly seen waving to them from the forward
deck.
"There they are, fellows!" exclaimed Mark,
the first to catch sight of the handkerchiefs.
"Whoopee! Hold me down, or I'll have a
fit"
Ed and Percy were quite as elated over
the return of Herb and Will as Mark was.
Ten minutes afterward Mark was examin-
ing fine new trolling line, and Percy was
TRYING on a new straw hat, while VIII and
Herb, seated on large box they had brought
with them, were inquiring how things had
gone since their departure the evening be-
fore.
"Oh, all right" assured Ed. "The Indians
didn't attack us, nor any bears try to get in
and carry us of-things went along about as
usud,' and he winked at Mark, as though to
remind Mark of the VOW they had made.
"But say! didn't you call at our house?" he
asked evidently somewhat disappointed that
nothing had been sent him.
eyes; and your mother gave us five pies
and basket of doughnuts," replied Herb.
"She said she thought you'd be better pleased
with them than anything else she could send
you. They're there in those baskets"
"Ah!" said Ed, making dive for the bas-
ket of doughnuts. 81 thought she wouldn't
forget her darling Edmund. Um" as he bit
into one; they're fine, | tell youl Take
some" and he passed the basket aro6nd. =
"Wel have ones of those pies for dinner,
if you please" said Mark. I'm dying for q
taste of pie"
Gone of them!" answered Ed 'Well.