Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-07-17

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A little group Of men stood in front
Df the booth where visitors to the sum.
mer amusement park throw balls at q
row Of grotesque dolls.
"A big fellow with hoarse voice and
very sad face was disputing with
the proprietor.
Il gave you a dime" he snarled
1T wasn't a nickel, 1t wasJa dime"
The proprietor Of the booth, mild
little man with weak blue eyes, shook
his head.
Il haven't taken In a dime to-day"
he said. Here's my bank" and he
pushed an open cigar box toward the
big fellow.
II don't care anything about your
bank the big fellow cried. II tell
you / gave you a dime. I've had my
three shots-now gimme my change"
The little man looked about despair
ingly. No park policeman was in sight.
The crowd was growing larger.
you gave me n Nickel" said the
little man, 'but don't want any fuss. +"
The big man snorted.
do you mean to say I'm a HARP"
he demanded.
That's what you are" came voice
erom the rear Of the crowd.
The big man whirled around.
"Who said thatP"
II did," the voice replied.
The big man Strengthened up on tip
toe.
where are your
''Here," replied the voice. It sounded
from the left Of the crowd, which had
now grown to considerable proportions
"Lemme git at himl" reared the big
man.
And he pushed into the group.
Look out where you're going" eau
toned a stout man, as he thrust an ell
Bow into the fellows side.
Easy, there" snapped a little man.
you're on my feet" And he kicked
che big fellow viciously.
In an instant the sentiment of the
group changed The loungers had en-
'oyed seeing the little proprietor balted
Dy the red-faced man. Now 1t turned
against the bully. 1t pushed and buff
feted him, and when he was clear of
1t he had lost his desire to find the
man who had impeached his veracity.
As for the latter, he seemed to have
melted into the air.
The crowd broke up with the depar-
ture of the bully, and in a moment or
two there was no one left In trent of
the booth save a boy.
He was a boy Of perhaps 10. clear
eyed lad with sunburned skin and
dark curly hair. He was neatly
dressed, but his clothes were old-fash-
Toned In cut, and he wore a broad
brimmed straw hat that had seen other
summers
The boy looked up at the little pro-
prietor.
"BSd man." he said.
TIE proprietor nodded.
Fep. He was out for trouble, all
rkht. That was a big bluff, of course,
but what could 1 dot couldn't af-
ford to have any trouble with him
Business is bad enough as 1t is"
he sighed as he spoke.
The boy looked at him curiously.
Bad season, eh2"
Worst l ever knew. An I've had |
some pretty tough ones" His eyes
wandered over the grounds. There's |
that loafer. now. He's having a fuss
over there at the chutes. He'd better |
not fool with those fellows. They'll |
drop him in the pond" He softly |
ehuckled. II wonder who twas called
him a liarY"
i did" said the boy.
"You2 Why, you wasn't even look
lE' at him"
The boy laughed.
Guess l hadn't the courage to look
at him when | said it."
But the voice come from over there"
persisted the proprietor.
at was my voice" The boy suddenly
stopped as If to pick something from
the ground. As he did SO a dog snarled
and barked at the proprietor's heels
Get out!" the little man shouted, as
he quickly looksd-.around-an lot
thefe was no dog there Me turned to
lhe boy. did you do thatr'
"Yes."
The little proprietor pushed the balls
bOward him.
AS many shots as you like" he said.
thank you," said the boy. "Not
bow. Business is bad, Ell? Want part
ler?"
f..gk 4
Iet alone two"
but suppose a partner could build
B up and put it ON paying basis"
.That's the kind o. partner l WANT
The boy nodded III
eI'm looking round he said. you've
loticed I'm from the country. had a
nance to 60 on a farm after finished
sbool, but thought I'd rather so up ]