Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-05-29


house. His father and mother were
called over to his Uncle Jlrah's, seven
miles away. His Uncle Jirah was very
sick
Tommy would be alone all day. Per
maps his mother would stay at Uncle
Jlrah's that night, but his father would
surely return before dark. Tommy was
quite sure he wouldn't like to be alone
after the shadows came. He didn't
mind it at all while the daylight last
ed, but the night was something very
different.
Tommy hadn't been well. The doctor
said it was malarlal fever That was
why they didn't take him with them to
Uncle Jirah's. He was better off at
home, and he was so nearly well that
It was quite safe to leave him.
you will be a good boy" said his
mother little anxiously as she put
out the milk in blue pitcher and the
creamy bread on the blue plate and a
saucer heaped up with the cookies he
liked best.
"Yes'm."
And not play with the matchesH
Nom"
"And you won't be scared because
you are alonep
Tommy's father frowned. He let his
hand rest lightly on the boys head.
Toms a little man." he said.
There's nothing that can brighten
him"
That was very sweet praise. His
father was not given to remarks Of
this pleasing sort. The care of a farm
that was but fairly productive had
taken most Of the sentiment out Of
Ezra Crandall's life. But he was very
fond of Tommy in his quiet way. And
Tommy particularly liked to be called
Tom. 1t had much more manly ring
than Tommy.
So the older Crandalls drove away
and Tommy CrandaIl was left alone.
After they were quite out of sight he
went back into the house. 1t suddenly
seemed very empty. He remembered
that 1t was the first time that he had
been left quite alone. A little lump
came up in his throat.
Toms a little man." 1t was what
his father said Nothing can brighten
him"
He stiffened up and walked through
the lonely rooms, whistling gaily. When
he reached the kitchen he looked at the
pitcher of milk and the white bread.
Then he glanced at the old-fashioned
clock on its little shelf above the stove.
Itwas only II. He would be man
and wait until noon for his luncheon
Tommy was just II himself, and an
excellent scholar for his age. His
mother had taught him how to read
and to write very well. Tommy's
mother was a school teacher when she
married his father, and it was her de.
light to impart knowledge to this ia.
vored pupil. She knew his books
would furnish him choice entertain,
ment during that day of lonesomeness
Tommy went to the book shelf In the
sitting room and took down Robinson
Crusoe. 1t was shady ON the front
porch, and the little rocking chair he
particularly liked was there.
Just before he sat down to his liter
airy feast he stretched himself I'D OIL
his tiptoes and looked into the valley
toward the village, little more thar
a mile away. Yes, he could just see Il
the top of the white tent and the tai
poles with their gay flags. 1t was {
circus, and Jim Hardy said it was go
ing to be a mighty good one. jim
knew. He never missed a circus.
\ Its good both ways" said Jim, will
the air of a seasoned critic. 1.-THE ami
mails is first class, but they amt NJ
better than tn circus. An they've go
Pete Slicer, tn best clown In tn biz
uess."
Tommy sighed. He had never seen
circus. His father didn't believe IL
them. He had told Tommy they swer,
wicked and waste of time
The boy opened his book at the RICH
place and was soon lost in the fasclnat
ing pages
Presently he looked up. A confuset
murmur of voices drew his attention
A number of men and boys were com
Ing up the hill. The crowd was led b.
man in light wagon who was driv
ing a glossy black horse
Tommy closed the book and ra
down the walk to the gate in the hedg,
The party had halted in the roadway
The man with the black horse wa
standing up and looking about tn
fields. HE had very black eyes and
huge black hat and a fierce black mu.
tache that he twirled.
Shell Sneak for the woods theirs
thing" he said and he pointa ahea
to the grove a half mile a as. "We'y
got to surround her a. riFe her il
An now you fellow listen to me-
more Especially you fellows with ii
guns there. wouldn't give cent fC
the tiger dead, but I'll hand any ma
that lands her alive an kickin' In ii
highway here, a hundred dollars cas-
on tn nall. An to all those who wal
to help me git her I'll give a choice r
served seat for tn show tonight. Bi
look here-she's likely to be as ug
as sin an you want to keep a shaI
lookout. Come on"