The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-29
Something
On This

continued from 1eSteFahF)
THAT policeman looks cruel" sne
salt whats moro, he's bean ia a
had hur1or all DAY More than likely
he'll put James flat on the roo AID
trai,tp on him under pretense ~ train
ing him. All policemen are inhuman."
HE only rolls him over barrel or
something like that" | protested.
james had bump like an egg over
his ear last night" Aunt Selma In
sisted, slaring at Flannigan's uncon-
Ecious back Il don't think it's safe
to leave him. II Is my time to relax
for thirty minutes. or | would watch
him. You Will have to stay she said.
fixing me with her lmperious eyes.
So I stayed. Jim didn't want me.
and Flanagan muttered mutiny But
II was easier TO obey Aunt Selma than
10 clash with her, and anyhow ! want
ed to see the barrel in use
never saw any one train before.
II Is not a Joyful spectacle. First
Flanagan made Jim run. sround and
around the roof. he said II stirred up
his food and brought il In conta ct
with his liver, to he dieested
Flanagan, from meekness and Sub
mission, Of 8 sort, in the kitchen. be-
came an autocrat on the roof.
Once more" he would say. Pick
And Jim would staGger doggedly
past me, where ] sat on the parapet
his poor cheeks shaking and the tail Of
his bath-rohe wrapping itself around
his legs. Yes. ne ran in the bath robe
in Difference TO me. II seems there
isn't much to running suit
Head up" Flanagan would say.
Lift your knees. sir. Didn't you ever
see horse with string haiti"
He let him stop finally, and gave
him a moment to get his breath. Then
he set him TO turning somersaults
They spread the cushions from the
couch In the tent on the roof and Jim
would poke his head down and say
prayer, and then curve over as grace
full vas a sausage and come up gasp
ing. as II he had been pushed Off a
boat
Five pounds day: not less. sir"
Flanagan said encouragingly. You'll
drop II In chunks"
Jim looked at the tin as II he ex-
pected TO see the chunks lying ut his
feet.
Yes he said. wiping the back of
his neck. IF we're in here thirty days
that witt he one hundred and fifty
pounds. Don't forget to stop in time.
Flanagan, I don't want to melt away
like candle"
He was cheered, however. by the
promise OF reduction,
What do you think NJ that. Kit -
he called TO me. Your uncle Ia going
to look as angular as a problem in
geometry. Tll-I'll be the original re-
ductio ad absurdum. Do you want
me to stand on my head, Flanagan ?
Wouldn't that reduce something?"
Your brains. sir Flanagan re-
torted gravely, and presented a pair
of boxing gloves. Jim visibly quailed,
but he put them on.
'Do you know, Flanagan" ne rer
marked. az be fastened them. I'm
thinking Of wearing these all the time.
They hide my character"
Flanagan looked puzzled, but he did
not ask an explanation. He demand
ed that Jim shed the bath-robc, which
he finally did. on my promise to watch
the sunset. Then for fully a minute
there was no sound save of feet run
ninr rapidly around the roof. and ar
occasional soft thud. Each thud was
accompanied by a gruut or two from
Jim. Flanagan was grimly silent
Once there was smart rap, an oatt
from the policeman. and a mirthiess
chuckie from Jim. The chuckle ended
in crash. however. and ] turned lin
was lying on his back on the roof ant
Flanagan was wiping his ear with 6
towel. Jim sat UP and ran his hand
down his ribs
They're all here he observed aftei
minute. 4 thought missed one"
THE only way TO take "A mans
weight down" Flanagan said drylv.
Jim got up dizzily.
Down on tina roof. / suppose yol
mean" he said
The next proceedings were mysteri
Gus. Flanagan rolled the barrel int,
the tent, and carried in a small alas,