Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-01

had come to the conclusion that you
had invented an airship and gone ex'
ploring space"
Tommy shook his head, a smile OF
contentment on his bronzed face. eve
been having the greatest summer, kids
that fellow could have" he explained
'But-there goes the second bell and
can't even begin to tell my story till
noontime 1t Is such long one-and
wants no interruption during the tell
ing. So wait till we get at our lunch
ooh, then you brought your lunch
con, did your" cried Harry Heart
smiling in anticipation Of a good time
during the noon hour. Harry always
carried his luncheon to school, living
too far from the schoolhouse to &C
home for that meal. But never before
had Tommy Patten brought his lunch
con with him, for the Pattens lived
only five blocks from the schoolhouse
and he could run home in few min.
utes.
Yep. fetched something to sustain
the inner man during the day" laughed
Tommy. II knew you'd all want to
hear about my summer vacation"
Then conversation stopped, for the
boys had entered the schoolroom where
order was being called. At recess Tom
my would say nothing about his sum.
mer vacation, for, he declared, he
would have to quit before getting well
launched in the story for the recess
lasted for Is minutes only. The boys
Harry Heart Jack Wilson, King Dandy
and Arthur Jones, we're boys of Tom.
my's own age and his pals at school.
They had grown up In the town to-
gether and were like brothers, so,
when Tommy went slipping away after
the first week OF vacation in the spring
without telling one Of them about
his plans, there was some wonder and
question Where could he have gone?
And why had not he taken his pals
into his confldence?" Then a commit
tee had been appointed to wait on Mrs.
Patten, Tommy's mother. All the boys
knew and loved her. She wa one Of
the dearest women-so they v de-
clared-in the world. So to her they
went to ask particulars concerning
Tommy's sudden and mysterious dis
appearance 1t was known that Tommy
had been seen by several persons as
he boarded the west-bound passenger
train one fine morning several days
after school had closed for the sum-
mer.
For three whole days the boys had
awaited developments, expecting each
morning to receive letter from their
runaway chum explaining his secret
leave-taking. But after that day, sus-
pense became too great (Tommy not
writing to any Of them) and the COM
mittee was sent to inquire for partic-
ulars from Mrs. Patten.
When Mrs. Patten welcomed the
boys she began at once: "Now, my
dear boys, I want you to ask me moth
ing about Tommy's whereabouts nor
his plans for the summer. He made
this request of me on his departure.
Say nothing to any Of the boys, man.
ma; keep my secret until return in
the fall And, really, I am not quite
sure as to his plans yet she con-
tinued II have just had one letter
from him since he went away and moth
ing had fully developed then"
So the weeks had worn away, and
the boys had ceased to bother them
6clV0S Xc6dlulAS OIlHy oCIOA . ouhA
mer vacation "doings." IF he wanted
us to know said Harry, "he'd write
us about himself. So all we can do Is
to wait"
Sure" the other boys had agreed.
And so Tommy was put out Of mind
as much as possible, till the first day
Of the fall term Of school, when into
their midst he walked, looking as
bronzed as an American Indian and
as strong as Hercules, and as happy as
boy could look.
When the noon hour arrived the
boys gathered about Tommy to hear
his story. The place selected for the
luncheon was beneath big tree in
one corner Of the spacious playground.
There, their luncheons spread on a
newspaper between them, the boys
sat, awaiting their heros adventure"
from his own tongue.
"Well, kids. suppose owe you an
explanation for having run away in the
spring without so much as saying ia ia.
It was this wav. you see. ] was not
sure OF succeeding in my undertaking.
and thought the wise way was to keep
my plans to myself till saw how they
would develop. Only Papa and Mamma
were in my confidence, and they both
approved Of my scheme. Well. here is
me life's story" he went on in mock
dramatic style
The boys laughed heartily, then
Quilted down, awaiting the narrative.
'It was this way resumed Tommy in
natural tones. 'I conceived the idea
of roughing it during my vacation
that is, wanted to have a summer
out next to nature, away from home,
town, my friends. When l broke this
to Mamma she said she'd ask Papa to
give me enough money so that
might pay my board at some wild
mountain resort, where could fish
and hunt ard be as wild as l liked,
sleeping in tent or rude camp. But
l would not agree to that. II must
make my own way, Mamma l said.
4 want to feel that l can be indepen-
dent. Papa is not rich enough to
souander money on my idleness for a
whole summer. He needs vacation
from his business, but can't have it.
Well, you know how mothers are
these darling, good mothers like ours.
A. Sro+ Mamma shooly har head No