The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
ny ARTHUR MADISON

out or the bedroom window of his new
home, there loomed up the mountains
blue and clear, only two or three blocks
away, just on the other side OF that big
hill
Tommy's first experience with Cali
: fornia mountains was back in Missouri,
when the real estate agent was telling
him OF the wonderful things he would
see in the land OF sunshine - the
oranges, bananas, and flowers, and
monkeys and parrots, and all sorts OF
things And the mountains
Yes, the mountains are a mile high
out there" said the agent.
Well" said Tommy. would that be
as high as five of our churches?"
"Oh, yes, as high as 10-yes. as high
as 20 churches" replied the agent who
went on writing at his desk.
Gee" said Tommy who had gone
to the door to look down the street at
the church He looked up to the top
of the spire, then carefully measured
an imaginary church and put it on top
of the first. then looking higher be-
gan putting one church on top of an
other, looking higher and higher, and
leaning back farther and farther, until
he had put on the nineteenth church,
when he lost his balance and over he
fell backward into the waste basket
Gee" said Tommy picking himself
up, they're pretty high amt they?"
What are?' said the agent, turning
around to see what was the matter.
THE mountains out west" said
Tommy.
But on this first morning in Califor-
MIA, Tommy had forgotten all about
churches, and was dressing as fast as
he could, resolved to walk over to the
mountains and back before breakfast
How near they looked to Tommy as
he started off across the fields, and
finally came to a road leading toward
them. Tommy felt so good that morn
ing in the clear fresh air that he hop
skipped part of the way, quite losing
track of the time, and then settled
down to walk. Tommy walked, and
walked, keeping his eyes on the noun
tains; but what was the matter with
them, they looked just as near. but he
was no nearer than when he started,
and that was two hours ago; but it
was still before breakfast for Tommy,
and he was tired, hungry and long
way from pancakes and mother. So
Tommy looked at the mountains again
and then looked back toward homo,
when he say a boy coming down the
road.
Hello. kid, where you goin?"
II was goin to the mountains said
Tommy, ''but"-
''The mountains-what. walk to the
mountains?' said the boy.
"Yes, but suffered Tommy.
'Hully gee. kid. it's 20 miles to the
mountains from here, and its nine miles
to the top I've been there"
"Golly," said Tommy, turning very
red. II guess I'll go home"
well, you better --y you must be
tenderfoot." said the boy. going on
his way.
Then Tommy turned back and
trudged homeward. meeting on the
way the whole family, out looking for
him. f
The next day Tommy was tramping
over the hills near the home. and again
met the boy he had seen the day be-
fore
Hello, Tenderfoot"
my names not Tenderfoot - it's
Tommy"
"All right, Tommy-Tenderfoo Tom
my-my names Jones, Skinny Jones.
Where you goin' this morning-to the
mountains?'
mo-" replied Tommy bashfully. II
just thought I'd see II could find any
monkeys. The agent told me there
were monkeys out here"
Monkeys, say what you givin' me?
Huh, monkeys oh. Puffy" he called
across the fields to another boy, "come
here" AS Puffy came nearer, Skinny
went toward him and winked. Here's
new Kid looking for monkeys. We
know where's some monkeys, don't
We?"
Sure" agreed Puffy. Lets, go and
show him"
'All right" said Skinny. wen go
past my house-I want to get some
thing" The three boys went down the
road, and waited in front of Skinny's
house. When he came out he had the
something tucked up under his shirt
waist. or they started. with Tommy
asking all kinds OF questions in regard
to monkeys. The trio walked two or
three miles into the hills, skinny lead
ing the way down into ravine, where
there was a lot OF thick bushes and
scrub oak trees.
You fellers wait here now" said