The Washington times., 1910-01-24

n ICKS papa had been telling him
II stories. all about big. strong men,
who were not afraid 10 do anything. no
matter how much danger they might be
in when they did them
That is the kind Of q man I'm going
10 be- said Dick
ct hope YOU VIII, my little man. said
papa But there are lots oE things YOU
VIII have TO change before that hap
pens You mustn't be afraid of the dark
10 begin with, and YOU viii have to get
over being afraid TO stay IN the house
by yourself
I'm going 10 try" said Dick, soberly-
a. he went out Of the room You Just
wait and see, papa
All right, son." said papa as he
picked up his book well see"
Dick and his mamma and papa lived
way down South-in Florida, TO be
exact-and there were lots Of woods
around them. The next day Dick went
10 visit his aunt and he stayed for tea
He started for home in plenty Of time
10 get there before dark, but ne found
many interesting things along the way
and stopped to look at them all First
there was a pretty little King snake
huIryinz home for the night. 1t really
was pretty. Dick thought It was all
shiny black with bright red rings
around it, Dick knew that this snake
killed other snakes that were poisonous
and that il would not hurt him So he
followed IT. for little way but il
finally disappeared beneath a tauEle Of
wire grass and then as Dick couldn't
see &c any more, he went back 20 the
path
Then inc found some pretty pine cones
that He gathered and left in a neat
little pile. thinking that he would come
with q basket the next day and take
thsm home TO burn Next he stopped
- Investigate a sOpher hole He wait
Cd a little while. wishing JEe gopher
would come out 50 he could see him
But either Mr. Gopher was not at home
or else he didn't care 10 have visitors
that evening Anyway. Dick didn't see
him and ne got tired waiting Then.
all at once. lie noticed how very, very
late II was The sun had gone down
and il vas dusk. Dick could Just see
the woods ahead Of him and they Ger
1siuly did look funny IN the dim light
His feet dragged and ne wished he
didn't have To- go among those trees
He could 20 around by the road, bur
the path through the woods was ever
so mt Cil shorter than the road and was
easier walking. too. than the heavy
sand But Dick knew that he should
have been at home an hour ago. so he
thought he would better 80 along the
path, even II It did take him through
those queer. shadowy woods
MU:terinE TO himself that he must not
be afraid If he was going 10 be like
the brave men his father had told him
about the night before Dickie went on.
lie was walking very fast by this time
so fast. that he was almost running. he
told himself all the stories ne knew
about brave men, but somehow, they
didn't seem TO interest him nearly 81
much as usual and ne just couIGn-t
keep his mind or Of the things about
him
Breaker, breaker" said something
in a deep voice, and how Dick did jump
Then he laughed
Why. that is only old grandfathel
frog. down IN the lake. said Dick, and
he looked toward the pretty little sheet
Of water at the other side Of the woods
How silly OF me TO be frightened
Course I'm not afraid Of any thing
Papa said that there wasn't any thing
IN these woods that would hurt LITTLE
boys. and even II there we're IL would