The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-03-24
the benediction. Take him, Princer
he says, dropping the chain.

prince was willing. He fetched a
kind Of combination hurrah and growl
and let out for me full tilt. | don't
feed good fresh clans to dogs as a
usual thing. but that mouth had to be
filled. waited till he was almost on
me. and then let drive with one Of
the dreeners. Prince and couple Of
pecks Of clans went up in the air like
busted bombshell. There was,a little
pine tree In the lot. and give one
jump and landed In the middle of 1t.
went up the rest of the way like Id
forgot something, and then ! chung on
to the top of that tree and painted and
swung round In circles. while the dog
hoped up and down on his hind legs
and fairly sobbed with Disappointment.
allie was rolling on the grass. oh.
dear me- says he between spasms,
THAT was the funniest thing l ever
saw
I'D seen lots funnier things myself,
but 'twa'a't worth while to argue.
Besides. ! was busy hanging on to
that tree. Twas an awful little pine
and the bendiest one ever climbed.
Allie rolled around awhile longer. and
then he gets up and pmes over.
well, Reuben, says he. looking up
at me on the roost. you're good deal
handsomer up there than you are on
the ground. guess IN let you stay
there for awhile as lesson to you
Watch him. Prince And away he
goes, and for an hour that had no less
than Go.O00 minutes in it I'clung to that
tree like a green apple. with Prince
setting open mouthed underneath
waiting for me to get ripe and drop.
Just as ] was figgering that was
growing fast 10 the limb heard some
body calling my name. unglued my
eyes from the dog and looked up. and
there. looking over the fence that I'd
tried so hard TO reach. was Barbara
Saunders. Cap'n Eben Saunders girl,
who lived In the house next door to
mine.
Barbara was always a pretty girl.
ard that morning she looked prettier
than ever, with her black hair blowing
every which way and her black eyes
swapping full Of laugh.
Why. Mr.. Nickerson. she calls.
What are you doing up in that treeY
That was kind Of a puzzler TO an
swer offhand, and don't know what
I'd have said If Friend Allie hadn't
hove IN sight Just then and saved me
the trouble.
beg pardon, I'm sure says Allie.
tossing away his cigarette. May
ask If that-er-deep sea gentleman In
my tree is friend Of yoursY
Barbara kind of laughed and drop
ped her eyes and said why. yes. was.
by Jove. he's luckier than |
thought says Allie. never taking his
eyes from her face. And what do
they call him. please. when they want
him to answer:'
,"'Its Mr.. Nickerson.' says Barbara.
He lives In that house there, the one
! this side Of ours
"'oh. a neighborl That's different.
Awfully sorry. I'm sure. Prince. come
here. Er-Nickerson. for the lady's
sake we'll call il or You mayer
vacate the perch -
Il waited till he'd got a Glove hitch
on to Prince. He had 10 give him one
or two welts over the head fore he
could DO II. The dog acted IKE he'd
been cheated. Then pried myself
loose from that blessed limb and shin
ned down to solid ground. My. but
was billing Inside.
You Sec says Allie. talking I,
Barbsra. 'she zov'nor told me he's
been plagued with trespassers. so
thought I'd give en- a lesson. Bu
neighbors. when they're scarce as our
are. ought to be ff.crds Don't yoi
think SO. Mlss-er- Nirterson.' say
he. Introduce me TO our other neigh
Dor
$50 I had 10 do II. though dIdD'
want to. lie turned loose some sof
soap about not realizing afcre what /
beautiful place tire Cape was. though
twas time TO 90.
But Miss Saunders hasn't answer
ed my question yet says Allie. Don
you think nelghbors ought to b.
friends, Miss SaundersY
Barbara blushed and laughed an,
said she guessed they had Then shl
walked away. ! started 10 follow. bu
Allie stopped me.
".Look here. Nlckerson.' says he
4 let you on this time. but don't tr!
II again DO yen hearT
81 hear. says I. You and thu
hyena Of yours have had oil the ful
this morning Some day maybe III
boot n BE- on i'otber leg
barbara was waiting for me vi
walked on together without speaking
for minute. Then ! says. to tnysel
like. 50 that's old man Davidson
son. Is IL; Wei. he's the prize psacI
In the crate. he IS.
Barbara was thinking too. He
very nice looking. isn't her says she
Twas what you'd expect girl 10 say
but hated 20 hear her say il. wen
home and marked big chalk mark o
the inside Of my shanty door. signify
Ing that had n debt TO pay some tim
or other
$50 that's how got acquainted wit
Allie v. r. Davidson And. what