Putnam patriot., 1911-08-11


 in the beautiful sea Of the wilderness II seemed 10 Jim as If the small house frightened in appearance at the return of is soul His heart in turn rose with home feeling. His belief in the treasure which lay where the new channel cut across the old wash. that treasure which would make the world go different. came back 10 him like renewed bye lis hands aehed for a grip on pick and shovel. His strong muscles twitched with eager, ness 10 be 1T work again.
 Suddenly rOuderons and gross sound ont of all proportion to the size of it's source smashed the mountain silence intn slivers IT was the burro's greeting 10 his companions. aud the echoes hutterpd il from ci8 10 ciiu until f faded mo the merest tist
 "KerissmHs How mauY of dem is 9ereY asfed Chrs. astouished at The demonstration Al that instant the herd welcomed thc returned one,
 The canyon was full Of bfaFs. col Hiding. rising failing and swelling tn a tumut of noise against which the dreadful shouting of the gods at the fall of Troy would have seemed as the wall of kttfen.
 "Sny. l don't like dat." said Ches. -What's loose2"
 Jim had watched the growing as- sonishment of the boys face with sup pressed emotion. but now he hugged himself and uproariously laughed his laugh out
 "That. Ches." he replied "is mat ter of tifteen or twenty d0nkeys and an echo. Did you think it was the end of the word7"
 "I fought fl was gittln' on well past der middle all right" retorted Ghes. What nd yer expeck of man dat never heerd der like beforer'
 "I knew what to expect never beard them either i'll came out here. I was digging Il hole up the side of that hill wonder and had begun 10 feel that there was something behind me and that il was almost time to go bone when old Jack, who has the voice of hts family, poured out his @NHi uHhuA twenty ItuS uNu ny was halfway home. Ghes, before got sand enough to go back and investigate. But now listen and you'll hear some thing prettier than that"
 He put his fingers to his lips and whistled a bugle call.
 can't get 'em up,
 can't get 'em up.
 can't get 'em up in the morningi sounded Jim. And back came the pretty reyeIlle in fabric of music in describably interwoven. sharp and staccato from the neighboring walls, the hghtest of whispers from the dis tance, turning and twisting upon itself and starting afresh when all seemed still
 Say. dat Is prutty," said Ches en- enthusiastically Hit her again"
 "Young man. you can come up here whenever you feel like 1t in the fu- ture. But as for now, I'm for home and grub
 Dat ain't so bad neither. Der ani- miles jumped me up an down ill l cud hold more'n a man Dis spook's 8 0hilE Oul tuElutNN W Rii AllAs NlAi II No, sir; that's fixture. Hang on tight now. and I'll race you 10 the cabin. One, two three! And away sprinte6 Jim down the hin trail, the burro numbering after
 No fair No fair" yelled Ches, f'Yer've got me skate doped Trow us a tow
 Jim wheeled at the doorway and took in the excited. happy little figure pumping on the hurro's back For once in his life he had the satisfac- ton of an indlsputahle proof that he had done well W.jh sudden access of affection he caught the boy il his arms and stoo1 him on the ground. Well. heres our home, Ches,' he said
 Home! The street Arab filled his puny chest. took long. devoaring lock about him and sought u definition of the word 10 make sound the lift oi pride and hope that rose within him.
 Yer mean nobuddy kin chase u' out of dis"
 Nobody"
 tl \ 0ui As tAt ttN NtHA Rh NiAi curious yehemenee. Like dis here. snatching an old knife from his peck ct and shaking it in his tight fist, s'te frow away. ter sell CT ter keep am nobuddy got nutun' ter say about itT
 Just that, laddy that and nott ing else"
 sNo more sllnkin an sneopln areur dodgin' der eoppers, no more sta1I fer der push. no more dirt of no kinC Say. cant git dat tns in a minute '
 He stood gappling with the ne' Idea. h the search an old one cam 60 the top His face changed rapidly The furtve, hunted look returned l tone the odd quiet of which COT trusted with the former heat he spok ngain. Yer for me now. ain't vel Jim7 Tiff der Gun should happe Ter come here yer wouldn't r'row m down at dis stage of der gamer
 The big man answered him with q equal soberness He thrust han before the boys eyes-a splendid hand massive and corded at the base. run ming out 10 long. shapely, intelligen fingers. and every line in it spoke Q powec
 Do you see that hand. Ches?"
 ~fessir-
 Fl the Gun shows his face whes