The Washington herald., 1911-05-07
Chapter One
TIM AND HIS FRIEND.

Tim Baker Thought. ana ne couiu Tel
time to the quarter, although he had neve'
owned a watch.
The setting sun showed Tim to be re
markably robust and wel.favored youth o
eighteen, who would have been good-lookint
il his clothes had fitted him.
He WAS brown. haired and brown-eyed, hao
regular features and ruddy complexion, bu'
he wore Abner Darringer's cast-of su't
which was too long in the arms and TOO shor'
in the legs, SO that he couldn't help LOOKING
as well as feeling awkward.
Rut Il wasn't that that made Tim uncom
Portable as he stood under the caves OF Coi
onel Adams barn and talked to Burt Adams
who was apparently full of sympathy.
Il wouldn't stand it single moment, Bur'
said, decidedly, "at least not single day.
.'What would you do?" asked Nm, curious
"well, I'd do something
$50 would l." said Tim. gloomily, III only
knew what to do"
Suppose" suggested Burt. timidly, you
run away"
Tim received this suggestion very calmly
showing that it was by no means a new idea
IL would do it tomorrow" he replied, quiet
", 'if l only knew where to 60, and what
TO do when got there"
"GS 2, to ssssas sea-" said rnsnt Burt; promptly
'.Never!' exclaimed Tim, decidedly. 81 am
no sailor, and / have my suspicious that
should get sick and not like it at all. Crusoe
"How about the West, them" ventured
Wont do at ALL am afraid Of Indians. 81"
Burt sat down on the edge OF the horse
trough in despair.
He was handsome young fellow, about
Tins age, with the double advantage of a
rich father and a good education, yet he both
admired and respected Tim. Surely, never
was there a more dis-simlar friendship.
Tim Baker was an an. orphaan,. a,. boy before he he
dition abroad that his parents were wealthy,
but that couldn't be, because Tim was in the
county poor-housc at the early age OF four.
Then he was taken out and adopted by a
handed over to the purchaser Of the farm as
part and parcel of the estate.
The new man did not want Tim, having
six children Of his own, but he suffered the
boy to exist around the house like stray cat
until he sold out, and then Tim, at the age
of eight, was passed over to Abner Darringer
about the worst ourmudgeon that ever breath
cd.
Tim had little schooling in winter-just
enough to teach him the three Rs-and he
lessons in bed, when he should have been
asleep, and doing imaginary sums while fol-
lowing the plow.
This was the boy to whom Burt Adams was
drawn as with hooks Of steel" and whose
troubles he was now seeking way to ale
viate:
"Tim," he burst out at length, 81 am sur
prised at your lack Of common sense"
"Helo!" cried Tim, in great surprise.
an are too Ss to Se bue snd
Ii you won't 60 to sea or out West, what is
to prevent yon, going to the city,
Il dare sayl replied Tim, with great sar, T
city, city, wouldn't /? have S NO trade, no friends ri %
and no relations, only one decent suit to my
back, and not dollar to my name. i can't
say mot a penny, because ! have a dime,
which found yesterday in the road"
ing Tim down on the edge Of the trough, and
standing over him like teacher admonishing
pupil, Tim Baker, l am more than ever
Why" asked Tim, meekly.
"kor your lack Of nerve. Haven't you read
the lives of the, great men, Of your country!
Well: if You had, you would have known that
you have everything to gain and nothing to
lose in the battle Of life. There are thousands
OF OF cases or record where poor boys have grown
did they all run away from homer" asked
'Some of them did," answered Burt. eau
tiously, 'and don't know but most of them
dd-frOm their own parents. too-their real
homes! OF course, you know that you are not
the least bit related to old Darringer"
II know that. Still
"And you are under no obligation to him."
"He brought me up, Burt. You cant deny
that must have been an expensc to Oar
ringer"
II do deny it!' declared Burt, stoutly. "He
simply let you grow up like a sapling, and
there hasn't been day since you were able
to walk that you haven't earned your beard
and clothes-or what Abner calls clothes. Not
penny of wages! II can't last, and you
must leave him. Why not now?"
"Abner would rave like madman," replied
Tim, shifting his seat uneasily
Let him rave" said Burt, Cooly every
body else will be glad to hear that you have
got out Of his clutches. As for money-you