Evening star., 1912-11-10
Continued from page 4

with melting appeal. If he had a chance on
earth with her, this was certainly her cue.
"Well, no, | can't say that | shouldn't,
decided Alice speculatively.
"Young man, you may have someone near
and dear to you, a mother or sister perhaps.
Every days delay means an additional cost
of your insurance. You must have it some
time. Why not now, when you can have it
SO cheaplyo Let me give you few facts
and figures" and, pulling red book from his
pocket, he began while the vigilant dog made
conscientious circuits of all the trees.
DLEASE, Tommy, climb tree.' implored
Alice Boggs with an entirely new trace
of anxiety in her tone, and, even in her dis
tress, she carefully crossed her ankles so that
the hole in her pink stocking would not
show. 1t was spreading alarmingly now!
Tommy Teller, who was sturdy-witted
young man of stocky build, stood in the
midst of the glade, and surveyed the scene
with broad grin. Mother Boggs and her
red petticoat in the apple tree gave him the
best laugh of the day, and he INDUCED it
quite openly. Father Boggs, astride two
slender branches of the maple tree, with Mr..
Custer just above him reading figures from
a red book, was more puzzhng; but Tom
my's sense of the ridiculous found food even
in their strained attitudes. Alice, in her
beech tree, was far too pretty a picture to
laugh at, and besides it was dangerous. Ro-
land Meredith was the most bewildering of
ALL as he bobbed backward and forward, like
an inverted pendulum, on the top OF his little
cedar. He was performing most violent exer-
else, clinging with his arms and one leg to his
bending bough, and kicking out frantically
with the other leg at every backward swoop
III %l,o II
Tommy.
3Cimb tree!" yelled everybody at once;
but Tommy's mind was slow.
"Please climb tree" urged Alice almost
tearfully. Hurry! For me! Tommy, do!'
9All right" said Tommy accommodate
ingly, and advanced quite naturally toward
the beech.
The dog had been behind the cedar, making
leaps at the tempting Meredith every time
that promising young acrobat swayed back
ward; but now, at the sound of the strange
voice, he dashed out, and helped Tommy to
a swift decision. To climb the beech meant
to cross the path of that dog with the froth-
fecked mouth; 50 Tommy chose the oak
just behind him, and scraped off every button
on his vest. The dog nearly got one foot.
glaring down at the animal with sense of
having been personally affrorted.
"Mine, Tommy appealingly confessed
Alice. "I bought him this morning"
"From common street peddler!" charged
Mother. "She didn't even find out his name!'
"Dog peddlers don't often give their
names" Immediately defended Tommy, ex-
anining his shoe.
Tommy, he didn't bite you'll" cried Alice,
in a panic.
"Grazed the heel of my shoe, that's all, /"
responded Tommy. "Why haven't some of
you people sneaked out for helpo7
Young Meredith nearly fell out of his little
cedar @Why didn't you do it YOURSELF he
hotly demanded. "You had plenty Of time.
Il thought it was joke" explained
Tommy I'll tell you what we II do. Mere
dith, you kick around there again and keep
the dog busy, and I'll slip down and run for
a gun: =,
"Whato" howled Meredith.
"That's what wanted him to do before,
complained Alice; @but he's afraid"
"You shameless girl" called Mother Boggs
from her apple tree. you'd never forgive
yourself if Mr.. Meredith were to be bitten!"
I'm slipping!7 called Father Boggs in an
agony of fear. Somebody has to do some
thing at once. Tommy you crawl down low
to kick at the dog, and let Meredith rum
Meredith wouldn't even do that: he's
afraid scorned Alice. Tommy! What are