Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1912-08-24

OTIUM
brave attempt at nonchalence. Il
guess can stand It without my lunch
for once. I'll eat some berries. am
kind of sick Of them, though" hs ad-
ded truthfully.
AS time wore on the day grew hot
ter. The very breeze seemed to make
the heat more intense. Meantime.
Tommie Truesdell grew more and
more hungry. II feel terribly hollow"
he murmured. II could eat horse"
The boxes seemed to grow bigger
and bigger and the rows stretched out
interminably. Gradually, however, the
afternoon wore away. Mr.. Burchard
had already departed on his afternoon
trip to town with load of strawber-
ries when all of sudden there was a
shout.
Over by the apple tree, Sam Eliot's
fire., long since extinguished as he had
supposed, had taken new lease OF
life, and was spreading rapidly toward
the rail fence The boys dropped their
boxes and ran. When Tommie Trues-
dell reached the scene Of the disaster,
he was Just in time to behold Bob
Haynes fishing from the ashes the re-
mains of Tommie's own jacket. 1t
had blown off the limb and the flames
had practically ruined 1t.
Guess you won't wear that coat
again." cried Bob.
"I say, Tom," said Len Meredith,
soberly, looks to me as If you were
hoodooed this trip"
IT wonder why Tommie doesn't
Gomez" said Mrs Truesdell, anxious
ly. tits nearly seven o'clock"
"Oh, he's probably picking till the
last minute, to swell his fund, said
the doctor, laughing. Don't worry,
Ann. Come out and look at the roses.
Tommie's parents had just stepped
on the porch when Mrs. Truesdell
stopped short, uttered an exclamation
of astonishment. Toiling slowly up the
driveway came detected figure, wear
mess in every line. 1t was Tomm1e!
In one hand he carried the still un-
opened dinner pail, from the other
dangled the remnants of what had
once been a jacket. But this was not
all. Behind limped painfully batter
ed little spaniel, tail between his legs
and one ear dropping forlornly. This
was Dandy Jim! But how uniting
his gay name to his bearing from
which all jauntiness had departed!
Tommie dropped wearily on the
bottom step of the porch, and Dandy
Jim threw himself exhausted at his
feet For a moment no one spoke. Un-
1,ot To- a. q G.
ers heaved suspiciously. Without a
word his mother knelt by the forlorn
figure of her son, and removed the
big hat. She stroked the tousled head
gently
What is it, son." she said at last,
tell mother
Bit by bit Tommie related the story
of the days happenings: the tragedy
of the dinner-pafl, the burning OF the
coat, and, worst of all "On the way
home, Dandy Jim and Bob Haynes
Sport got into fight, and'-Timmie's
voice broke-"and Dandy Jim got
whipped" At this climax Tommie laid
his dead on his mothers shoulder and
wept aloud.
DR.. Truesdell had picked up the din
ner pail and was examining 1t critical
ly. He gave a slight pull at the cover.
1t came off easily, disclosing the un-
touched contents. TOmmie lifted his
tear-stained face in amazement.
There seems to be little catch In
the cover" said the doctor, "and
imagine, too, that the heat expanded
the tin a little" He shifted at the milk
in the top receptacle. His eyes twink
led. Sour" he said, "but that's good
for you. They say sour milk prolongs
life"
Tommie looked up comically. "rd
rather have mine fresh.'
STRIKES me- said the doctor, grave
ly, that this earning money is a rath.
er expensive proposition. Ready to
give up?" he queried.
Then and there did Tommie Trues-
dell show "the mettle of his pasture"
He sat bolt-upright on the step, and he
spoke with decision.
I'm going out to that strawberry
patch tomorrow morning. I'm going to
earn a new jacket. I can get along
without the Roman candles and the
sky-rockets," there was CULVER in his
voice; "but Dandy Jim's going to have
that collar He's fine dog, even If
Sport Haynes did lick him. 1t was only
because Dandy Jim was so hungry.
Wasn't it, old fellow?'
On the walk below. Dandy Jim
thumped his tail feebly in acquies-
cence.
Mother bore off her tired, hungry
son to the dining room, while Dandy
Jim trudged meekly after.
"I tell you this tastes good,' said
Tommy as he ate his third biscuit.
Somehow, strawberries aren't very
filing
Later, when refreshed by his warm
bath, he had climbed into bed and
fallen asleep, his mother sought out
the doctor in the library and led him
upstairs to Tommie's room. In the dor
way, they paused. The boy lay in
spread-eagle fashion, his curly head
resting on one arm. BY the side Of the
bed, stretched on his own particular