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


to his comrades.
"I bet you didn't fill the boxes full,
said Bob Haynes, jealously.
II did, too, rounded 'em way up
cried Tommie, Indignantly. "Mr
Burchard said I was getting 'em toe
full. You needn't think everybody
else is as slow as you are" he added
witheringly. Bob had earned just
twenty cents. you've eaten more
than you've put into the baskets" and
with this parting sally Tommie Joined
himself to his crony, Len Meredith.
: At six o'clock he appeared IN the
dfn1ngroom, berry-stained, but triumph
ant. He bore a box Of strawberries,
which he presented with all due I'm.
pressiveness to his mother. .,..
Tomorrow we're going to stay all
day." he announced later as he applied
himself to his second bowl of bread
and milk. Then he addressed his
father. "T'll have to have broad
brimmed hat. You can get 'em Tor
10 cents down at Rogers's; and
ought to have a dinner pail" he added
refectively. "rd like that kind that
has cup screwed on the top and a
place inside for milk or coffee. They're
25 cents, though" Tommie's tone
was rueful. It'll take all my profits
I'm afraid" ...-
Nothing like being properly equip
ped for our work." said DR.. Truesdell,
soberly. "Well, son, If you'll agree to
keep Ellen's~ s~wood-box full for exactly
two weeks, we'll go down town after
supper and see what we can do"
81 WILL" cried Tommy joyfully, Il
truly will. I won't forget once"
Next morning the crowd of juvenile
berry pickers assembled at the cream
cry, whence they were to ride out to
the Burchard farm with 81 Goodrich
on his return trip with the milk cans.
Tommie appeared in the full glory OF
his new poss sessions. If truth must be
told his gait had on this particular
morning decidedly the nature of a
strut. In his eyes the new hat had all
the distinction Of a Mexican sombrero,
and the shining dinner pail added the
final touch of elegance. Dandy Jim
seemed to have imbibed something Of
his masters spirit. He was distinctly
perky.
I Bob Haynes, who was carrying his
linner in a paper sack, broke into a
lerisive shout. Hi, fellows, get on
% Tom Truesdell's hat! He looks for
Iii the world like mighty little toad
lnder a mighty big toad-stool. And see
he dinner pail! Regular travelling tin
peddler."
The color rose in Tommie's face.
You just wait till you get out IN that
patch" he retorted, you'll
wish you had straw hat. It's going to
1e awfully hot today, and l guess
,ou'd be glad enough to have cruller
,ut of my pail!"
This was a telling shaft. and Bob
fastened to retaliate. well. anyway,
I'm going to sit by 81 and drive"
Tommie's face fell. He had planned
o have that thrilling experience him.
self. and here Bob Haynes had fore
stalled him. Thus came the first cloud
IN the days horizon.
The lumber wagon, with It's load OF
battered milk cans and noisy small
BOYS. ratified gayly up the shady street
md out into the country, followed by
Dandy Jim, the faithful. At half.past
seven the boys had reached their desti-
nation. Jason's prediction that the day
would be warm was speedily verified.
Tommie, perspiring freely, was glad
10 hang his jacket on the low sweeping
limb of the apple tree which stood on
The edge of the strawberry patch.
Later, a little breeze sprang up, which
proved most grateful to the heated
berry pickers.
When the lunch bell rang from the
,upola of the big farm house, the boys
dropped their work with alacrity and
gathered in the shade Of the apple
rec. Only Tommie at the farther end
If a row, with several empty boxes be-
fore him. determined to keep on pick
ing till these we're filled. Thus 1t hap
oened that, when he, too, finally threw
himself down under the apple tree the
others had practically finished their
MONDAY repast.
Sam Eliot had lighted fire and
essayed to roast some potatoes which
he had brought in his pocket; but the
result had been unsatisfactory, and
The potatoes had been hurled into the
pasture.
"My, but I'm hungry" said Tommie,
CnOpp1nR Ills DTO". uCl Ao PAShSu up
his pail of lunch. The others watched
with interested eyes. There was no
telling how many crullers might be
therein, and Tommie was always gen.
erous.
He gave a gentle tug at the cover,
but for some reason 1t did not come
off. '.E1len stuck it on pretty tight, I
guess" he said, and again he pulled.
The cover did not bulge. The third at
Tempt was also a failure.
sLet me have try at it." said Len
Meredith, confidently; but. though he
pulled till he was red in the face, he
could make no impression on the OBJ
1urate cover.
One by one the others exerted their
strength. Even Bob Haynes forgot his
animosity in the interest Of the at
,empt; but one and all were obliged
% acknowledge themselves baffled.
"Ellen must have patent on that
cover" said Sam Eliot after mas
;erly tug.
'-It looks as if you weren't going to
nave any lunch, Tom," said Len Mer-
,d;+b ey,o no th at icallv "I'm aWfl111y