The Alaska citizen., 1914-12-21

sarn. l swan that boy makes me
mad sometimes. ha-ade. Oh,
Shade"
An overgrown, gawky boy SLOUGH
ed around the corner of the house,
nursing a ball in the hollow of a
mitt His face was an inspiring
brick red flakes of skin were peel
ing from his nose like old paper
from a damp wall Failing to per
ceive him. Mrs Gilman howled again:
"Sha'ade." And the lad answered
sullenly at his elbow: Here
His sire turned on him in in
tense evaporation.
I've a good mind" he declared.
with rasp in his tone. ito tan you
good, What were you doing"
"Nothn'"
Well don't ever let me catch
you doing it again" warned his
father
The son made no reply, but wait
ed. with downcast eyes. for more
he has grown to expect considerable
when once the "ol' man" got wound
up. And Selman. senior, did not dis
appoint him.
Said he: What the Sam Hill
you're good for | don't know. Quit
shufflin' your feet You just get
meaner every day. You won't work.
Here I've found you three jobs,
and you done lost 'em all. | reckon
you're just noaccount."
Back and forth. from one hand to
the other went the ball.
why don't you say something's
The boy lifted his sulky glance re-
belliously.
IF you and Mz Selman--' he
began.
'Who?"-with a threatening for
ward movement.
You and ma" Shade corrected.
Only under compulsion would he &C
cord to his stepmother anything but
"Miz." which is Southwestern for
Mrs.
We'll. what about me and MAJ"
IF you'd just leave me be some.
times" pleaded Shade. III you'd
only give me half a chance
His voice trailed off as he saw
the passion working in his fathers
face. and he ducked swiftly. Just
in time, for Selmans open hand
swung above him where Shades
head had been.
You whelp, III learn you to
talk back to me-"
Shade did not tarry to explain or
expostulate. but from his STOPPING
posture sprinted for the road as hard
as he could go. Mr. Selman pur-
sued only as far as the gate, where
ne cast about for a stone or bit
OF wood. Finding none, he beloved
after his son: ''Tll whale you for
this. Don't you go for to think I'll
forget Go and draw some water
for your ma do you hear me? And
when you've done that, pile that
stove wood Mind now"
His father retired, and Shade, hav-
ing made sure that he was really
inside and was not simply employ
ing ruse to trap him, went to the
well and filled a bucket. He did not
carry ii into the house, however, but
cautiously deposited it close to the
kitchen door. Then. retreating to
the road. he called: There it ISL
After while, mindful OF parental
threats, he re-entered the yard and
set to work on the woodpile. But
his heart was not in the dawdled
and fused, and presently sat down
on the sawhorse to think Perhaps
Shade was afflicted with the hook
worm, that scourge of the South
which has given Mr.. Rockefeller so
grave concern or it may be he was
merely lazy. 1t all depends on the
angle from which you view human
frailty.
Hookworm or laziness, he did not
stick at the task.
'I1l be logged if l do" he broke
out. 81 amt goin'! to put in my
I;y,S
and pickin' cotton"
A tin can on a fence post caught
his eye.
"Ill bet"-apostrophizing the can
that I hit you nine times out Of
ten"
And he commenced to gather
stones, selecting them with care.
The distance was about twenty yards.
Shade poised and flung the first,
and the jangle reused his father
from perusal of the Texas almanac.
He laid it down to listen
One, two three. four-a pause
that registered a miss-five, six
the elder Selman directed look
Of understanding at his wife, and
stole softly into the back yard.
There was his hopeful heir raining
stones at a tomato tin.
TWENTY-FIVE" he grunted as his
father watched, "twenty-three. ard
twenty four"
so" The forced calm Of the mon
osyllable carried the snap Of COM
mand. 1t brought Shade up short,
with his arm out behind him for
the throw.
"So!" repeated his father. That g
the way you pile wood, is it,"
The boy let the stone drop from
his nerveless fingers, and picked his
cap from the ground.
Come here!" Selman ordered.
Shade was about to obey: indeed,
he advanced few steps, then stop
ped
'If you think you're going to lick
me-" he announced sullenly, you
ANTI"
WHAT" Had his house come
gathering about his ears. Selman,
senior. could not have been more
dumfounded
No" said Shade again, you
amt"
There could be only one answer
to this defiance. Without word.
the father lunged for him, and Shade
lodged and ran. AS he sped through
the gate he swung 1t to behind him,
so that Mr.. Selman was caught amid
ship by the crossbar and gave up
rbooo vorv ohr,,ptlv