Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-03-11
I'M I!!I I'M

tentions, and his sin, though sure to
be found out. was worthy of a lasting
place among the virtues.
To be sure, in his enthusiasm. ne
overdid it, but why hold that up
against him? He made Philip Mid
whom never walked through the most
exalted tale Of e%hivalry. Ills descrip-
ton of that well imagined combat on
the lonely duelling ground, and the cir
cumstances that led up to 1t, meritetl
distinction in the choicest yellow back
your imagination. I nave my own 20
tell. The effect it had on the boy is all
that l care to record.
When the lengthy, involved and high
ly colored narrative came to an end
which was when the old man reached d
stage where he realized that he was
beginning to contradict himself because
he couldn't remember just what had
gone before-the boy was fairly
squirming with excitement. and bride,
and glory in his heroic father. Jabez
left nothing to the imagination, albeit
he uttered not a single word Of the
truth.
Later on, the old man watched his
young friend scudding up the hill to-
! ward the gate in the road wall sur
rounding the Blagden garden and stable
yard. He was very thoughtful, and he
shook his grizzled head in deep per
plexity.
He'll find out the truth some day,
poor lad" unused he. "and all my lynn
will go for naught. Mebby 'two1d
been better to have told him the truth.
What a fine little chap he Is"
Eric encountered Chetwynd In the
grape arbor. The older bay was
where he spent much of his leisure time
reading. far from the questioning eyes
of his parents. and quite out OF view
from n Of the windows in the house
itself. He chose this spot because 1t
was secluded. and he denied either Of
his cousins the right to approach with
In 20 PAGES Of his lair. two or three
kickings had convinced Eric that
discretion was better than valor. He
kept his distance thereafter. but down
In his heart he cherished the hope that
there would come a time when ne
would be big enough to drive the proud
bully from his paradise. You may be
sure that C~hetwynd's 400 was the
%shadtest. the coolest and altogether the
most desirable In the garden. He chose
1T with considerable perception. It was
there that ostensibly he pursued the
course In reading his father had laid
down for him. If o had approached
observed that a flashy, blood stirring
paper back library" Of the S and 10
cent variety reposed atop the obscured
pages Of Virgil. Chetwynd managed, in
some way to read at least n of these
demoraliztng pamphlets every day. His
mind was soaked with the vicious per-
formances OF certain highWaymen, road
agents. detectives, and the more ex-
allied but scarcely less ~approvable vir-
tues of youthful heroes.
Els doting parents would have beer
shocked beyond measure could they
have known Of this unexampled stray
ing.
Eric usually gave The sacred spot a
wide berth. Today. full Of e~xaltation.
he boldly invaded the nook.
Get out of this!" roared Chetwynd,
scarcely believing his eyes. He lowered
his feet from their perch on the %trellis,
and was almost prepared to rise from
sitting.
The ugly scowl did not daunt the
trespasser. He came UP quite close to
his cousin.
you can kick me If you want to. but
/ mean to tell he began.
Chetwynd Interrupted him with a
mild oath. A later he was
standing over the smaller boy, his arm
drawn back threateningly.
III you tell father what I've been
reading. I'll break your neck" he
Kissed. He was pale. not with anger.
Va a.. lko "A VI III 1ilo
going to his father.
ooh. I'm not a tattletale." cried Eric.
you know better thar that You're a
telltale yourself. but I'm not. You"
Don't you call me a telltaie!"
well. you are You tell on me to
tell her lots of times that I did the
things that o did yourself. SOS I'll
get punished. She believes you. and /
get 1t good and hard. too. Blu I never
squeal on you. You know I don't"
You don't dare to-" proclaimed
YOU"
why don't you pick on Johnny Met
calf or Roy Gray? You're afraid OF 'em.
They're az big as you are and they'd
Just lick YOU"
"Tll give you a smash IN the eye,
first thing you know" growled Chef
wynd. Still his arm was withheld"
reckless Eric. You're a coward, that's
what you are. You won't fight fair.
You know l can't lick you"
For two cents. I'd"
I'll fight with 'dornicks' at 20 PAGES"
said Eric.
Chetwynd laughed derisively as lie
sh .aNsat the ts,n boy ya away II from ssn,, him; 40
to a duel" he guffawed meaningly.
Eric was quivering with the news
that was to De his justification.
Aunt Rena said my father was q
murderer he gulped. We'll, it was a
lie."
Chetwynd stared.
"Tm going to tell her called her
a liar" he said. Then you'll catch
hell"
"Oh, if Uncle Horace heard you use
that word cried Eric, forgetting his
purpose in the delight of anticipation.
He'd tan you-gee. but he'd tan you"
I'D show him il he tried it." blus-
tered Chetwynd. Il won't let any man
lick me. / don't car who he is.
Eric returned to his original attack.
II don't care IL you do tell Aunt Rena.
She knows It amt true. He killed his
man In a duel, q fair and square duel.
It was according to the code. all good
and proper. She has no business say
ing Il IA a murder"
We'll. It was murder" cried Chef
wynd angrily. You don't know what
you're talking about"
Eric went On rashly. IT'D, like to see
what your fatherd do II he had to fight
q duel. He'd II he'd back out He
wouldn't stand UP to anybody with piss
tols. My father was a brave man. He
met his man and
10 naA = - 49, ~angE . 49, 40