The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-03-12

His advent in our little country
town was at once abrupt and novel.
Why he came, when he came, or how
he came, we boys never knew. My
first remembrance Of him is of his
sudden appearance in the midst of a
game Of can't ny-over," in which a
dozen boys besides myself were most
enthusiastically engaged The scene
of the exciting contest was the center
of the main street of the town, the
elevation over which we tossed the
ball being the skeleton remains of a
grand triumphal arch, left as a sort
of cadaverous reminder of some re-
cent political demonstration. Although
I recall the boys external appearance
upon that occasion with some vague
ness, / yiVidly remember that his
trousers we're much too large and
long, and that his heavy, Tapping coat
was buttonless, and very badly worn
and damaged at the sleeves and ell
bows. / remember, too, with even
more distinctness, the hat he wore; it
was high, silk. beIl-crowned hat-a
mans hat and veritab1e plug
i1OI d new anu oHluy pug, ny duy
means, but still of dignity and gloss
enough to furnish a noticeable con-
trast to the other aDpurtenances of its
wearer's wardrobe. In fact, it was
through this latter article of dress
that the general attention of the
crowd came at last to be drawn par
ticularly to it's unfortunate possessor,
who, evidently directed by an old-time
instinct, had mechanically thrust the
inverted "castor" under falling ball,
and the ball, being made of yarn
wrapped tightly over a green walnut,
and dropping from an uncommon
height, had gone through the hat like
a round shot.
Naturally enough much merriment !
was occasioned by the singular mis-
hap, and the victim of the odd occur
renee seemed himself inclined to join |
in the boisterous laughter and make |
the most of his ridiculous misfortune.
He pulled the hat back over his |
tousled head, and with the tapping
crown of it still clinging by one frayed |
hinge, he capered through gro
tesquely executed Jig that made the
clamorous crowd about him howl
again.
"Wo! what hat!" cried Billy Kin
zey, derisively, and with a palpably
rancorous twinge of envy in his heart;
for Billy was the bad boy of our town,
and would doubtless have enjoyed
the strange boys sudden notoriety in
thus being able to convert disaster
into positive fun. Two! what a hiatt"
reiterated Billy, making feint to
knock it from the boys head as the
capering figure pirouetted past him.
The boys eye caught the motion,
and he whirled suddenly in a back
ward course and danced past his re-
viler again, this time much nearer than
before. Better try it." he said, in
a low, half-laughing tone that no one
heard but Billy and myself. He was
out of range in an instant, still laugh
ing as he went
"Durn him!" said Billy, with sitting
anger, clutching his fist and leaving
one knuckle protruding in very
wickedlooking manner. "Durn him
He better not sass me! He's afeared
to come past here ag'in and say that!
I'll knock his durn ole stove-pipe in
the middle o. mex week."
You will, hey?" queried a revolv-
ing voice, as the boy twirled past
again--this time so near that Billy
felt his haunting breath blown in his
face.
Yes, will, hey!'" said Billy, vi
ciously; and with side-sweeping,
fiat-handed lick that sounded like
striking a rusty sheet of tin, the
crownless plug went spinning into
the gutter, while, as suddenly, the
assaulted little stranger, with Pc
culiarly pallid smile about his lips
and an electric glitter In his eye,
adroitly flung his left hand forward,
shifting his insulter such blow in
the region OF the brow that the I'M
guarded Billy went tumbling back /
ward, his plucky assailant prancing |
wildly around his PROSTATE form.
oh! come and see mel" snarled the
strange boy, in a contemptuous tone,
cooking his fists up in scientific
nanper, and dropping into a stoop- W
'houldered swagger that would have a
lrivcn envy into the heart of bully II
ng hack driver. cit the bloke on his ia
,ins!" he sneered, turning to the i
;rowd. "S'pose I'm goin' to hit man
ven he's DOWN." hi
But his antagonist needed no such be
assistance. Stung with his unlocked tn
or downfall, bleeding from the first HI
low ever given him by mortal boy, of
l. 1, III
aunts Of his staggering enemy, Billy te
prang to his feet, and q moment eli
tier had succeeded In closing with the an