The state herald., 1915-01-22
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pied with marvellous symmetry.
Where James was strong. slow. heavy.
he was quick. hthe. supple. Dissipa-
tion had not left its mark. and the
hard life Of the road" had SO far
merely made him At, an athlete In per.
feet condition. His features were
clean-cut and symmetrical, with mar
row. humorous. good-natured mouth
and eyes soft and gray and gentle,
the eyes Of dreamer and an idler.
James looked at the slight. graceful
youth. sprawled in the shade Of the
butternut tree. and grinned. doubling
his huge arms with slow, luxurious
pleasure in the mere physical action
and watching the rhythmic rise and
fall of the great muscles.
You might get honorable mention
in one OF these county fairs for the
best yoke of oxen" admitted the Wa
termelon from where he lay at ease.
There amt going to be no show.
said Mike firmly. Not II yer have
to swipe the duds. amt going"
James showed that he was a true
member Of the bon-ton. He waved the
other to silence with the airy grace
of a master dismissing an impudent
servant There is goin' to be a con-
test for the Just reward OF beauty
and, yer goin' to be here, Mike. and
be the judge or y will have that red
headed block OF yours knocked into
kindlin' wood"
Mike was fat and red.headed and
dirty. His soul loathed trouble and
ionged for quiet with the ardor OF an
elderly spinstsr. mo. I ain't." said
he, In a vain struggle for peace. II
amt gain to hang around here until
you blokes swipe the rags and come
back wild de cops after yer"
Sunday" said the Watermelon.
from knowledge gained by past expe-
rience. is the best time to swipe any
thing. No one is lookin' for trouble
that day and 20 they don't nnd II.
sect"
Sure" agreed James. Every ones
feelin' warm and good and stuffed.
and when yer feel good yerself. you
won't believe any one is bad. You
know how It is. Mike. When yer
tss!!n' eomiortsble. yer can't n. under; Is /;
able"
We'll. why the devil amt yeri" de.
manded Mike. Il amt takin' all the
shade or all the earth. am II Lie
down and be quiet What do yer want
a beauty show fort"
"Aw, stow III" snapped the Water.
melon.
Yes. I'll stow It all right when
we're all sent to the jug. tell yer
! Amt at to work. The last time I
got pinched. pretty near croaked.
I wasn't made to work"
I'VE Amt going to get pinched. {"
said James. "You make more talk over
two suits Of clothes"
1T amt the clothes. It's the -
fool notion Of swipin' EN- and then
comm right back here. and not max.
in no Eetaway-"
''This hang-out 10 more than four
miles from the burg. you saioof, ''
sneered the Watermelon. NO one
would think Of coppin' Us here. They'll
20 to the next town. or else watch
the railroads"
But they might"
Might what Might be bloomin
fools like YOU"
Where are you soin to be shaved 70
In the barber shop" said James
mildly. You probably favor a lawn.
mower. but personally I prefer n bar.
ber." He stretched and yawned
We'll. I'm OF before church time, or
the BARRIERS will be closed. Remem.
ber. Mike, this afternoon. between
four and Ave"
He pulled his clothes into place, nd.
justed his hat nj the most becoming
angle and started mp the narrow
woodland path. whistling gniiy through
his teeth. As he disappeared amons
the trees. the fsrof sound OF church
bells stole TO them on the quiet OF
the Sabbath morning.