South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-06
GREAT AND
NEAR-GREAT
By Fred Kelly.
by Fred Kelly.

gresham John Arthur Elston Of
Berkeley. Calf. rarely if ever eats
an apple. The sight of a pretty.
rosy-cheeked apple fills him with
deep mental anguish. This aversion
Of Elston's 10 apples dates back 10
his boyhood.
When he was a mere lad. Elston
and his brother attended an acade-
my Of which their father was the
principal. This necessitated a much
more exemplary behavior on their
part than was noticeable in any OF
their classmates Potentially. there
was just as much mischief in the
Elston boys as in any OF the others,
but they found il ineXpedient 10 fol
low their natural instincts and on
actual batting average they had rec
ords like the hero OF a Westminster
leafiet.
Whenever any of the other boys
i'm the little town wished 10 20 out
and play in the evening. or go on
any kind of dubious excursion. they
made il a point 10 mention 10 their
parents that they wished TO join the
Elston boys That was nearly al
ways an open sesame, for the Elston
lads were known to practically every
parent in the town as very good
boys. 1t was believed that their
presence in any crowd would insure
proper observance of the prophecies
One summer a little camping
party was arranged. In the crowd
were two or three very bad boys
who had been allowed TO go. only
after their parents had been posi-
lively assured that the Elston boys
were TO be along
After the camping party was
established off in the country a seri-
Gus disagreement arose over certain
matters Of daily routine one Of the
chief issues was the question Of who
should wash the dishes There were
two factions, the good boys, headed
by the Elston brothers. and the bad
boys. The dispute reached a point
where the good boys started to beat
up the bad boys and seek TO take
control of the camp. with especial
reference TO the commissary depart
ment. When the fight had died
down somewhat it was found that
the two factions had grabbed what
they could in the way Of supplies
and the result was a $3.50 victory.
For example. the good boys had the
entire store Of potatoes, but the bad
boys had all the flour. One side had
bread and no jam, the other side
jam but no bread.
An agreement was drawn up by
which the two factions should keep
what they had in their possession.
and everybody pledged himself by
solemnly crossing his heart not to
disturb anybody else in the enjoy
ment of any supplies won in the
heat OF battle. on that basis tho
two factions dwelt almost side by
side for several days. glowering back
and forth. but keeping their word
not to disturb one another's supplies.
Now. John Arthur Elston, future
statesman. and leader of the good
boys was fond of apples. The menu
Of his crowd had been in a bit Of a
rut for day or two. the thought
altogether too much confined TO
mere potatoes. 1t occurred TO him
that few apples would give a lit
tie needed zest 10 their bill Of fare
He recalled an orchard about a mile
and a half away. and suggested to
some OF the others among the good
boys that they go and rob the help
less trees. The others readily APP
preciated that he had hit on an eX-
cellent scheme and they set forth.
1t was d particularly delectable
orchard that they found, and Elston
thought it a shame to take only
what would go in their pockets. At
his suggestion they tied strings about
the bottom OF their trousers, just
above the shoetops and began to
drop apples in at the waist line. I'M
til the entire available space was
occupied by apples. Each trouser
leg was a little cornucopia of plenty.
Then the proprietor of the orch
ard happened along. Elston and the
rest of the good boys started TO run.
but they were handicapped and
hampered not a little by the neces-
sity of having 70 move stiff-Iegged
because of the many apples packed
above and below and Immediately
about their knees.