The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-12-13

The Whistler Couided With Big Fritz.
adise OF the tramps. whistling Dicks
red head popped suddenly back into
the car. A sight too imposing and mag
nificent for his gaze had been added to
the scene A vast, Incompatible police
man rounded a pile Of rice sacks and
stood within twenty yards Of the car.
Whistling Dick, professional tramp,
possessed half friendly acquaintance
with this officer. They had met sew
eral times before on the levee at night,
for the officer, himself lover OF mu-
sic, had been attracted by the exqui-
site whistling of the shiftless vaga-
bond. Still he did not care under the
present circumstances to renew the ac-
Quaintance. So Dick waited, and be-
fore long big Fritz" disappeared.
Whistling Dick waited as long as his
Judgment advised and then slid swiftly
to the ground. AS he picked his way
where night still fingered among the
big, reeking, musty warehouses he
gave way to the habit that had won
for him his title. Subdued, yet clear,
with each note as true and liquid as
bobolink's, his whistle tinkled about
the dim, cold mountains of brick like
drops Of rain falling into hidden pool.
Rounding a corner, the whistler col
uded with big Fritz"
"So," observed the mountain calmly,
you are already pack. Und dere will
not pc frost before two weeks yet Und
you hat forgotten how to vistle. Dere
was a valse note In dot last bar"
Big Fritz's heavy mustache rounded
into circle, and from its depths came
q sound deep and mellow as that from
q flute. He repeated few bars OF the
air the tramp had been whistling.
dot p is p natural, und not p vlat.
Ply der way, you peter pc glad meet
you. Won hour later, und would half
to put you In gage to vistle NIT der
chail pirds. Der orders are to bull all
der pums after sunrise. Goot pye."
After the big policeman had depart
ed whistling Dick stood for an irreso-
lutte minute. feeling all the outraged
indignation OF a delinquent tenant who
is ordered to vacate his premises. he
had pictured to himself day OF dream
full ease, but here was stern order to
exile and one that he knew must be
obeyed. So. with a wary eye open for
the CLEAN Of brass buttons, he began
his retreat toward a rural refuge. A
few days in the country need not
necessarily prove disastrous.
However, it was with a depressed
spirit that Whistling Dick passed the
old French market on his chosen route
down the river. For safety's sake he
still presented to the world his por-
trayal Of the part OF the worthy artisan
on his way to labor. A stall keeper In
the market, undeceived, hailed him by
the generic name of his fix, and Jack
halted, taken by surprise. The vender,
melted by this proof Of his own acute
ness, bestowed foot of frankfurter
and half loaf, and thus the problem
Of breakfast was solved.
By noon he had reached the country
Of the plantations, the great, sad, ST.
lent levels bordering the mighty river.
He overlooked fields Of sugar cane SO
vast that their farthest limits melted
into the sky. The sugar making season
was well advanced, and the cutters
We're at work.
At a cerAin point Whistling Dicks
unerring nose caught the scent of fry
ing fish. Like a pointer to a quail, he
made his way down the levee side,
straight to the camp OF a credulous and
ancient fisherman, whom he charmed
with song and story, so that he dined
like an admiral, and then, like a phi
losopher, annihilated the worst three
hours OF the day by nap under the
trees.
When he awoke and continued his
hegira frosty sparkle in the air had
succeeded the drowsy warmth of the
day, and as this portent Of chilly night
translated itself to the brain of Sir
Peregrine he heightened his stride and
Dethought him Of shelter.
A distant clatter in the rear Quickly
developed into the swift beat of horses
noofs. Turning his head, lie saw ap-
preaching fine team OF stylish grays
drawing a double surrey. A stout
man with a white mustache occupied
the front seat giving all his attention
30 the rigid lines in his hands. Peh,nd