Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1919-02-21

be wantedl
Oh no. he wasn't wanted. Snap
per had merely noted that he hat
been looking poorly Of late, and
stopped to inquire about his health
lie sprinted to the corner just in
time to see the fireman turn to the
right block ahead. On an easy trot
the call-boy followed after. 0vertak-
ing a brakeman. Snapper asked II be
had seen Burnside.
"BurnsldeY said the man. ''Yepi
Just passed here with throttle wide
open and both pops up. Hit the curve
and shot up that first alley"-point.
ing--"and he was going some. Why,
I'll bet he was halfway up the side
OF that house when he made the turn.
and reckon ysull and his fOotmarks
on the wall.
HE called to me to tell you to
hurry up, KID" he said with q grin
"and you want to move lively, or he'll
lose you"
Snapper knew this was all Cannon.
He glanced at his watch. 1t was al.
most nine-thirty.
'Tll look for those footmarks some
other time" he remarked dryly; "Fm
in hurry now" and he started of
afresh at jog trot In the direction
that had been indicated.
There's that long-legged kid
again. !" calculated Burnside. IF he
comes back here to the kitchen, I'll
slip out the front door and join you
on the car somewhere. If he comes
to the front, keep him till l can get
to the other side Of the run and after
he's gone. I'll come around by the
street"
Snappef's schedule took him to the
front door. There was no answer to
his first ring. 80 he rang again; and
shortly Miss Carnigan answered.
"Oh! it's you, is itf" was her tart
greeting. What do you want nowf
It's pity you couldn't have come
around to the kitchen door,"
THAT'S the fault Of me tender
heart, Kitty" returned the unabashed
snapper. II want Jimmy Burnside,
and / couldn't bear to break it to him
suddenly. Yeu tell him."
Didn't | tell you he had left
heref"
Jaw, quit 1t, Kitty! Amt he 20.
ing on the picnic with you? Sure"
"Well," was the admission, she came
back after you left, but he's gone
again. You might find him at his
boarding house"
Snapper struggled to keep straight
face.
"Tve been there once" he returned;
"and the book Of rules says"-he held
his call book close to his nose and
thumbed over some blank pages-''lt
says. here: Rule 106--In all cases Of
doubt or uncertainty, see for your.
SELF I've got to do it, Kitty" and he
pushed into the house.
"0h, very WE'LL" retorted the young
lady, and followed through to where
her mother and a younger sister were
finishing the packing Of the picnic bas-
kets In the Kitchen. Nov! are you
satished7"
Snapper made no reply. Something
OF more immediate interest absorbed
all his faculties. for his eyes had light
ed on the top layer in one OF the bas-
ksts. "Ars those SEINE OF your own
pies, Mrs. CarniganG" he inquired In
awS2 .s2es
"SureP was she answer. "Whose
would they bel"
but, some that you baked your
selt?" he persisted with an air Of
strong disbelief.
"Of coorsel"
Mrs. Carnigan"--he wanted calm,
judicial answer to this Quest-"are
your pies as good as they used to beg''
"Well, ! never" cried Mrs. Carni.
gan, flinging up her hands. IF you
amt the blarneyer!"
Snapper was not beauty. He was
still growing; his joints were too
loose, his feet too big, his clothes too
small yet when he opened his mouth
to take in the piece Of pie that was inn
mediately cut for him. expanding until
his freckles ran together and his whole
eOuntenance rcsembled nothing so
much as wedge disappearing through
q large, rusty washer, he became for
the moment q sight that gave true Joy
to Mrs. Carnigan's domestic heart.
''That certainly was good" he mur-
INJURED in heartfelt commentator as he
swallowed the last Of It. Then he met
Miss CarnIgan's anxious eye and gave
a sudden implsh start. Gee, Klttyl"
he exclaimed. Someone's fell In the
creek"
Stopping at the creek merely long
enough to pull the plank out Of the
water and set 1t roughly In place, he
hastened to the boarding house and
vents up to the firemen's room.
He x,pNtnaAed to himself at hearing
Burnside muttering objurgations inside
and thrashing wet clothes about.
In this dilemma the pie furnished
him a hint, for, as It sought a coy
corner of his anatomy in which to dis
pose itself comfortably. It gave him a
gentle internal tweak. In an instant
he had doubled up as though taken