The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-05
Out Where the Trail Begins

"Hey, kid, where's the fire?" asked the big patrolman as Fred Langrin col lided with him turning the corner at top speed.
 No fire, but I'm in a hurry to tell dad something" came the breathless reply.
 Well, he sure won't have no cause to complain about you holdin the news back any if you keep up that pace" and with broad grin the officer passed on, for he knew his young friend well enough to know that no mischief was connected with all this haste.
 Fred's sprint carried him to the middle of the block, and up broad steps to magnificent home standing like a temple of dignity among the smaller homes on either side; but dignity mattered little to this lad. for as he reached the top step he gave q yell of boyish delight and dashed through the big dosr ripped on rug and sprawled over the polished 1 floor, only ending his mad career when he stopped short with both arms around the massive legs of a square piano. | "Freddie!' grasped a wonderfully kind l faced little mother.
 1 Slide" chuckled his big brother. You should have had on your chains" advised his sister Louise, who was just learning to drive car.
 [ Freddie heard none of these remarks, but scrambled out from his position and seized a newspaper from the hands of Judge Langrin and fairly shouted, "Oh, dad, I'm gon'"
 And going some, I'd say" again added the big brother
 But again Fred paid no heed, for big though he was, and dignifed though his father was, they each had their arms around the others neck and each was batting the other on the back and saying how fine it all was.
 Then the story all came out as the judge proudly told them all that the youngest member of the family had been selected as one of 50 scouts to take a great trip out through the west during the coming vacation, the land of the pio- neer scouts and Indian fights, the land of the gold seekers-yes, and the land of the big ranches and the cowboys And the finest part of it all is that each scout has been selected on his rec ord" said the judge, flor I was talking to the scout commissioner, MT. Ban drews, today. and he said that while he was not permitted, he would say thay every boy selected had won Liberty Loan medal and bars and most of them were entitled to wear w. S. S. medals and the red, white and blue service bars. And that practically all of the "B-1" di- vision of the minute scouts which had made such fine war record for the Bir- mingham district would be included.
 "So you see. son, 1t was not such a big surprise to me after all, for I have often talked to your scoutmaster, Mir Lesby, and he has told me of many things that led me to believe you were doing your best to be a credit to your fine organization and l am extremely proud of you and know that the trip will be a great experience for you.'
 "I'll say it will be great experience" said the big soldier brother now as much interested as his father and Fred. And say, scoutie, we're going to have reg ular time getting your outfit ready. Why, you can have that dandy pup tent used in France, and my folding cot and mess kit. and I'll bet you could wear my trench cap and Buster Brown belt and make some show when you get all outfitted.'
 That certainly is fine of you, Tom" said Fred, but you don5t understand. First. how would I feel with your fine outfit, while Herb cowaa, my patrol leader, and the only other scout from our troop will have hard time to even get couple of good blankets? And 1 can feel my ears burning at the very thought of what our executive would say if I showed up with a trench cap and our Ueit WHICH l am HOL entitleu 10 wear
 'Wel there sems to be more to this than I ever supposed, but am not out of this yet.>young man. for I think my tent is big enough for you both, and we will talk over some other things after get time to think 1t over Do you men mean to say" interrupted Mrs. Langrin, that you are seriously thinking of letting Freddie go out into that wild country on that long, rough trip. where he will be sleeping out of doors subject to all kinds of danger from those rough men and wild ani- mals and snakes?" And horned toads and big spiders?" added Louise
 Now. mother. don't you worry, he will be just as safe as at home" said the judge "The men in charge will be thor oughly capable and acquainted with the country, and make the safety of>the boys their business"
 The family realized fully that it was settled and Fred went to his room to dream of the great days and nights of fun and adventure soon to come, though it is doubtful whether he would have slept half well if he had dreamed ot just hcv very thrilling some of his ad- ventures were to be.
 CHAPTER 1T.
 PLANS The next morning ushered in one of those wonderful southern spring days full of soAg and fragrance, and the fam fly were already in the breakfast room