The Donaldsonville chief., 1921-12-31


my bow" smoke his father after
moment Of onlinous deliberation,
when | was lad Of ten, my father
taught me lesson that has left its
impress on my whole life in salu-
tary way. Upon the tick Of midnight
just preceding my birthday he always
called me down to the kitchen and
gave me good sound strapping. It
hurt him more than it did me, he used
to say, but the reminder would be
ever present with me. Until | was
twenty-one, regularly, upon each birth
day the strap played its part and
! think 1t did Il good deal towards
teaching me that | had a master and
IN making ne n better man. ! have
concluded to adopt that feature with
my system. You're Il pretty good boy,
hut for fear you might kick over the
traces I'm going 60 bulk the system
until you are of age. Now, then,
take your punishment like a man."
Joel Hardy produced a short, thick
piece Of tanned cowhide and Norman
WINGED, but did not cry out during
the unique castigaton. 1t was five
years later, and with the usual routine
late In the afternoon Joel Hardy re-
minded Norman of the pending mid
aight event His eyes bulged and his
face betrayed overwhelming amaze
ment as Norman stood up before him,
a tall, wel!-knit STRIPPING. almost men
scing in his bearing as he said:
"Faiher. there Ntll he no StrApping
this time. I'm through with it. Half
the town has heard Of it, and the
boys taunt me and the girls twit me.
Not that / care for any OF them ex-
eept Milly Daniels, and she's true
blue and stands by ME, and l won't
have her humbled and shamed. I'm
going to spend this New Years eve
with the crowd, and I'll be home to
breakfast"
IF you don't report here by ten
O'Clock I'll send the town marshal
after you," pronounced his father, with
fire In his eye.
Norman marched out of the house,
hung around downtown until eight
o'clock, and then repaired to the
agreed -onarendezvou Of the crowd. an
old buggy shed attached to great
barn owned by Farmer Logan. He
felt uneasy, stubborn and nettled. Re-
Gently he had been dared by his con-
panions to smoke cigarette. He
dow with fIyn
Of them In his pocket. he Lit one. and,
In sheer rebellion against his fathers
system, was about to puff out his re-
sentiment when the signal cry OF his
comrades echoed forth. Careiessly
throwing the lighted cigarette into a
corner of the shed, he bounded out
and for over an hour forgot all save
the excitement of the moment. The
unruly coterie.rolled giant SNOWFALL
and let 1t slide down the hill leading
to the town common; they got up into
the town hall tower and rang Its bell.
Tn tbe midst of setting loose a drove
af cattle from live stock enclosure
they were attracted by the dash and
rush of the village fire cart making
for q vivid, spreading glare
"Why, it's Farmer Logan's place !
shouted chorus of excited voices aud
Norman Hardy's heart stood still. he
recalled the cigarette and the Uttered
weodshed. He stood dumb anu
scared The flames completely ell
~.,,,saa tna GREAT frame barn. Norman
skunk off alone by himself, oppresseu
with an appalling sense of guilt: hts
emotions were doubly intensined "hen
he heard some one say:
"I.ogan thinks it was SET ao'a@s
Arson. pity the firebus II ne )
caught. It's straight IA years IN 'he
penitentiary.
"It will ruin Logan, they say, spoke