The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-03-10
CHAPTER XII.

Ramsey was not quite athlete
enough for any Of the varsity teams !;
neither was he an antagonist safely
encountered, whether In play or In
earnest. and during the next few days
he taught Fred Mitchell to be eau
tious. The chatter learned that his
own agility could not save him from
Ramsey. and 50 found 1t wiser to con-
tain an effervescence which sometimes
threatened to burst him. Ramsey as a
victim was q continuous temptation
he was 50 good-nstured and yet so
furious.
After Commencement, when the
roommates had gone home Mr.. Mitch
els caution extended over the long
sunshiny months Of summer vacation !;
he broke IL but once aud then In we'll
advised safety. for the occasion was
semi-pubIic. The two were out for a
stroll on July Sunday afternoon !;
and up and down the street young
couples lolled along. young families
and baby carriages straggled to and
from the houses OF older relatives, and
the rest of the world OF that growing
it's front veranda.
Here's right pretty place, isn't 1t,
Ramsey, don't you think?' Fred re-
marked innOcently, as they were pass
ing lawn OF short-clipped, bright
green grass before q genial-looking
\. I'm hi 20 ott,f In,
green-and-white awnings. A broad
veranda, well populated just now.
crossed the front of the house: fine
trees helped the awnings to give COM
fort against the sun; and Freds re-
mark was warranted. Nevertheless.
he fell under the suspicion CT his com
paniOn, who had begun to evince some
nervousness before Fred spoke.
What place you mean?"
THE YOcum place." said Mr.. Mitch.
ell. Il hear the old gentleMan's mighty
prosperous these days. They keep
things up to the mark, don't they,
Ramsey
&c, don't know whether they do or
whether they don't" Ramsey returned
shortly.
Fred appeared to muse regretfully
1T looks kind Of empty now, though"
he said. with only Mr.. and Mrs. Yo-
cum and their married daughters, and
porch ~
"Y0u walt till get you where they
can't see us!" Ramsey warned him
fiercely.
"YOu can't do II :" said Fred, mani.
Testing triumph "We'll both stop right
here In plain sight Of the whole 70.
cum family connection till you promise
not to touch me-"
And he halted, leaning back i'm.
placably against the Yocum's iron
fence. Ramsey was scandalized.
Come on :" he said hoarsely. Don't
stop here!"
II will, and II you 60 on alone I'll
yell at you. You got to stand right
here with all Of 'em lookin' at you
until"
Il promise! My heavens, come on !"
Fred consented to end the moment
Of agony; and for the rest of the sum-
mer found 1t impossible to persuade
Ramsey to pass that house In his COM
psny. 81 won't do it," Ramsey told
him. "Your word Of honor means moth
In to me you're liable to do anything
that comes into your head. and I'm
gettin' old enough to not get a reputa.
ton for bein' seen with people that
act the idiot on the public streets. No.
sir; we'll walk around the blOck-at
least. we will II you're goin' with me -
And to Fred's delight though he
concealed 1t. they would make this de-
tour.
The evening after their return to
the university both were busy with
their trunks and various Orderings and
disorderings Of their apartment, but
Fred several times expressed surprise
that his roommate should be content
to remain at home and finally Ram
sey comprehended these implications.
Mrs. Meigs' chandelier Immediately
Iingled with the shock of another crash
upon the floor above.
"You let me up Fred commanded
thickly, his voice mufiied by the pile
Of fannels, sweaters, underwear and
raincOsts, wherein his head was being
forced to burrOw. you lei me up,
darn you. didn't say anything"
And upon his release he complained
that the attack was unprovoked. Il