Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-20

kows pocket II don't have to bride peo-
pie. Some day you'll realize that I like
you"
"Honest?"
"Cross my heart"
The boy laughed in frank delight, his
brown cheeks colored, his yes sparkled.
"Gosh," said he "I-like you!" For some
time thereafter he remained red and silent
but he kept one big hand in the pocket
where lay the gold cigaret case. There
was a wordless song in Buddy Briskow's
heart for-he had made a friend. And
such friend! Gray made his conquest
doubly secure by engaging the young Be
hemOth in scuffle and playfully putting
him on his back. Defeat, at other hands
than Gray's, would have enraged Ozark
to the point Of frenzy, it would have been
considered by him an indignity and a dis
grace Now, however, he looked upon it as
a natural and wholly satisfactory demon.
stration of his idols supreme prowess,
and he roared with delight at being bested.
They were red in the face, out of
breath, and soaked with perspiration, when
Pa Briskow drove Up in his expensive new
touring car.
BY this time Buddy's admiration had
turned to adultatiOn; he had passed under
the yoke and he gloried shamelessIy in his
captive state. At supper time he appeared
with his hair weuy combed in imitation
Of Gray's He wore a necktie, too and
into it he had fastened a cheap brass stick
pin, much as Gray wore his
Pa Briskow was scarcely less obsewant
than his son. He watched Gray's every
move; he sounded him on adroitIy; he
pondered his lightest word After the sup
per things had been cleared away and the
dishes washed, the entire family adjourn
ed to the front room and again examined
the jewelry. 1t was an absorbing task
they did not hurry it. Not until the fol
lowing afternoon, in fact, did they finally
make their selections. The check was one
Of five figures.
When it drew near the time for Gray
to leave, and he announced that the driver
of his hired car had been instructed to re-
turn for him, there was protest, loud and
earnest, from the BriskoWs, father and
son. Buddy actually sullIed at being de-
MED the pleasure Of driving his hero to
town in the new car
Pa Briskow was worried for the security
Of the diamonds, and assured Gray that
it was unsafe to trust those service-car
drivers.
But the latter, seeing threat to his
carefully matured plans, refused to listen.
"There's one thing you can do for me"
he told them You can give me a pint of
cream
Cream? What for?" The family regard
ed him with amazement.
I'm fond of it. If you have no cream,
milk will do"
"Pshaw! I'll put up a hull basket of
lunch for you" Mrs Brskow declared.
Buddy, go kill a rooster, an you, Allie.
get them eggs out of the nest il the gar
den, an a jar of them peach preserves,
while I make up a pan of biscuits"
Protest unayaiIing.
When the others had hurried away, Pa
Briskow said; Il been studyin' you, Mis-
ter Gray, and I got you down as a first
class man. When Ma and Allie come over
to Dallas to get rigged out, I'd like YOU
to help EN-. They amt never been further
from home than Cisco-that's thirty miles,
I'll pay you for your time"
Gray's hearty acceptance of the first
and his prompt refusal of the second pro-
posal pleased the speaker.
Briskow shook his head doubtfully. 1T
takes a lot of thinlin,' and I aint used
to thinkin. Some day, mebbe. I'll get YOU
to give me hand in figgerin' out some
Worries"
Business worries?"
no. I got enough of them. an more
comm, but it amt that. Well, look at
us. I reckon we've made YOU laugh Oh,
bet we have! Ma an me can stand it,