The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-09-10

Wilson. He approved of bis new &C
quaintance, and said 30.
Let us give teddy q ride on Princer'
"Let'sl"
Grant carefully arranged teddy on
the horses names. and the boy clapped
his hands with delight.
Now let US all go for . ride. You
will sit on my knee. and teddy will
drive Prince
He took the boy carefully on his
knee. driving with one hand and hold
Ing him in place with the other. The
little body resting confidently against
his side was q new experience for
Grant.
I'VE must drive carefully" he re-
marked. Here and there are big
stones hidden in the grass. If we were
to hit one 1t might dump US off,"
The little chap chuckled. Nothing
could dump you off," he said
| Grant reflected that such implicit and
unwarranted confidence implied great
responsibility, and he drove with cor
responding care. A misbap now might
hero-worship.
They turned the end of the furrow
with a fine Jingle Of loose trace-chains,
and Trince trotted little on account
of beng on the outer edge of the semi
circl~. The boy clapped his hands again
as ttddy bounced up and down on the
great shoulders.
Have you a little boyT he asked.
when they were started again
why, no." Grant confessed. laughing
at the question
"Why?"
There was no evading thin childish
flquisitor. He had a way of pursuing
a subject to bedrock.
well, you see, I've no wife"
mo mothery"
Mono wife. You see"
But 1 have a mother"
"Of course, and she is your daddy's
wife. You see they have to have that"
Grant found himself getting into
deep water, but the sharp little intel
lect had cut 4 corner and was now
ahead of him.
Then I'll be your little boy" he said,
and, clambering up to Grants shoulder,
pressed kiss on his cheek. In a sud-
den burst Of emotion Grant brought his
team to a stop and clasped the little
fellow In both his arms. For moment
everything seemed misty.
And 1 have lived to be thirty-two
years old and have never known what |
this meant" he said to himself
"Daddy's hardly ever home. any |
way" the boy added, naively.
where is your homer"
Down beside the river. We live |
there In summer
And 80 the conversation continued |
and the acquaintanceship grew as man
and boy piled back and forth on their |
mile-long furrow. At length it occurred |
to Grant that he should send Wilson |
home; the boys long absence might be |
occasioning some uneasiness. They |
stopped at the end of the field and care
fully removed teddy from his place Of
prestige, but Just at that moment q
horsefy buzzing about caused Prince
to stamp impatiently, and the big hoof
came down on the boys foot. Wilson
sent up a cry proportionate to the pos
sibilities Of the occasion, and Grant In
alarm tore of the boot and stocking.
the soil had been soft. and
the only damage done was a slight
bruise across the upper part Of the
foot
There, there" said Grant, soothing
~. caressing the injury with his fin
gers. ut will be all right in minute
Prince didn't mean to do 1t, and besides,
I've seen much worse than that at the
war"
Al the mention of the war the boy
cry half-uttered.
Were you at the war;" he de-
handed.
YES"
did you kill 'em in the tummy?"
We'll talk about that tomorrow.
III tie the horses and then carry you
home"
He followed the boys directions IN
IL they led him to a path running
mong pleasant trees down by the river.
PRESENTLY he caught glimpse Of cot
age in a little open space. its brown
Mingled walls almost smothered in 4
lot of sweet peas.
That's our house. Don't you like
p" said the boy, who had already for
often his injury.
Il thinh it Is splendid" And Grant
aking his young charge from his
boulder, stepped up on to the porch
nd knocked at the screen door,
In a moment 1t was opened by Zen
ransley.
(TO BE CONTINUED.) 6