The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-10-08

quaintance. and said 30.
Let us give teddy a ride on Prince r
"Let's"
Grant carefully arranged teddy on
the horses names, and the boy clapped
his hands with delight
Now let US all go for . ride You
VIII Sit on my knee. and teddy viii
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 4 new experience for
Grant.
I'VE must drive carefully" he re-
marked. Here and there are big
stones hidden in the grass. II we were
to hit one 1t might dump US or"
The little chap chuckled. Nothing
could dump you on" he said.
Grant reflected that such implicit and
unwarranted confidence implied great
responsibility, and he drove with cor
responding care. A misbap now might
nip this very delightful little bud of
hero-worship.
They turned the end OF the furrow
with fine Jingle of loose trace-chains,
and Trince trotted a littls on account
of beng on the outer edge Of the semi
circl~. The boy clapped his hands again
as teddy 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 evadlng this childish
inquisitor. He had a way Of pursuing
a subject to BEDROCK.
well, you see, I've no wife,
mo motherY
Mono wife, You see"
But / have q 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 a corner and was now
ahead Of him.
Then I'll be your little boy" he said.
pressed a kiss on his cheek. In sud-
den burst Of emotion Grant brought his
team to a stop and clasped the little
fellow In both his arms. For a moment
everything seemed misty.
And / have lived to be thirty-two
years old and have never known what
this meant" he said to himself.
I've hor
way" the boy added, naively.
where is your home?
Down beside the river. We live
there In summer"
And SO the conversation continued
and the acquaintanceship grew as man
and boy piled back and forth on their
mile-long furrow. At length 1t 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 a
horsef1y 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. |
Fortunately 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.
ly, 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"
At the mention of the war the boy
a cry half-uttered.
Were you at the war;" he de-
yes"
did you kill 'em in the tummy?"
We'll talk about that tomorrow.
Now you hop up on my shoulders. and
ri tie the horses and then carry you
home"
He followed the boys directions m
II they led him TO a path running
Imong pleasant trees down by the river.
Presently he caught glimpse of cot
age in little open space, Its brown
singled walls almost smothered In q
lot of sweet peas.
That's our house. Don't you like
tt" said the boy, who had already for
often his injury.
II thinA 1t 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 II was opened by Zen
'ransley.
(TO BE CONTINUED
Common Labor