The Dolores star., 1924-08-22
Wilson. He approved Of his new &C
quaintance. and said SO.
Let us give teddy ride on Prince7"

anu bdlu SO.
LET us give teddy a ride on Princef.
"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
will sit on my knes. and teddy will
drive Prince"
ne 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 new experience for
Grant.
I'VE must drive carefully" he re-
marked. Here and there are big
stones hidden in the grass. II we we're
to hit one 1t might dump US on"
The little chap chuckled. Nothing
could dump you off," he said.
Grant reflected that such Implicit and
unwarranted confidence implied a great
responsibility, and he drove with cor
responding care. A mishap 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 Prince trotted little on account
Of being on the outer edge of the SEMI
circle. The boy clapped his hands again
as teddy bounced up and down on the
| great shoulders.
Have you a little boy?" he asked.
when they were started again.
why, no." Grant confessed. laughing
| at the question.
"WhyY
| There was no evadlng this childish
inquisitor. He had way of pursuing
a subject to bedrock.
well, you see. I've no wife"
mo mother?"
Mono wife, You see
But 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 a corner and was now
ahead of him.
"Then I'll be your little boy" he said.
and, clamberlng up to Grants shoulder.
pressed kiss on his cheek. In n sud-
den burst of emotion Grant brought his
team to stop and clasped the little
fellow in both his arms. For a moment
everything seemed misty.
"And I 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 so the conversation continued
and the acqunintanceship 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
horsefy buzzng about caused Prince
to stamp impatiently, and the big hoof
came down on the boys foot. Wilson
sent up cry proportionate to the pos
sibilities of the occasion, and Grant In
alarm tore off the boot and stocking.
Fortunately the soil had been soft, and
the only damage done was slight
bruise across the upper part Of the
foot.
There, there" said Grant. soothing.
ly, caresslng the injury with his fin
gers. "It will be all right in minute.
Prince didn't mean to do it. and besides,
I've seen much worse than that at the
war"
Al the mention of the war the boy
suspended a cry half-uttered.
Were you at the war?" he de.
manded.
"Yes."
Did you kill em In the tummy?"
"We'll talk about that tomorrow,
Now you hop up on my shoulders, and
I'll tie the horses and then carry you
home"
He followed the boys directions un-
til they led him to a path running
among pleasant trees down by the river
Presently he caught u glimpse of cot
tage in little open space, its brown
shingled walls almost smothered In a
riot of sweet peas
That's our house. Don't you like
lt?" said the boy, who had already for.
gotten his injury.
Il think 1t is splendid" And Grant
taking his young charge from his
shoulder. stepped up on to the porch
and knocked at the screen door.
In q moment 1t was opened by Zen
Transley.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)