5pring
Truants
By W. F. BRYAN.
CopyrlfMml, im, by AmooIaM
Mutrary I'm.
t,"Wbero ar you going, Butrr Hal
irord looked down ujwn the sturdy filt
er, of Dick lUmulnif ton, otlivrwU
"Butter," with twliiklo In tbe kindly
fray ), v;
' "PUyla' hookey," explained Hunter
promptly. "Wautr come flahlnT
For moment Brian llnlvord re
SArded tbe Uy with Judicial gravity,
"foil know very well," lie began,
'tint after eui'h a confesNlon It In my
E unden duty to we that you ore (le
ered Into the tender clutches of Mies
.o(ford," be reminded. "And yet bore
I am terloitily coiiHlderlng elmrlng Id
your crime and your jdeaaure, Que
ter. It' not only wrhoolboy who piny
turnkey. I tbtnk 1 etutll become your
accomplice and piny hookey myself."
L Baxter looked up In yurpria Hal
To'rd wil a growTT man I Men did no!
lay hookey. llnlvord read tbe qnea
tlon In the big blue eye. A
f. "There la roport that 1 should get
out today," he explained. "Not to ful
fill bualnea promlm la playing hookey
juat tbe an me at staying away from
chool."
"The flab are bltlu' flue. Jimmy Mor
row got 'leren yeaterday," aald Buater
defenalvely. "I got two llnee. I
fcrought one for Bud ftcbenck, but Bud
Wat 'frald." ""'' - '
"Clearly thl I the Intervention of
J'rovldeuw," declared Ilalvord laugh
ingly. "Lend on, my youthful tempter
But auppoa we atop for lunch' flrat"
,1
J)UT IT WltL BI KIXT HATt'EDAT, WILt
IT KOI ? '
natvord'a boarding plnco waa Juat
round the corner, and soon .he had an
ample lunch put up to aupplement But
tor" well filled box. Together they
turned thoir atepa from tbe village
acros tliu flclda to where the "river,"
. Rcarccly more than a brook, tumbled
- over the rock a In Its baato to Join tbe
larger stream beyond.
They found a little nook In the rocky
vsM wht-re the gray rocks widened
allKhtly tn form a grassy lawn fringed
with tree Juat unfolding their leaves.
There was still sufficient hint of chill
111 Ull' nil U muu inii in mo miuu
warmth, and to Balvord, long burled at
Lis dcHk und tfe Intricate analysis
which f owned his work, It seemed aa
though he bad becomo a boy ogulu as
lie dug angleworms wltb a bit of
broken branch and placed them In a
box. ,
Never oo his flahlng trips during va
cation lime had he enjoyed half tbe
sport wltb costly rods and reels that
he found In the grimy length of line
which Buster extracted from his pock
et It required aome surgical tailoring
to remove the barb of the hook, which
bad f n n toned itself In the. lining, and
Halvord watched the proceeding wltU
yes suanemy growu jouus;.
I It wn loo early In tueleasoa for the
flsh to be finical as to fare, so tho
,worni2. wjre more eagerly accepted
tiiun Tim tnnAmt $ui would be iater
In tho season. By noon the two bad
caught a goodly atrlng, and Ilalvord.
' finding n suitable place of slate In tho
stream, decided to add some of the
fish to their picnic faro. So he built a
rude stave with the flat slab of slate
" for tbe broiler.
i Buster, delighted wltb this novelty,
assisted with a will, and they were so
engrossed with their task that neither
noticed the approach of a slender
girlish figure until a laughing voice de
manded an explanation of Buster's
Itresenee so far from the schoolhouse.
"We'r pbylng hookey," explained
Ilalvord shamelessly. "Won't you
play haokey, too, .Miss Bennington?
If you will you may have some of tbe
Ash." . " . ; '
' As he spoke he pointed to the con
tents of th combined lunch boxes
tipread upon a stone and. proffered a
. wotl "broiled tlsh upon a bit of dean
l)lrch bark. Margaret Bennington
looked, hesi tilted and was lost
"I suppose that I should make Dicky
go right to fehool," she said severely,
t .... . w 1. .1. iL.. I 1 If .
out 1 uaven s wio nenrt.
"I should be at work," nalvord ad
mitted, "but, like Buster, I have the
fishing fever, and lama worse truant
than he. Tbo morning has been well
worth it, though, and there is still the
long afternoon." -
As he spotte he deftly lifted other
fish from tho flat top of the improvised
ntnve nn.lt announced that lunch was
rved. The salt packed for the fctrd
tolled egg also served to season tbe
Huh, and to two of the trio at least the
uxertluus of the morning' gave added
Best to nppollto, ' "
. Margaret, too, soomwd to fall under
tln spell of the day, and after lunch
Ilalvord resigned Ills lino to her, well
content to merely superintend her fish
lg. . -', '
Kver since be bad come to Chester
lie hnd worshiped Margaret Bennlng
ton from ufnr, but be bad absorbing
work In hand and had not been able to
.'outest with the younger members of
her court. Margaret, on her part, find
ing Ilalvord at first dortdedly enter
taining, bad to pique decided that he
was an old man and oblivious to her
many charm. And bere she found him
is much a boy as her ten-year-old
brother. Ills unexpected enthusiasm
and obvious capacity for enjoyment
captivated her. It was all so different
from the affectation of world weari
ness which was tbe approved pose
among the wealthy youtb of Chester,
Tbe sun was dropping toward the
west before Buster reluctantly wound
up bis Hues and thrust tbom, all drip
ping, Into bis long suffering pockets.
Even Jhen tlit Jrto Hngered tp gather
flVwers, and It Tat Twilight before
tbey reached the road at last and came
lo a parting of the ways. '., , ; 4
"It has been a most ploaynt after
noon," said Margaret as she extended
her slim, cold band to Halvord. "X am
very grateful to you." '
"It Is I who should be grateful," tald
Ilalvord softly, forgetting to relinquish
bur band. "May I bop that some time
again"
"It sets a bad example to Dicky," she
said laughingly, "but soma Saturday
when he does not bjv to play truant
tv may come again," ,
"Saturday Is a long way off, four
days," llnlvord said dismally. "But It
will be next Bnlurday. will It notr
"Next 8aturlny," she promised as she
withdrew her band.
"Oee," vxclnliued Buster as be and
Margaret swung down the tree arched
lane, leaving the cbemlst-author stand
ing, hat In hand, "but I've had a bully
day! Aren't you glad you came?"
He held up his string of fish, thrill
ing with pardonable pride.
"I've gt a One cotch toor
Tbe girl looked straight ahead Into
the purple twilight.
"Yes, nus ter. dear; I'm glad I came.
And I think we made a One catch."
Pull Grown Children.
"At an out of the way little station."
said a railway guard, "a party, of
worklngnieii wished to book to a town
In the mldlniids to see a ' football
match. ' Unfortunately the booking
clerk had only a limited number of
tickets for that Journey at bis disposal
Eventually be got out of bis difficulty
by dividing the pteces of pasteboard
and Issuing children's tickets to tbe
party, at the same time explaining to
mo how matters stood.
" They've paid the full fare, of
course,' he remarked, so you must see
'cm through.'
"I had almost forgotten the matter
when a ticket examiner at B. came
to me and remarked,, wltb a sorrowful
shake of tho bead:
"This under age dodge la getting
too warmT
" 'What's tho mattorr I asked.
"'Matter?' he echoed disgustedly.
'Why, here's a whole carriage full o'
children wot plays cards, drinks whis
ky aud wears whlskersr "London
Tlt-Blts. '
A Subtle Distinction.
Ned. tba friend of Bill, the fish mer
chant, surveyed him reproachfully.
"Bill." he wild solemnly, "I ain't the
chap to round on a put, but that there
flsh you sold my missus this worulu'
was -well, tho cat ain't been near the
bouse since and" 1
"Nod." replied the frieud of his
youtb sadly, "mine's a difficult Job.
I've got to make a living, and If the
flsh Is good 1 soils It and does pretty
well. If It ain't good I sells It aud
docs- pretty well also. It ain't my
fault: I nerer sent tbe stuff wrong.
But you're a pal o' muto, and I'll let
yon know 'ow you can find out for
yourself 'ow things are."
"Yes." said Ned eagerly.
"If yon "eiirs me shout 'Flue fresh
flsh you can reckon it Is fresh fish,
but If I shout 'Fish , ChT-well, it la
flsh. oh!"-fxndon Tit-Bits. J "4""r
Moon Blindnsit In Horses.
It Is said thnt "moon blindness" In a
horse la caused by "wolf teeth" two
small surplus teetb Just In front of the
first upper premolars, one, on each
side of the upper Jaw. An authority
says: "The 'wolf teeth' do not cause
eye disease or any other harm and usu
ally are not discovered until tbe eye
dlsonse appears. The eye trouble la
'periodic ophthalmia' (moon blindness),
which Is hereditary and Incurable.
Thousands upon thousands of horses
suffer from this eye disease, yet have
not a 'wolf tooth in their heads. The
Important matter to remember In con
nection with periodic ophthalmia Is cot
the significance of the 'wolf tooth.' but
the necessity and Importance of re
jecting from breeding' operations nil
afflicted with periodic ophthalmia, or
catnracr, which results from repeated
attacks." ' : - -;
Do You Count Your Staps?
Do you count your stops?." It Is' a
silly and useless practice, hutnt the
buck of ula lienj this writer I .always
counting his steps. He cnu te'.ryon
tho number of steps that lead from hN
flat In Kensington t South Kensing
ton station (there Is nil unlucky thir
teen at the station) until he has mount
ed to the office window. And when he
put the question to his wife she could
not tell the number of the stairs she
had , climbed (they are twenty) for
three years to the first floor flat Lon
don Chronicle.
Her First
Trophy.
2ty J. LVVLVM LEE.
Copyrighted, IM, by Associated
Literary I'rt,
Harriet Lake was Indolent by na
ture. 8b knew It and admitted It
On warm ' mornings she preferred a
rocking cbslr on the piazza to any
outdoor sport. But Harriet at twenty
four was taking on flesh, and tbe spe
cialist whom the consulted said, "Play
gotf, take long walk and eat no rich
food." So Harriet went In for golf.
She bad Just driven ber ball from
tbt second tee, a very short and crook
d -drive, when a cry from tbe bushes
reached ber ears. She glanced at ber
caddie, and, as If having received a
Dent command, be started In tba di
rection of tbe ball. Harriet's fact
won a somewhat bored expression.
Walts between drive were so long.
The caddie returned breafbiesi.
"You certalnlf did swat that gentle
man one, Ml Lake," be announced.
"Tour ball hit b,tn right oq the back
of the hand as he wis pulling soma
bushes aald looking for his own ball"
"Lucky fellow!" replied Harriet. ; "1
wish something would hit me on the
bsck of tbe band so I wouldn't have
to trail around this green every day lu
tbe week!" -
tbey bad reached tbe fourth green
when tbe skies suddenly clouded over.
Glad of an excuse to stop, Harriet di
rected the caddje to take ber stick
back to Ber locker, while she would
cnt across lots borne for luncheon., "
Bbe walked slowly through tbe old
orchard that adjoined the links aud
was startled by the rumbling of thun
der. Realizing that there was no pro
tection aa sight, she harried on until
she reached a broad lane that must
lead to a house.
. targe drops of rain had began to de
scend. Another clap of terrific thun
der, and Harriet began to run. When
the lightning flashed ber ambition and
energy seemed blighted by It At the
eud of the Ian stood an old barn.
With renewed effort abe started for
Its sheltering roof and, breathless,
reached tbe door and dashed In.
Her bat had blown off. Her black
hair waa falling In tiny ringlets about
, .iE'lfcBiiil
"HATBI TOU CAN BAT IBS. '
her forehead. Her petticoats were held
at ankle- length to lend fleetness to ber
strides. She certainly made a stunning
picture as she stood In tbe barn door.
What was that queer noise? It might
be a horrid rat. But before she had time
to decide she was confronted by a tall
chap clad In whit flannels.
"H'm I beg pardon," he began.
"Perhaps we ar poaching?"
"We?" repeated Harriet "Are there
two of you?"
"Well, almost" aald her companion.
"That Is, I am bere Intact but my
friend over there hi a bit damaged by
a blow he got on the links. Otherwise
he' a very decent sort of chap. We
ran In out of the rain, you know," he
added.
riarrlej glanced guiltily In the direc
tion" of the "friend," who eeemed busy
opening a basket
"I ran In out of the wet too," she
announced finally. "You don't mind
if I stay until the lightning stops, do
your
"Mind? Well, I guess not!" assured
the man, promptly turning host "Come
over and meet my friend, Mr. Burch,
won't you? Billy, here's a lady come
to our feast"
Billy rose and beamed on the unex
pected guest Ha was taking a most
delicious looking lunch from a large
automobile hamper. .
"I wish I could shake hands with
you, Mies-Miss" he stammered.
"My name is Lake," supplied Harriet.
"Considering the day," said the chap
In white flannels, "It's very appropri
ate." " " -,r
"Shut up, Arthur, will you4 and let
me finish my speech?" Billy Interposed.
"What 1 was saying when my married
friend, Mr. Ralston, Intemipted"-con-slderable
emphaBls on tho word mar
ried "was that I cannot shake you by
the hand owing to the fact that some
clumsy gawk selected me as a target
this morning. Really there should be
a law preventing such persons running
at large." ; -
Harriet was getting up courage to
confess when Ralston came to her
rescue.'.:. ' ..,"., : ' s
"Why talk about personalities, Bil
ly ?' he began. "Suppose you ask Miss
Lake to share our repast?"
The three of them sat down, tailor
fashion, on the floor of the old bara
and made Inroads on the luncheon.
5s" !?Sf
nr - . tint iw. S! a u
Nothing waa wanting. Cold drink la
patent bottle, sandwiches, salads,
strawberries and a Jar of cream. Bucb
a feast! And wheu they had finished
tbey were old frleuds,
"I say, Billy, Violet certainly does
put up a fine luncheon." said Ralston.
"She's the greatest girl a man evet
found," agreed Billy,
Violet! Who was sbe7- Harriet
could not explain why she felt a touch
of disappointment on finding that Bil
ly, too, was a married man.
"I guess I'll be running along," tald
be, after thanking tba men for their
hospitality. "Ob, no; you need not
drive me over in the machine. Tbe fact
I I Just live In that big shingled house
beyond this fence." With a wave of
ber hand she was gone, and tbe men
watched ber slip nnder tbe fence and
disappear behind tbe tall hedge on tbe
other side. ,
Tbe storm did not clear away entire
ly, and Harriet realized that tbe lawn
dance which the WUllamsea were bold
log In honor of tbelr first anniversary
must be given Indoors Instead of on
the lawn, so b donned her prettiest
frock. Harriet was never on time for
anything, and when she arrived tbe
dance waa In full swing. Mrs. Wil
liams greeted ber at the door.
"You do look peacby, Harriet" said
ber hostess. "What have you been
doing to yourself? You are more love
ly than ever. Oh, the poor, poor men!"
adjied Mrs. Wlljlams mockingly.
' Tbey stool together for a moment
and the beaming face of Billy Burch
confronted them. - .i--
"Mr. Bnrcb, this Is Miss Lake," said
Mr. Williams "IJknow jrou two will
get along" immensely. Poor Billy was
hit In tbe hand today by some strag
gling lunatic who thinks she can play
golf. But barring his Injured right
hand, he's tbe dearest man In tbe
world-except one."
At supper time Billy discovered a
cozy corner lu tbe conservatory, where
tbey could "cat In peace without being
Interrupted by that married man, Ral
ston," as be expressed It Harriet was
eating salad and studying Billy with
her big, dreamy black eyes.
-I wish Violet was here," Billy ex
claimed as he tasted the salad.
"Really, Mr. Burch, L,am sorry that
I am not sufficient company."
Billy actually snickered, but Harriet
was plainly In earnest so Billy ex
plained: "You see, Violet ia my colored cook
that I brought up with me from the
sotith and If she were here she could
taste this salad and then go home and
mak a better one. Seer
"But, Mr. Burch, L too, have a con
fession to make." .
"Spare me!" cried Billy. '1 , will run
for Arthur If you wish a father con
fessor. He's listened to my alns for
years and really borne with them very
leniently."
But Harriet Insisted. -
"I want you to know that I am the
clumsy gawk, the "straggling lunatic'
who hit your hand today." ,
Billy teamed.
"That's not the only place you bit"
he said. . "That'll get well. But you
gave my old heart such a blow that It
hi completely broken In two, Miss Har
riet and only you can mend It"
"But Mr. Burch" began Harriet.
"Oh, I know what you're going to
say." Interrupted Billy, "but don't say It
yet, I'm In love, and I know It though
I don't expect you to fall in love with
a cripple oa sight; but some day, Har
riet" he continued in softer and more
earnest tones, "maybe you can say
'Yes.'"
Harriet looked once more Into his
clear, honest eyes. She, too, was In
love, and she knew.lt He had none
the best of her there
"I haven't said 'No,' hava I?" she
asked. And Billy felt that In time his
heart would be mended.
A Cur Fer Despondency.
A large, fleshy man with whiskers
told me of a sovereign cure for de
spondency the other day. He had a
number of girls In his employ, among
them one that he knew was In strug
gling circumstances and supporting a
sick mother on a none too healthy sal
ary. She had come into the store and
laid her purse and somber widow hat
on the counter while she did something
about the place. The large fleshy man
got between her and the purse, and
when she was not looking Jielppeda
five dollar "Mi Info It "and, moved un
consciously tbout his business. In tbe
afternoon he noticed that she had a
red spot In each cheek, and she was
heard asking other girls If they be
lieved In fairies. She never solved the
mystery it was two years ago and
never will unless she reads this. But
the five dollar bill was very useful In
Its little way, and the large despondent
man felt so good for two whole days
that he hip-hopped on the sidewalk on
his way home. Minneapolis Journal.
Living oiv-Nxt to Nothing.
Most people do not need the evidence
of recently published statistics to prove
to them that It costs more to live In
London thr.n It once did. But It Is
doubtful If any Londoner now living
was ever able to do it on f80 a year,
as Cos well's poor Irish painter did.
"He allowed 10 for clothes and linen.
He said a man might live In a garret
at 18 pence a week. Few people would
inquire where he lived, and If tbey did
it was easy to say, 'Sir, I am to be
found at such a place.' By spending
threepence at a coCeo house he might
be for some hours a day In very good
company. He might dine for sixpence,
breakfast on broadband milk for a
penny and do without supper.", Of
course expenses can always be re
duced to a minimum by dc'ng without
things. ; The question Is, Which of our
various expense Is unessential? Bos
well's Irishman hinted at one. "On
clean shirt day he went abroad and
paid visits," say his Ingenloa chron
icler. London Chronicle.
Fisher Brothers Company
SOLE AGENTS
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. J J ' : DESIGNERS AND MANUFACTURERS
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COMPLETE CANNERY OUTFITS FURNISHED.
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A SUMMER DEH
Unfermented Grape Juice
absolutely non-alcoholic
Concord ..5oc quart
Catawba.... ,6oc quart
Welch's Grape Juice
Nips. ......10c
AMERICAN IMPORTING CO.
589 Commercial Street
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First-Class Liquors and Cigars f
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