332 RECREATION. 



' He was discovered in front of the dangerous green apple. Finishing 

 grocery store, perched on a pile of his meal and meditations at the same 

 boxes, recklessly eating a large, col- time, he threw the core at a passing 

 icky looking green apple. The Kid, dog and slid from the soap-box 

 glorying in the spectacle of helpless throne. Patronizingly he told them 

 righteousness bowing before potent to run home and leave the matter in 

 wickedness, received them with much his hands. He grinned sardonically 

 the same condescension shown by a as they left, rilled with glad assurance 

 successful politician to an impecuni- and faith in his ability to avenge their 

 ous office seeker. Indeed, despite wrongs. Little he cared for the kit- 

 his tender years, the Kid was ten. Dimly outlined, a vision of rich 

 a tough proposition. For several sport floated before him. It rapidly 

 months he had been ostracized from assumed form. He ran up the street 

 the Sunday school, and the Board of searching for his companions. To 

 Trustees were inclined to eject him attract them, he uttered, from time to 

 from the district school also. His time, weird, flute-note calls, 

 wicked pranks horrified the sober vil- Shortly after dusk the redoubtable 

 lagers. Only a week previous Farmer Kid, surrounded by his followers, was 

 Grigsby surprised him in the act of de- observed passing the post office, 

 horning a fine cow with the aid of a People waiting for the evening mail 

 pocket saw. He excused himself to watched them go by and shook their 

 the angry Grigsby, pleading that he heads dubiously, wondering what 

 wanted a shot pouch for his air rifle ! new devilment was afoot. 

 The farmer was so staggered at Slowly and silently, with an air of 

 his frankness as to let him go, scot mystery hanging over their move- 

 free. Obeying the admonitions of ments, they filed down the track in 



their parents, a select few shunned the direction of H , a mile distant 



him carefully. Many others, while ad- neighboring village. Abandoning 



miring him in secret, avoided him in the railroad a short distance from 



public in deference to popular opinion. H , they made a detour and en- 



But a leechlike body of some half tered town from the side, right an- 



dozen kindred spirits followed him gling the main street. The Kid 



and shared his alternate triumphs and guided them through the deepening 



defeats. He ruled them with the ge- gloom with marvelous accuracy. He 



nius of a born leader. intuitively anticipated ditches, barbed 



Attended by his regiment of juve- wire fences and other impediments to 



nile brigands, he passed from one travel. At intervals he halted to get 



eclipse to another. Caned into ob- his bearings and to impress on the 



scurity with periodical regularity, he company the necessity of silence. As 



emerged only to shine the more bril- they stamped ankle deep through a 



liantly. narrow patch of swamp a sound of 



With an unmoved countenance the revelry was borne to their ears on the 



Kid listened to the girls' story of heavy, dew-laden night air. They 



Chum's misdeeds and appeal for as- stopped ; the Kid listened critically, 



sistance. He waxed inwardly wrathful. 'That's it !" he said in a dramatic 



So they wished help of him, did they? whisper; "Foley's hotel." 



They were strangling their pride at Pressing on they soon located the 



last! A day ago they avoided him; house. Yellow light streamed from 



now they were on their knees. A fine the windows ; the sound of carousal 



indignant glow warmed his blood, grew more distinct. Then the light 



Would he help them? They should vanished, and, after walking a few 



see! So he went on, mentally yards more, they found themselves 



questioning himself and chewing the under the lee of Foley's rear fence. 



