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—THAPPY DAYS
HAL HORTON’S GRIT.
“By ROBERT LENNOX.
“CHAPTER I.
HAL HORTON aeons a TO MAKE HIS
Hat Horton was | a vetardy youth ots sey:
“living in_the little
country village of “atord: His_ mother
was a poor widow who managed to eke
ut a seant living with her needle,
aided her all he could, and every penn
earned by doing odd jobs s about the village
he ave to her. But there was little work
o there even in thé best of seasons, so
he was really an expense | in the long run.
me day he said to
“‘Mother, Iam old enough to support
u, but I can’t do it here, There is no
Work in Buford for me. Let me goaway
in| search of work elsewhere.”
“Why, my child!” she
"HAPPY DAYS”
CUT FROM COPIES
. ‘Oo THE TWENTY PER
Sending Us the Largest Number of These. Coupons
‘BETWEEN THE NUMBERS 212 AND 223,
We Will Send to Each One .
A “HAPPY DAYS” BICYCLE.
See Directions on Page 16.
BICYCLE COUPON,
SONS
OF “HAPPY DAYS”
| with a frankness that seemed to surprise
the old farmer, who sai
“Wall, you bea big fool ter go tothe city
with no mone;
“1 would be a still greater one to stay
mere there is no work for me,” Hal re-
a ran, ‘T like yer grit,”
farmer. “Come in and Nave some dinner,
ri help yer on that meet anyhow.
‘« Thank you, sir, ju have anything
T can do. to pay for it, I" aS rather do is than
remarked the
net ain’t got nothin’ to be done j jes now,”
said the farmer, as he led t
to the rear of the house to the kitchen,
where a couple of young girls, apparently
fourteen and sixteen years of age, were
busily assisting their mother with dinner,
‘The farmer told his wife the story he had
gathered from Hal, and said he had offered
to work out the price of a dinner,
“ He’s welcome to what we have,” said
the good wife.
‘Thank you, madam,” said Hal, putting
‘Where would you go? Andhow can you
go when you haven't adollarin the world?”
“TM goto New York, mother, There’s
plenty of work there. Don's worry about
ow I'll get there. I have two sound legs,
a clear head and stout heart.”
She looked at her boy—her only treasure
in all the wide world, and tears came into
her eyes as she thought of his going out
alone to struggle for himself.
vt don't know how I could do without
, ial,” * she said, ‘* You are a comfort
2S he, though at times we have but little
to eat.”
“Yes—I know, mother, but I am old
enough now to strike out for myself,
There’s nothing for me todo here, and I
am tired loafing around waiting for a
chance to make a half dollar or a quarter
—sometimes but a nickel, I must go,
mother. I can’ stay here and see you
rong, with your needle while I do
thi
So he talked her into itand she gave
her consent for him to go. He had but lit-
tle preparations to make, for he coul
carry in a little bundle all he had in the
world in the way of clothes, She fixed
them up for him, and one morning, justas
tne sun was peeping over the hills he left
tne village on foot, his bundle hanging toa
stout cudgel which he held over his shoul-
der, accompanied by
That dog was the one pet of the ‘boy’ ‘S.
He was the only piece of property he had
ever owned, antl the bond of friendship be-
tween the two was like that between two
human brother: ~
“ Tige, old boy, >” said Hal, ‘* we're off to
—the good Lord only knows where, But
yeh sek. together, let come what will.
to eat you. will, too,
We ve Poot to look out for. ourselves now,
and nothing but clear grit can pull us
through. You've got plenty of that, I
know, but I don’t know whether I have or
the dog was a cross between a mastiff
and an English bull-dog, and was given to
him when a little puppy by a man for
-whom he had worked two years before,
They had been. inseparable companions
ever since. ‘he dog understood him with
almost human intelligence, and Hal ofte
talked to him as to another boy.
They had tramped about "ten miles along
the dusty road when they were overtaken
by twomen in a buggy, and a big
trotting along under it.
two dogs began to growl and bristle up on
meeting.
“Come away, Tige,” said Hal, and Tige
nb (b is head against
the other dog, al-
most twice his size,_ followed him up and
wanted to
“ Better att your dos of, mister,” said
Hal. “Or he might get
The man laugited—the one eho held the
reins—and said
“Oh, I guess not.
“ Yes, he steal him off,” repeated
al,
“Wellyif he can lick my dog I'll give
you fifty “dollars for him,” said the man in
the buggy.
“Tain’t selling my dog for all the money
inthe world, I don't want him to burt
your dog or to get hurt, either.”
The big dog kept growling and bristling
upas though he wanted to eat up bot!
Tige and his master,
“Say, mister! [f you don’t want to have
Os chawed up you'd better call him
ee here, my iad. ” laughed the man in
* e you five dollars to
let ‘em fight,” mai he_ reached into his
pocket for the money. Jlal was about to
refuse and again ask him tocall off his dog,
when the two sprang at each other,
“ Well, it isn’t my faults said Ilal, get-
ting out of the way o oO enrage
canines, ‘They rolled oat” into the middle
of the road and raised a cloud of dust,
They didn’t make vers much nofse for
neither was, of the yelping sort. The horse
reared a e two men sprang out an
Hal stood quietly by gazing at what he
could not prevent, but was in no way wor-
ried about _Tige. Ile had seen him whip
very dog in Buford, and all that came in
from the country round about the village.
‘The big dog, however, was strong an
game, and several times had Tige under
him. Then they would change Sositions
and Tige ‘would be uppermos'
Suddenly the big dog yelped and began
trying to get away, but ‘Tige was not done
with him. e went in to chew him up
and it looked as though he would succeed.
“Vlere! Call your dog off!” exclaimed
the owner of the other ene handing Hai
five dollars, “I don’t want my di
killed.’
“Hold up, Tige! Come off!” cried Hal
in commanding tones, and Tige released
his grip on his foe, who went _jimping
to a refuge under the bug;
ONT tol told you he'd chaw him up” Said Hal
as he patved Tige’s head.
“Yes, but I didn't believe he could do
it,” ” frankly, admitted the other. .
“Well, I knew he could. Tigeis clear
grit all through. Whenever he runs up
against adog he can’t lick he'll die right
there, He'll never holler enough,”
“ What'll you take for h "
“Nothing, sir, A fellow who would sell
his dog would sell his brot!
**Oh, that’s all sentiment, Ben sell their
horses, cows, and any ig they have,
when they can get their prices.”
“I've no price on Tige. . You may be a
rich Tan, sir, but you haven’t money
enough to buy him from me. Tige \ wouldn't
sell me—and I wouldn't sell him.”
“T'll give you one hundred dollars for
him,” said the man, “and throw in my
dog. What do you say to that?” and the
other reached for his pocket as he spokes
“No, sir; not for a thousand,” Hal
ped and patted ‘Tige’s head as She re-
faced _the offer,
ell, 'm snot payingany thousand dol-
lars or r dogs.”
“Noram I selling my dog at any price,
sir, He is all I have in the world, sir, The
five dollars you just gave me is all the
money I have. lam going out in the world
to make my way as best Ican, but 'llnever
sell to another the best friend I have on
earth—except m. ther—even to save
| inyself from starving to death by the road-
side. Iraised Tige from a little pup. He
has slept with me, ate with ne fought for
me, and he would "die for m
“Give me your hand, my ‘aa I” exclaim-
ed the companion of the owner of the other
dog, reaching out his hand-to Hal, ‘I
like a man who stands by his friends,”
and bh he shook his hand warmly as he
spo
“Well, so do I,” said. the other, “but
all the same I'd like to own that dog. "nl
make it one hundred and fifty dollars,
What do you say to that? It would set
you up i in business any where.”
Ti me are going to stick to-
gether till one of us dies, cir,” said Hal,
‘The man looked at him in silence for a
‘ew moments, and then asked where he
was going,
“Tr guess | we'll fetch up in New York
ome day,” Hal replied, Sit I don’t find
work before we get ther
“*Somebody will steal “him from
e city. There are regular dog thieves
there, who make it there business to catch
dogs and sell ’em again.”
dial Jaughed and said:
“They'll never take him alive. I won't
sell him to you, but if you can take him
without killing him you may have him."
“The deuce you say!” and the man
looked at Tige wistfully,
mean it. wf You can take him
you ven have
* You don’t thinks I can do it?’
“I Tkno ou can’t, tnister,
‘ou to pieces in two min
** Better not try it, it, itenry," advised the
other, nan, or out. as soon tackle a
ouin
Iie'd tear
the assertion of the would-be Purchaser,
going to the buggy to get a rop
“Say, mister!” called out ial. “He
would tear you to ieees. Better not try
“Don’t. do it, Henry,” said the other,
“The boy is right. a knows the dog,
and certainly would not give you the
ghance if he didn't know you couldn’ t take
him.
“Well, I won't, but hanged if I don't
believe Peould noose him and drag him
home wit 7
They both entered the buggy. and drove
off, jeaving Hal and Tige behind
boy !” exclaimed Hal, patting
the faititul animal on the head, ‘‘you are
clear grit. Sorry you got hurt, but it was
forced on you, You put five dollars in my
pocket—more money than I ever had at
one time in all my life. When we find a
puteher's shop you shall have a hunk of
*
pCUAPTER II,
AND THE TRAMPS,
Tia’ ne and Tee resumed their tramp: along
the highway. Both seemed lighter of
heart. Pital had five dollars in his pocket
d Tige had just licked another dog twice
his size, Why should they not feel happy ?
al felt rich when he looked at that five
dollar bill and thought how it would sus-
tain him till he could get something to
0. .
Suddenly he stopped and seemed to be
in deep thi ought. Tige looked up at him
inquirin:
* Tige, ‘old boy, I forgot. We must send
We can't forget her, y know,
But I don’t know what she'll think when
Itell her you earned it the first day we
were out, You know what a row she made
when you chawed up Tom Madden’s dog,
She doesn’t approve of fighting by either
man or beast, But then the other dog
jumped on you, didn’t he? It wasn’t your
fault or mine; but didn't you just give it
jou ve got plenty of that. Don’ t know
whether ave or-not, you have
proved it to me thatit’s the one thing that
wins,"
They tramped on several miles further
and came to a farm-house where a well
stood out near the road with a water
trough for stock.
“Fes a good man who lives here,” Hal
said to himelt. “This trough tells that.
Tl draw up a bucketful and we'll have
a drink, Tige.”
While he was drawing the water from
the well the farmer came out and spoke to
Ss king
m * Whar be yer goin’?”
rk if Lcan’t find work. be-
tore Ly get “there,” lial replied.
“Want ky, eh?”
“Yes,
“Ww. all, “now, what kin yer do?”
“ Alnrost anythin me dike hoe, plow, cut
wood and othert
“ But they don't aig and plow and hoe
down to York,” said the farmer,
“No, but it’s a bee hive of busy workers,
and men or boys who are not afraid of
work can find something to do, I guess,”
“Wall, I know a young man who went
thar last’ year an’ was glad enough ter git
ack home alive, Ie came mighty nigh
starvin’ terdeath. He said ther town was
full of men lookin’ for work an’ couldn’t
git
“Yes, I heard, that, » too—read it in the
York, be-
cause there’s business there and plenty of
moi
ney.
“Got any money ter live on till you git
work %” the farmer askei
Ha! didn’t want to let anyone know he
had a cent of money. was shrewd
enough to know that such information was
tiger.
beld him, by the bit,
“e Ob, I can catch hiin with a noose,” was
st when kept to himself.
some of is money home to mother said |-
al.
0 him? Grit’ wins in the end, Tige, and |,
down his bundle byt the door, “I hope
luck. will come my wi If it does th il
show you howI can remember a kindness,
You are just like my mor ber ene is good:
o everybody and ever:
The tall, gaunt old wife ‘Hooked kindly at
him a and asked:
And do you love her?”
“More than anyone else on earth,” he
replied. ‘*She ood mother, and I
have tried to be ‘a goo son to her. I never
earned a penny in my life that did not go
ve Hlave you no brothers or ‘sisters 2” she
as.
“No, ma’am, Iaman only child. She
has been a widow ten years.
The two. pals looked’ on and listened in
silence. The younger one was the more
beautiful of the two, She had great brown
eyes and a wealth dark hair, witha
face that beamed with sympathetic inter-
est. He heard her mother call her Esther
and the other Myra, Then he learned the
farmer's name. It was Henderson,
en dinner was over, the. youn, er
sister: asked him if she | might feed
“e iphank ou. I guess he’ 's hun ry,” he
replied, She gathered up a big. plate full
of seraps and took it out to the porch
where Tige was waiting. He wagged his
tailin gratitude for the feast and fell to de-
vouring it. Wh e had finished the
scraps Hal said to Taine:
“Shake hands w ith the young lady, Tige.
She t is good to
'o her surprise Tige reached out his right
paw to aed
“Oh, my !" she laughed, taking the paw
in her hand and shaking it. *You have
trained bim well,”
“Tle tands neatly” everythiug I
say to pin,” veaid Ilal,
*Tshea good yard dog?”
“Te is one of the best in the world, sir,”
replied Hal, ‘‘and no_one can pass him
when he is on guard, “I can sleep out any-
where and he’ll watch over me.”
**Wouldn’t sell him, eh ?” the farmer.
asked.
“No, sir; not at any price.”
When he was ready to leave, the younger
of the two sisters gave him a lunch
Rene! in an old newspaper, saying
ere’s something in it tor the dog,
“s Thank you, thank you. : I won't forget
ou. -I heard your mother call you Esther.
“ll remember that name, It is a good old
name from the Bible.- I guess it fits you
allright. Good-by. e day I'}l see you
again—if we both live,”and he shook hands
with her and took up his bundle, The next
moment he an Tige were again
the road, going in the direction of the
great ci ity.
They soon reached a little village, where
Hla] had the five-dollar bill changed into
smaller bills and coins, so he would not
have to show more money than necessar,
when making a. purchase of any kind,
Then he bought a pair of shoes, as his feet
were pretty well on_the ground, as he
wore the old ones,
appearing like a tramp when he entered
the city, and as his clothes and hat were
in n goo repair and clean his shoes were
no
ey guess I don’t Jook.so much like a
tramp now,” he said to himeelf, as he re-
sumed his journey, ‘People Jook upon
tramps as men who won't work when
they have a chance, and so it goes hard
when a w is looked upon as one,
When they come through Dutord every:
ody sneers at, them, and watches them
til they leave.
A couple of: miles beyond the village he
met two tramps, who were lying under a
tree in the shade.
They Icoked at him for a few moments,
and then one of them hailed him with:
Whar you goin’, » part
. To New York,” he replied,
What for?
“To look for work,”
“Work! What kin yer do?”
“I've got to work my way, sir,” he said,
**lcan doa good many tings, and will
take any sort of job I can get,”
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