Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: April 30, 2025
"But that isn't what the boy is worrying about," chuckled Lancelot Darby, as the party came ashore with the luncheon hampers. "It's the fate of the Barnacle that is corroding Purt's sensitive soul!" "How do you make that out?" demanded Reddy Butts, broadly grinning. "Why, isn't it a fact that he went in after the dog? I saw him dive right after the poor thing when it fell overboard.
It is one thing to accuse a person of a fault. As Chief Donovan very well knew, it is an entirely different matter to prove such accusation. The news of Purt's trouble was not long in getting to Short and Long in the hospital. Chet and Lance really thought the smaller boy would express some satisfaction over Purt's trouble.
The detectives' visit to the Sweet residence, and Purt's later call upon the Chief of Police at his command, were dreadfully shocking to the boy's mother. Purt had to reassure her and insist that he was not going to be arrested and sent to jail at once; so he had not much time to be frightened himself. Indeed, he came out in rather good colors on this particular occasion.
And there was a suspicious bunch under his waistband that announced the presence of the ancient revolver. However, Purt's mother would not have known his clothing, so stained, torn and bedraggled did his garments appear. The boys had made him do his share of the camp work.
The boy's father had long since died. Purt had been indulged by his mother to a ridiculous degree, and as a usual thing Purt's conversation and his activities were ridiculed by his schoolmates. "This disgrace will kill me, Prettyman!" wailed Mrs. Sweet. "Where does the disgrace come in," pleaded poor Purt, "when I haven't really done anything?" "But they say you have!"
"Bet I can and for half a dollar, too," declared the youth with the radiant head of hair. This was after the party had returned to the creek and luncheon was in order. The other boys saw that the red-headed youth and Short and Long had a scheme between them, and they sat back and prepared to enjoy Purt's discomfiture.
By this time the stranger who had been the start of all the trouble and mystery the man from Alaska, as the hospital force called him was able to be up and wheeled in a chair, although his leg was not yet out of plaster. Billy Long heard of this, and he grew very anxious to see the man whose accident was the beginning of Purt's trouble.
"It was Purt's shanks in those green socks that attracted the dog. I suppose the poor dog was hungry, and a hungry dog will go far for a bone, you know." Purt was hurrying to get his Duchess under way, and he was so glad of getting rid of the dog that he did not mind the boys' chaffing. Suddenly a wild yell arose from some of the boys on the dock. "What's this? See who's come!" yelled Billy Long.
"I had no idea this country was really so woodsy." "You know there is scarcely anything but forest south of us, until you reach the B. & P. W. Railroad." "Maybe there are bad people up in these woods, after all," suggested the timid Nell. "Never you mind. Purt's got his revolver," chuckled Jess. "Lance says that it is one that hasn't been fired for twenty years and belonged to Purt's father."
At once that imbecile dog rushed upon him, leaped into his lap, and lapped Purt's face! "Get out! You nawsty, nawsty brute you!" wailed the dude, beating the dog off weakly. The latter considered it all in the game. He had taken a decided liking to the boy from Central High, and nothing would drive him away. Purt had never really cared for dogs.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking