The Rival Campers Ashore

to display the attractions arranged therein to best advantage. The night was warm and pleasant, and the passe

ber called them to a halt and pointed on ahead. The object to which he pointed was a fourth youth, wh

George and Bob White, "look at Henry Burns. My, but that's rich. W

dly. Henry Burns, all unmindful of such concerted observati

was one of Benton's largest dry-goods establishments, and the particular window was devoted wholly to an assortment of women's and mi

ilor suit, the yellow curls of the head surmounted with a dashing sailor hat; its waxen cheeks tinted a most d

uaintance with the wax figure, for presently he approached close

e, nudging Bob White and doubling up with laughter. "Wish Jac

eared the unsuspecting admirer

ries of yells and hoots of derision that would have done credit to a wild we

ed or easily disconcerted, however, and, although ta

he said

kered Young Joe. "Sa

hereupon all three went off again into min

Burns. "I'll go in and

id Bob White. "How lo

u've known Kitty Clark

n in great satisfaction and terminated in a howl, as he

the best of Henry Burns, i

ck?" he

red George Warren, pointing back in

e paid little heed. Anyone familiar with the youth would have known that he had something

stood looking in at the very same shop window,

of that?" inquired Henry Burns

at his compani

!" he exclaime

ls!" said Henry B

ed at him,

ng to grasp the meaning of so extraordinary an inq

enry Burns, "only you an

s grin

d look nice in it, Henry. O

," continued Henry Burns, unm

y whi

f I don't think you're i

cents-marked down-they always are, ain't they? Half of that's

gh, if you'll get somebody to buy it. It's worth more than that to me, to win that ra

us how to come through that slui

that, I reckon. They're poor enough. Get somebody

Burns, coolly; "that is, if you've g

s pocket-book and

o it for a hundred dollars. Go on;

isfied him that the figure was of Bess Thornton's size, boldly entered the store, calmly made the purchase, i

der you learned to sail the Viking qu

take it up there,"

stopped

and give it to

comrade. "She might not like to have us-a

" exclaim

ained Henry Burns. "Then she won't know who

e o'clock," re

," said He

ey. "Let's be off, then. It's a good

omrades trudging along the road leading out

rned them that they were approaching the farmhouse of Farmer Ellison. They turned in from the road that ran alo

ep any dog?" ask

panion. "Never saw any. We'll keep well down near the

ing into little depressions. It was a clear night and starlit, but the shadows in the half darkness were confusing. A

gone to bed,"

lied Henry Burns. "Not

ver since he caught Willie Dodd setting a net there one nig

y Burns. "It's this dress. You wouldn't have a

ouldn't," an

a few moments later, his companion touched him lightly on an arm and motioned for him to be st

it?" he w

t under one arm, and peering through the scattered ald

ited, a

comrade, as the steps that the quick ear of Henry Burns had heard we

friend between the shoulders. "She's got two horns, but I guess she won

zing inquiringly at the two boys. But, observing her for a moment, it did not escape Henry Burns that the ani

nd pointed back past the cow. Harv

to be seen, stealing along in th

branches aside and leaping from one knoll to another where the soil was boggy. At the same moment Fa

er don't stop. I'll have no nets set in this s

y fled t

Burns. "Make for the foot of

e stopped him. He followed his slighter companion, who le

ggy piece of land and nearly headed them off. They turned toward the brook, gained its shore and sped along to the foot of the dam. There

re and there by a bit of half decayed log or drift-wood, they got across and scrambled

ut look out for the next. Remember, it's a shotgun ful

dam, nursing a bruised shin, and watc

correct in that. The two boys had not stopped in their flight, and were

himself down at the foot of a tree and laug

"Did you see old Ellison sl

t a pair of legs in front of me, cutting it

urns. "Come out if you've got your

uit to bring them to the brook some way above the house, pausing now and then to look and to listen. Bu

waited on watch near the gate, while Henry Burns stole up to the door an

e came?" inquired

Straight out to the main r

the old inn and the mill, and swung into a rapid stride for home.

tream, in the direction of the camp, where he was to meet Tom Harris for a spin in the canoe. He had heard no footsteps near,

ly, and there w

I'd see somebody on the road

not easily abashed, he was, to tell the truth, just a bit shy with girls, and

schievous light danced in her black eyes as she said, "I though

ded Henry Burns. "Goi

dn't want to go this morning,

atter?" asked

And when you wear a new dress they always say things, don't you

rns, laughing. "I'd like to h

with a touch of half-offende

ifference the pretty suit made in the appearance of the girl. He made a mental note of the fact that it seemed just the right size for her, and that she certainly looked v

k up," he ventured.

r complimented a girl. They were passing a dingy little store, with its windows filled with farming tool

in here," he sa

rney. He had gone scarcely a rod or two, however, when the girl's voice brought h

g the pickerel. There's one sunning himself close to the

racy. It struck the water about six inches from the dark object to which she h

aimed. "How'd you kn

le I show one to Benny Ellison so he can shoot it.

urns ch

help that,

s," said the girl. "And he won't ever give you any. I like

e, telling of her happiness in the possession of her new finery-though she had feared the ordeal of wearing it to school, perhaps because of the contrast it made to her usual gar

a little way when the sound of voices, one sharp and angry, made him pause. He retraced his s

ants by the roadside, the tears standing in her eyes as she picked the burs from the latter out o

ud," he said bluntly. "You needn't ge

f every day that now faced the youth. Some of her fearlessness and

, stepping forward; but

dress," he demanded. "

e felt his hand cast off and, at the same time, he was nearly upset by a vigorous push. The yout

," said Henry Burns

in his eye that Benny Ellison might have heeded. The latter, however, was no long

a step toward the girl. "I'll push both

" said Henry

at Henry Burns and they clinched. The struggle seemed over before it had hardly begun, however, for the nex

quirming and kicking. "Y

on, wild with anger, made a rush for Henry Burns, aiming a blow at him as he came on. Dodging it, and without deigni

n their athletics, and even stalwart Jack Harvey, had often found to be their match in wrestling. Slight in b

felt his feet going from under him, and again he went down-but this time ha

y Burns, calmly. He had not e

up slowly from the dust, hesita

n some time," he muttered. "I'l

ns's eyes

now?" h

e no reply, but w

with delight as Henry Burns tu

now," she said. "He'll give

and embarrassment. Then, as one resolved to see the thing