h
hardware and carpenter's tools. Gee! but I wish you could go," said
the bad boy, as he put him arm around his chum. "Maybe we wouldn't
make these foreigners sit up and take an interest in something besides
Royalty and Riots."

"Well," said the groceryman, "they will have my sympathy with you alone
over there."

"But before you start on the road with your monkey-wrench show, you come
in here and let me put up a package of those prunes to take along. They
will keep in any climate, and there is nothing better for iron in the
blood, such as your dad has, than prunes. Call again, bub, and we will
arrange for you to write to your chum from all the places you go with
your dad, and he can come in here and read the letters to me and the
cat."

"All right, old Father Time," said the bad boy, as he drew a mug of
cider out of the vinegar barrel, and took a swallow. "But what you want
to do is to get a road scraper and drive a team through this grocery,
and clean the floor," and the boys went out just ahead of the old man's
arctic overshoes, as he kicked at them, and then he went back and sat
down by the stove and stroked the cat, which had got its back down
level again, after its old enemies had gone down the street, throwing
snowballs at the driver of a hearse.

[Illustration: Went out just ahead of the old man's arctic overshoes
027]

"It is a solemn occupation to drive a hearse," said the bad boy.

"Not so solemn as riding inside," said the chum.

CHAPTER II.

The Bad Boy and His Dad Ready for Their Travels--The Bad Boy
Labels the Old Man's Suit Case--How the Cowboys Made Him
Dance Once.

The old groceryman was in front of the grocery, bent oyer a box of
rutabagas, turning the decayed sides down to make the possible customer
think all was not as bad as it might be, when a shrill whistle down the
street attracted his attention. He looked in the direction from which it
came, and saw the bad boy coming with a suit case in one hand and a sole
leather hat box in the other, and the old man went in the store to say
a silent prayer, and to lay a hatchet and an ax handle where he could
reach them if the worst came.

"Well, you want to get a good look at me now," said the bad boy, as he
dropped the valise on the floor, and put the hat box on the counter,
"for it will be months and maybe years, before you see me again."

"Oh, joy!" said the old groceryman, as he heaved a sigh, and tried to
look sorry.