Cowboy Kim

By Ida Stewart Peay

(Previous chapter)

Chapter 5.

“Why, Kim, what has happened to this lot! Surely you haven’t cleaned it yourself. Who’s been here?” cried Uncle Pete, clearly mystified.

“I thought I would like to surprise you,” returned Kim, his eyes kindling with pleasure, “but I didn’t do it alone. Wallie and Bob Simmons and Pattie McCree and her two brothers helped me and Mr. McCree came over and showed us how to get the water on the weeds and directed us for a while.”

“Did Wallie help you all day?” asked Wallie’s mother, who had come over on an errand.

“Yes, Mrs. Carson.”

“Didn’t he go home for an hour or two in the afternoon?”

“No, he helped me fine all day,” answered the boy straightforwardly, and with no suspicion of the purpose of her cross-questioning.

“Um, hum, it’s just as I supposed. Wallie has told me a falsehood. I’ve been away all day and he said he had practiced his music a couple of hours as I ordered him to do. I think he will regret telling me an untruth!” she enunciated, and the hardness of her tone made Kim shiver unconsciously.

“She hasn’t any mercy,” frowned Uncle Pete.

“But he deserved it, peter!” his wife maintained, taking up for her close friend. Uncle Pete said no more, he just shook his head in a sorrowful, disapproving way. Poor Kim was sorry and bitterly regretted the part he had unwittingly played in Wallie’s undoing.

After the evening meal Kim told his uncle the details of the clean up job.

“Why, it’s amazing, boy,” declared Uncle Pete when Kim had finished his tale of achievement. “That work would have cost me three or four dollars, and I mean to pay the amount to you boys. I can just about guess how the money should be divided. Here’s your share, Kim.” He fished a silver dollar form his pocket and reached it out to his nephew, adding, “I’ll pay the other boys tomorrow.”

“I didn’t expect any pay, Uncle Pete, I only wanted to surprise you, and I had lots of fun,” said Kim.

“I think the boy is right, peter. I asked him to clean the yard and you know he naturally feels dependent –” Aunt Mabel began, but her husband cut her short.

“Excuse me, dear, but I think it is best this time,” he said. “Here, boy, take this money.” Uncle Pete’s tone was so decisive and stern that Kim resisted o more but took the dollar with grave thanks. later in the evening when the boy and his uncle were alone in the room, the man approached Kim and laying his hand on the lad’s shoulder said with an affectionate smile, “You’re just like your mother, Kim. She was always doing things to surprise and please people. Besides that, she had a way of working to some definite end. You are going to be that way, too. Now, what would you like to do with your money? I’ll wager there’s something in particular on your mind – a long dreamed of tool, or, perhaps it’s candy. Tell me about it and I’ll help you to get just what you want.”

This kindness brought Kim’s confiding nature to the fore. Leaning against his uncle he partly divulged is cherished plan. “I don’t care to buy anything, Uncle Pete, but if you really think I ought to keep the money I’d like to put it in the bank. After a while I’ll need a heap of money so I think I’d better start saving,” he said earnestly, even eagerly.

Uncle Pete was surprised again. he opened his eyes wide and drew down the corners of his mouth, chuckling. “Well of all things! So you think you’ll need a heap of money after a while, do you?” although qas curious as a youngster, Uncle Pete contented himself with throwing out this gentle hint for further information, but Kim only replied, “Yes, sir.”

Aunt Mabel came back into the room now so Uncle Pete ended his and Kim’s little confidence by a brief sentence. “We’ll see about it Monday, my boy.”

Little Belle was fretful and full of baby troubles, she had cried and whined and sulked and her mother had scolded and threatened. So Kim offered to make a bid for her attention. He performed some of his cowboy stunts so amusingly that she forgot her ill temper and was soon playing with him noisily and merrily. Pretending that he was Allasandro, he rode her on his back bucking her off every few minutes until she screamed and laughed for joy. After this he played he was a dog, then a cat, then a rooster, then a hen, then a biddy, then a turkey gobbler, then a goose, then a duck, then a bird and at last a frog. And so wonderful were his imitations of these various creatures that Uncle Pete clapped his hands in delight and even Aunt Mabel smiled. When Kim was ready for bed he stole up and loved the baby a little for an old time good night then he went off to sleep as happy as could be. So little does it take to make a child pleased. They forget their troubles so quickly – and yet, ah yes, and yet, how long they remember!

The next day was Sunday and it took a good deal of persuasion on the part of Uncle Pete to get Kim to go to Sabbath School. Indeed, it was only when Mr. Sloane gave the boy a prospectus of the teachings given in that great institution that Kim’s natural inquisitiveness overcame his first dread of mingling among strangers. The church building where the school was held was the most imposing structure Kim had ever entered. he was absorbingly interested in its architecture and the interior decorations: but what lured him back to the place the following Sunday and many Sundays thereafter was the prevailing spirit of reverence, kindliness and progression. The boy was so keen to know everything he could not get knowledge half fast enough. His impatience led him wherever there was anything to be learned. his teacher at Sabbath School was a man and Kim was glad. he loved men. In his short life he had known only two men intimately, his father and the big-hearted cowboy. They were splendid kings to Kim and he wanted to know more of their kind. The habit of loving and appreciating others and trying to make others happy was the most fixed habit of his life so he was able at once to respond with good will to the kindly understanding nature of Hillman Dell of the Sabbath School. Kim soon placed him in the same class of dear ones that held his father and Buck – the dead still lived on in Kim’s memory – and which now included Uncle Pete and Neighbor McCree.

The tall Irishman, with his wonderful charm of spirituality, proved to be the one who was to influence and comfort the orphan more than any o fhis new friends. He it was who always found Kim in his loneliest hours and regaled him with information of all kinds and answered his myriad of questions with rare patience and tr4uthfulness. Today, from his chair on the sunny side of the house, Mr. McCree spied Kim wandering disconsolately around Sloane’s back yard.

“Come here, Kim, lad,” he called persuasively and Kim went this time very hesitatingly, but this first visit made him feel so welcome, and he found the atmosphere of this home so like that of his old home at the Deer Run that his hardest task was staying away. This afternoon he and Pattie and the near twins had a wonderful time playing together, with Mr. McCree to direct them now and then and always to laugh and shout with them over their fun. They played they were cowboys or fairies or wild animals and although Kim was more practical than the dreamy eyed Pattie he was sufficiently fanciful to be constantly amused and interested by her imagination.

Another red letter day awaited Kim on the morrow – it was the fall opening of the public schools. The boy from the isolated ranch had never been to school; therefore Aunt Mabel took him over to “the Webster.”

Mr. Hicks was the principal of the institution and consequently received the new pupil. Aunt Mabel explained that Kim had never been to school before, but had received some training in his home and she would like to have him examined; the head of the school seemed duly interested.

“Certainly we’ll examine him,” he acceded with elaborate politeness. “I’ll call in the teachers and we’ll soon find out where he belongs.”

When the teachers were assembled and seated in an attitude of attention the principal began the ordeal.

“Name, please,” he smiled whimsically.

“Kimball Selman,” he replied, taking in his judge and jurors with a quick flash of his wide grey eyes.

“And so you have never been to school, Kimball?” quizzed the man of learning.

“No, sir,” said Kim.

“How old are you?”

“Ten years.”

“When were you ten?”

“Yesterday.” Aunt Mabel looked surprised at this and everybody smiled at each other.

“Where have you lived?”

“At the Deer Run ranch in the eastern part of the state.”

“Can you read and write?”

“Yes, sir,” returned the boy promptly. “My mother taught me long ago.”

“He has had no associates to speak of except his parents and hey were both college graduates,” explained Aunt Mabel, taking a little pride in her charge for the first time.

“Where are the books from which you studied?’ continued the principal.

“I haven’t any of them with me.”

Mr. Hicks then produced a book and asked Kim to read a selection. The boy plunged in at once, reading rapidly and correctly. Presently the principal signalled he had heard enough and at this point the First Grade teacher, who appeared to have a sense of humor, arose suddenly.

“I think I shall not be needed in this case,” she said and casting a humorous smile around at those assembled quietly withdrew.

The two ladies who conducted the Second and Third Grades followed her, after glancing enquiringly at the principal who gave them leave to go with an assenting nod. Kim had been reading from a Fifth Grade Reader. The instructor I the fourth Grade, however, stubbornly remained for as she told those nearest her the child might yet be her charge for he must still be tried in Arithmetic, Geography and spelling. The tests were soon applied and Kim came off victorious.

“He’s mine, he’s mine,” Miss Sawyer, of the Fifth Grade, now cried triumphantly and she walked off with the boy as though he were a prize.

Thus Kim began his school career.

The first day passed uneventfully though, of course, the new boy fairly tingled with interest in his lessons and, also, in his teachers and fellow pupils. he thought something particular and distinctive about every person with who he had direct contact. For instance, he considered Pattie McCree the prettiest little maid on the school grounds; he sensed the strength and efficiency of Miss Sawyer; he admired the lovable nature of the First Grade teacher; he noted the important air of the principal; he knew at once that Bob Simmons was stupid at his lessons but wonderfully good hearted and that Wallie Carson although bright was trifling, aggressive and full of mischief.

When school was over for the day Kim made a bee line for his uncle’s office in the center of town. Strange to say the boy had not yet even thought of inspecting the city; but now that the prospect was immediately before him he experienced a keen anticipation of the pleasure. When he came to the business houses he sauntered along leisurely, his hands in his pockets and his eyes taking in everything worth noticing. it was onl a country town of about ten thousand inhabitants but there were more stores in it than Kim had ever dreamed of and he was absorbed in discovering their various attractions.

He did not ask anyone to direct him to his guardian’s office. He meant to hunt it out by himself. The feeling of self reliance he experienced on this occasion was delicious. Always, he loved to find things out for himself rather than be told or shown. The real estate office bearing the name of peter Sloane was soon discovered.

“Hello, Kim, have ou decided on a nick-nack, or a baseball?” greeted Mr. Sloane cheerily when his young nephew popped into view.

‘No, sir, I’m going to save my money,” asserted Kim stoutly. This outward bravado was truly necessary because the boy had just passed a confectionary store whose tempting display had always broken down his resolve.

“Alright, I’ll take you down to the bank,” conceded the man indulgently and the business was soon transacted. Mr. Sloane went back to his office while Kim began to wander around sight-seeing again. Like water finds its level he immediately gravitated to the big candy shop. As he viewed the sweet delicacies with a small boy’s longing, he felt immensely glad his dollar was safe in the bank; otherwise he would have been obliged to buy some of those delicious looking chocolates.

“’Lo, kid.”

“’Lo.”

At the sound of two familiar voices Kim turned from contemplating the enticing goodies to face Wallie Carson and Bob Simmons.

“Gosh, I’m as rich as Rockyfeller, Kim! Your boss gimme a wagon wheel!” blurted out Bob grinning delightedly.

“So did he me,” Wallie crowed, his haste to convey the news being greater than his regard for grammar.

‘He sure ain’t no tight wad. Did he give you one,” gurgled Bob.

Kim nodded.

“Some eats first and then the show,” Wallie suggested, proud that he was able, on the spur of the moment, to lay out a program of entertainment so consistent with their sudden rise in fortunes.

“That’s it,” cried Bob and in another second he and Wallie had shouldered Kim with them to the very entrance of the confectionery store.

“Hold on, I haven’t any money,” Kim broke away from them and backed off a few steps. Both boys seemed to be greatly surprised at this announcement.

“Are you havin’ a nightmare?” Bob gasped, while Wallie demanded angrily, “What did you do with it?”

Some youngsters might have been abashed by this furious onslaught but Kim answered promptly, “None of your business.”

“Did you spend it?” persisted Wallie.

Kim made no reply but a fire was kindling in his wide-open eyes and he bit his teeth down hard together.

“Are you hoardin’ it up?” snickered Bob.

“Goin’ to be a miser?” sneered Wallie.

“Can if I want to and I’ll let you know it is none of your affairs,” Kim retorted spiritedly. The way of the transgressor must be easy, indeed, compared to the way of a fellow trying to save money for worth while purposes. But Kim threw up his head and flashed a defiant glance first at one and then at the other of his tormentors, he would show them that he would do whatever he wished. Suddenly Bob saw the funny side of their quarrel and burst into a loud laugh.

“I guess it is his own business, Wall,” he chuckled. “Come on, let’s get us a nut-sundae.” To tell the truth Bob felt considerable admiration for this fiery little stranger who dared to affront two boys both larger than himself.

He and Wallie started for the store door again. On the threshold they paused and whispered a long time, finally with big eyes and mysterious nods and winks they returned to Kim. It was Wallie who made known their deliberations.

“Come on in with us, we’ll get you a dish alright,” he promised, winking knowingly and ignoring as children usually do the fact that there had been a difference between them. “Listen! This is the way: There’s a big crowd in there – the basketball gang and their girls, you know – so we won’t be noticed much.”

Just then the young people came out of the store with a good deal of noise, full of excitement about the coming game. The three boys catching the spirit of enthusiasm and forgetting about the proposed treat followed the group up the street, ready for some new diversion.

(To be continued)