Cowboy Kim

By Ida Stewart Peay

(Previous chapter)

Chapter 10.

No gift of the gods could have delighted Peter Sloane so much as this show of affection between his wife and his small nephew. He was so deeply moved as well as pleased that he turned back unnoticed into the house and left his two loved ones to make heir everlasting peace alone with only God and the lovely autumn evening to witness. But a new, or at least, a greater tenderness was born in his heart for his life partner; and in the weeks that followed his added kindness became evident to Aunt Mabel who responded with such warmth and appreciation that the day really marked a time of renewed love and understanding between them.

That Kim’s sensitive little spirit also realized the changed atmosphere of the home was proved by a remark he made to his uncle and aunt some time later. The three, accompanied by Baby-Belle, were walking in the garden. All the crops were harvested and they were making plans for the next season’s planting. They built splendid air castles about what could be accomplished in that magic soil; and Uncle Pete declared he would have a man come the next day to do the full plowing so as to insure the best results. Kim, having vision in the sense spoken of by the prophets, could see the end from the beginning and his eyes sparkled with pleasure. he hugged Baby-Bell and danced around with her; and when they all started for the house he leaned against his Uncle Pete and remarked guilelessly, “It’s getting to feel so good up here, it almost seems like I’m back on the Deer Run.”

Uncle Pete and Aunt Mabel exchanged glances at his significant words. A happy smile flitted across bot of their faces although a slight mist dimmed their eyes. They both knew Kim could express no higher praise for the home they were affording him and the care they were trying to exercise over him. Yet they both felt in their hearts that the extra quality of Christ-love which Kim exhibited in his daily development was worth more to them, by far, than all his “board and keep.”

As the family walked slowly toward the house Kim suddenly took out the fine gold watch Aunt Mabel had given him. He consulted it with a business-like air.

“It’s five o’clock,” he announced in a startling manner.

Aunt Mabel smiled and Uncle Pete chuckled audibly. The joke of the neighborhood was that Kim had been running on schedule time ever since he had received his treasured time piece. Mr. McCree had laughingly nicknamed Kim “Phileas Fogg” and then had been obliged to explain to the curious youngsters that hileas Fogg was a fictitious character of Jules Verne’s who was made by the novelist to go around the world in eighty days, when such a thing was almost an impossible feat. Of course, ad adventure of this kind would not attract attention in these days, but several decades ago it was considered a wonderful achievement. Mr. McCree had explained to the children that in order to get around the world in eighty days and so win a wager that eccentric Phileas Fogg had provided himself with a reliable watch by the time of which he lived and traveled. If he had missed or been late for a train or a meal or an appointment of any kind he would not have been able to get around the world in eighty days.

Mr. Verne’s book, “Round the World in Eighty Days” was procured from the library and Kim, the McCree children, and Wallie Carson read it through with great gusto. The charming tale of the noted author so fired Kim’s imagination that he acted the role of the precise Mr. Fogg for many weeks and was never tardy for anything by as much as a minute.

Kim now joined his uncle and aunt in their good natured mirth but he finished his announcement a trifle shyly, “I promised to go over to see Wallie about something at – at this hour,” he said.

“Well, scamper, or you will be a sixteenth of a minute late,” laughed Uncle Pete.

Kim grinned but in another second he had bounded over the fence in search of his playmate. Wallie Carson had been the indifferent possessor of a watch for a long time. It was not so expensive as Kim’s but it kept good time whenever Wallie took the trouble to wind it. Since the boy from the Deer Run had received his gift-watch and since the neighborhood had heard of the romantically exact and prompt Mr. Phileas Fogg, Wallie had kept his time-piece going regularly. In fact, he was Kim’s ardent understudy in the part of the noted traveler of story-land. When Kim dashed into the Carson yard he found his friend standing on the back steps of the Carson home holding is watch in his hands.

“Hum!” grunted Wallie as Kim came up to him, “I thought you was gonna be late. But you ain’t – it’s jest five.” he grinned amiably as he gazed with interest at the face of his time-piece. Kim proudly took out his watch, also, and the two lads compared the hour and minute hands of their clocks for the hundredth time.

“They keep pretty close,” observed Wallie, a note of pride in his voice that his “little old ticker,” as he styled it, should be on the second.

“Of course,” said Kim, “they’re made that way. I suppose we could be as exact as our watches if we found out it was more fun to be that way than to be always behind the time. all the sport a watch has is seeing that each hand is in its right place at the correct instant.”

“It’s like playing a game,” snickered Wallie. “Gee, but I cam e nearly not being here today. I was up town at ten to five. I ran home like a white head. I thought, maybe, I’d catch you off your guard.

“Pooh! you won’t catch me,” Kim bragged with perfect assurance.

Wallie looked thoughtful for a moment. It was going through his mind that Kim was much too sure of himself. It made Wallie want to compete with him in some way. He wanted to show this new bo something. he wanted to play a game with him. Finally a bright idea struck him. “School begins next Monday,” he said. “Bet you can’t go all the year without being late, and I bet I can.”

“Bet I can,” sang Kim.

“Will you shake hands on it?”

“’Course!”

“We’ll bet our watches.”

“AI don’t want your watch,” Kim declined gently.

Wallie took fire. This was too much. “Pshaw! you’re sure you’re going to beat me, ain’t you?” his tone was strangely reproachful, there was a peculiar gleam in his eyes.

“Maybe I am,” owned Kim. The ranch boy is hardly to be censured either for his belief in himself or for his lack of faith in Wallie; because unconsciously he was aware of his own ability to carry out a purpose, while judging from the past he knew that Wallie was apt to give up or forget. However, what the ranch boy did not take into consideration at this time was that people sometimes change. Kim did not know what had been going on in his young friend’s mind.

The fact of the matter was that Wallie had put on his thinking cap. to be sure, it seemed about time. Not that Wallie was altogether to blame for doing wrong things; Wallie was not a bad boy for the simple reason that there are no bad boys. He had merely acquired some false ideas. Unfortunately, he had somehow come to believe that the ay to get fun out of life was to do almost the opposite thing from what he was advised or commanded to do by grown people. Wallie’s teachers had the wisdom of the ages behind their counsel while Wallie had less than a dozen years of uncharted experience to guide him. Still he tried to be his own pilot. Teaching, talking, or forcing would probably never have opened the boy’s eyes. it was seeing the pleasure Kim appeared to get out of life while doing what older people approve that started Wallie to reasoning things out differently.

All summer the Carson boy had scoffed at the vegetable garden and openly pitied the boys who had no more sense than to work hard. But when the prizes were distributed and the big plan really achieved Wallie ceased to jeer. It was not that he had any especial need for money; it was the joy which bubbled spontaneously out of the other boys that he envied.

The Savior said to his followers: Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your fther which is in heaven. Meaning, no doubt, that we should always do the right things and so secure happiness and comfort; then others seeing the results of doing good would believe in the promises of God and follow our example.

Kim’s pleasure in work, in being honest, and being thoughtful and helpful was a light – or in other words – a new and forceful proof to Wallie that such behavior was the most sensible – even if a fellow was thinking only of himself. perhaps, too, the praise Kim received from every one who was also a factor in Wallie’s changing attitude. Of course, the processes of the mind are mysterious and we cannot analyze them very accurately but Wallie’s conduct demonstrated even in the first few weeks of school that something was working in him for good.

The first day of school Kim was surprised to find Wallie on the school house steps at exactly five minutes to nine. That was the time the boy shad agreed upon and Wallie was there with his open watch in his hands The sight gave Kim a thrill of interest for it looked as though his playmate was going to give him real competition. The boy from the Deer Run truly loved playing. Life on the ranch had been one long series of games. Having no jealousy Kim was not put out if he lost. His disappointment at losing was always forgotten in his pleasure in seeing the other person win. he was satisfied if all the players did their best and played the game fair. That was the fun.

Now, he met Wallie’s triumphant grin with an engaging smile. “Good for you, old kid,” he said heartily, slapping Wallie on the back, “we’ll have a race worth watching. You will not get my ticker.”

“And you don’t need to think you’re going to get mine,” vowed Wallie.

So the game was on. Two or three boys were near the schoolhouse steps and heard what Kim and Wallie were saying. Curiosity was aroused, consequently the two boys had to explain what was on foot. it was not long before half the school, including the teachers, knew of the wager and the stakes. Everyone was interested and began to take sides. Nearly all of them selected Kim for the winner. Perceiving this, Wallie felt hurt deep down in his heart but the boy had sense and he knew there was a reason for it. he realized that Kim had been a more successful performer than he, and thus had won everybody’s confidence. This thought was bitter medicine for poor Wallie but it was good for him. He swallowed it manfully, at the same time he made a vow to himself that he would show his school mates and teachers that there was someone else besides Kim Selman who could hold stoutly to a good resolve.

Kim’s and Wallie’s little game had a wonderful effect upon the school. They had many imitators. Every lad who could procure a time piece of any kind – from a twenty cent one to an old family relic – had done so and was playing the “Getting-on-time” game with his nearest neighbor. The story of Phileas Fogg was circulated throughout the school and there were many small chaps strutting around who were pretending in their hearts that they were the famously punctual globe trotter created by Jules Verne.

Although there were at least a dozen pairs of boys playing the “Getting-on-time” game Kim and Wallie still held the spot light of interest. When school had been in session a month and Wallie had not once missed being at the appointed place at the appointed time he found to his secret joy that he had won some backers. Bob Simmons for one was openly betting on him. Also, his room teacher laughingly declared to Wallie that she knew that he would win. The superintendent patted the boy on the back and commended him. There were others besides these who were favorably noticing Wallie and every word of praise brought the boy pure joy. Life had never seemed so worth while to him before. he became so keyed up in is endeavor to further advance himself in the eyes of his friends that he began to put more energy in the preparation of his lessons and less into the hunt for mischief. Finally the teachers remarked to one another about young Carson’s changed behavior and they all marveled.

About the middle of the second month of school a new excitement began to brew. The popularity of watches and the vogue for punctuality was beginning to wane. The boys who were playing the “getting-on-time” game had lost none of their determination but they were carrying out their purpose quietly and were not attracting very much attention. The average for punctuality of the entire school was higher than it had ever been before but even that was being taken as a matter of course.

Everything gets old and a school must have continual diversion. When the undercurrent of the new excitement swept out into the open it proved to be along the line of sports. The fact of the matter was that an Athletic Club was to be organized among the Fifth and Sixth Grade boys. The Sixth Grade was the highest taught at this particular school and up until now there had been practically no activities outside of class instruction.

The Athletic Club would be an innovation. The boys ten and twelve years old were wild about it. Every red blooded youngster attending the institution was ambitious to be the president, or failing to get that, to hold some office in the new association.

One Monday morning the superintendent announced that the meeting at which the projected Club should be organized would be held the following Friday. In the meantime he said it had been decided to have an athletic meet, or contest, on the school campus to discover which boys were the most fitted to be the leaders in the new organization.

A cheer went up from the boys at the superintendent’s words. The idea of a contest appealed to every one of them. The following Wednesday was decided upon as the day for the meet. All the boys who had any skill, speed, or endurance began to ‘train” for the occasion. At recess, at noon, and after the close of school the broad south side of the school yard was crowded with youngsters. Superintendent Hicks came out to direct the activities though he confessed to the other teachers that he constantly took directions from Kim Selman and Wallie Carson.

Wallie was well acquainted with the physical qualifications of most of his school mates and was therefore able to arrange for a dozen matches in running, jumping, and weight throwing. Kim called the ball players together and managed a game. Bob Simmons and Jorg Hanson were also ring leaders; Bob because he was the best pitcher in the school, and Jorg because he was one of the fastest of the long distance runners.

The boys began to talk among themselves about who should be present of the club – the superintendent had said they were to select their own officers. They were to name them and the ones receiving the most votes wold be declared. Kim’s name was the one most often mentioned, though there were a few who had perceived that Wallie Carson might make a good officer. He certainly seemed different from what he had ever been before. More than anything else in the world Wallie wished to be the president of the Athletic Club. He promised himself that in the Wednesday contest he would do his very best. He began to put himself into condition by eating and sleeping more regularly and bathing and brushing his teeth daily; also, he refused to eat any candy or sweetmeats. he trained as consistently as he knew how. When the day came he entered the field with a firm will and a humble spirit.

He knew that people loved Kim because he was fair minded and free from envy. Wallie was determined to be that way, too, and he succeeded so well that he felt happier than he had ever felt before when playing contest games. Every time he lost a point he tried to be glad for the winner. And oh, joy! he found that it was quite easy. When Jorg beat him in the long distance race he congratulated Jorg in a burst of pleasure that astonished and pleased him as much as did the happy winner.

When the contest was over, Wallie’s victories summed up very noticeably, still he did not hear his name mentioned for the coveted office. Friday seemed an eternity away but it rolled around at last and the meeting convened. Wallie was in a wild state of anticipation.

(To be continued)