Bills Mistake a Story of the California Redwoods

ds .... 201 XVI. The Eeal Anarchist . . .... . . . 222 XVII. Homeward Bound .- . . . 243 The City Beautiful 255 Afterward 266 72 Dong Dong BILL S MISTAKE Dong I. THE LAST BELL. It was a warm day in early June one of those days when you just simply cannot stay in a day that was never made for a school-room or for study when a dip in the surf or a hike among the redwoods would be far more preferable than a drowsy school-room a day that meant you MUST be out of doors. But it was all over, anyway for a time, at least. The last bell was ringing. Vaca tion had begun for the students of the Santa Cruz High School. Groups of boys and girls came pouring out of the doors, laughing and chattering, with happy, smiling faces only occasionally a long-drawn face appearing among them no doubt that of some child who had failed to be nromoted. But they were all glad to be free for a long two months to come all were glad to pet out into the beautiful summer day. ampgt , i i ampgt A l BILL ampgts MISTAKE quotCut that out nowquot cried one of three boys, who came tumbling rather than walking down the stairs, each eagr to reach the ground first. The boy who spoke was in the lead, and the other two were holding him, trying to prevent him from reaching the ground first. As he spoke he turned and gave his tormentors each a punch. quotYou don t need to think you ve always got to be first, Tomquot one of the other boys answered sharply, after he finally succeeded in reaching the ground first. quotIm NOT always first, but when I make up my mind to do a thing, I usually do it,quot Tom replied decidedly. quotDid you get through, Tomquot asked Jim, the smaller of the other two boys. By this time the three boys were standing in a group on the school ground. quotYes, I got throughquot he replied, as if there wr ere no doubt about his being promoted. quotOnly by a scratch, though,quot added Ned, the third boy. quotWell, ain t that enough What more do you wantquot quotI got through all right,quot Jim said, happily. He was a class below the other two boys he had two years yet before him, while the others had but one. Ned and Jim, or, rather, Edward and James Nelson, were brothers. They lived with their parents on the east side of the city, near the foot-hills. Their father was engaged in light farming and vegetable raising, and his boys proved two useful assistants, when they were not busy with school work. quotIt s some warm today, isn t itquot Ned re marked. quotYou betquot Tom replied. quotLet s beat it now, fellows. I want to go down and take a swim in the surf. It ll feel good a day like this. Want t come alongquot quotImafraid we can t,quot Ned answered disappoint edly, as the three started to leave the school grounds. quotFather told us to hurry home after school he wants us to do some weeding.quot quotAll right, I ll go alone then.quot As long as Tom got there that was the main thing with him. quotWhere s Billquot Jim inquired, looking around. quotAin t you going to wait for himquot quotHe s gone on,quot Tom said quickly. quotHe s got to get down to the store and work. No foolin for Bill... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.