Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 240, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1911 — How Tommy Played Truant [ARTICLE]

How Tommy Played Truant

“Tommy, Tommy, aren’t you ready for school yet?” called his little sister. W “No”, shouted back Tommy, parting hi; hair for the twentieth time that morning. “You’d better go on to school, Sue, ’cause I’ve got to blacken my shoes and find my hat and books, and, anyhow, I promised to wait for Dick Brown, and, anyhow, i might he lateJ'f “If you are, Thomas, father will whip you this evening when he comes tome,” came up to the ears of Tommy, not in the voice of Sue, but in his mother's tones. "Huh!” taid Tommy. “Ma never says ‘l’ll whip you myself.’ it’s always, ‘Thomas, if you don’t obey instantly, father’ll whip you when he comes ‘home ttis evening.’ I ain’t scared of father, anyhow, and I’ll prove,it to all of ’em. See if I don’t By jimininjAl’ve got the finest idea,” said Tommy. wonder what in the mischief i* keeping Dick Brown this morning? I wish he’d hurry on and come.” • After wtat seemed an eternity to the impatient boy, “Tom, Tom,” a boyish voice was calling. “Come on up, Dick, I’m not quite ready,” answered Tommy. “Dick, have you got plenty of lunch?” eagerly questioned Tommy. “Yes, Tom, I told- mother to give me an extra large lunch today. This kind of weather always makes me hungry.” “Fine!” and Tommy was silent. "When the boys came downstairs Tommy’s mother was sitting In the library reading her' latest book. “Dear me”, she exclaimed as they entered. “Tommy, you are going to be dreadful la£e, and, as I promised you, your father’ll whip you.” Tommy mumbled something about other boys’ mothers helping them to dress, walked over to tie fruit dish, slipped a couple of oranges and some bananas into his capacious lunch box and walked out of the house presumably to school. With a sigh his motner resumed -her -reading. Quick as be we* out of the hearing of his mother he proposed that he and Dick play “hookey.” After much persuasion on the part of Tommy, to the effect that they’d get licked anyhow for being late, Dick finally consented to go. “Let’s hide our hooks !n the old car barn and eat our lunch In the haunted house,” boldly suggested Tommy, who at that time felt brave enough to do anything. “I—er —er,” Did- began. “Coward,” sneered Tommy, and that settled it. Dick would do anything to prove that he wasn’t a cow- ’ ard. After eating their lunch the boys went off to a moving picture show, where they were enthralled by the daring of the boy hero, who did all kinds of impossible things. When the show was over the boys came back after their books, but both sets were gone. They searched the whole building, 1 but somebody had sueaked in while they were enjoying themselves and stolen them. The boys, thoroughly frightened and afraid to go home without, ;heir books, started weeping. “Tommy wasn’t at school today,” Sue electrified her mother by saying. “I’ll bet Tommy’s played truant," came from the depths of the library. "O, Tom, go find him,” cried Mrs. Moore, bordering cn hysterics. Mr. Moore jumped up, slammed his desk shut, put on his hat and left the house. * “I’ll teach that Toting fellow how to play hookey,” said he. “Just wait ui\til I catch him, I’ll give him the best lambasting he’s ever had in his life.” Dick’s father met Tommy’s father half-way down the block. “Come on Brown and help me find Tommy. “What! Tommy, too?" said Mr. Brown. “Why I was just going up to your house to see If Dick was there." “Well, you can search elsewhere," said Mr. Moore, "because Tommy’s been gone since morning." Just tlven he wa3 interrupted by a scared breathless, boy, who Bars': “I saw a light in the old car barn and I heard somebody moaning.” “There’s our boys,” said Mr. Moore confidently. “Hurry Brown, we’ll catch them- redhanded.” They made their way to the deserted car barn, and the moans that came from it were enough to frighten the boldest. “Just listen to those young rap*scalliag; go through the back door." said Mr. Brown, “and we’ll give them a dose o£ Mpir own medicine." The boya were sitting down on the floor eating the remains or their luncheon, and between mouthfuls uttering those blood-curdling moans, which were scaring the community. “Stop that," commanded Mr. Moore, and both Tommy and Dick dropped the sandwiches in their fright. “Get up this minute and come right home,” he continued. The boys obeyed without a word. Silent and crestfallen they walked slowly home, for they knew what was In store for them when their fathers found out that they had lost their books, besides playing hookey.