The Shagganappi | Page 8

East." Everyone laughed then,
including Shag, and Sir George said, "Then you are better up in things
than I was at your age, my boy. I never saw a finger-glass until I was
twenty." So this little confidence put them all on a kind of family
footing; and during the rest of his visit Shag was not afraid to ask and
learn any of the usages of wealthy city houses and manners that might
puzzle him. When he left he had endeared himself to Hal's parents as
no other boy had done before. Lady Bennington especially seemed to
have become attached to him. Once when Hal was taking some
snapshots of the grounds, she called Shag to her side, and, placing one
hand on his shoulder, asked Hal to photograph them together. Shag
almost trembled with pleasure, but his delight knew no bounds when a
week after their return to school he received a little copy of the
photograph framed in silver and inscribed on the back with "To
Shagganappi Larocque, with love from Hal's mother."
"I don't know why you and your people are so good to me," he declared
to Hal, when they both had duly admired the little picture. Hal stared at
him rather oddly, but did not reply, and it was many months before
Shag understood what that look meant; but when it was explained the
Indian recalled many things that had once perplexed him.
* * * * * * * *
It was late in May when Sir George and Lady Bennington left on their
yearly visit to England, leaving Hal with the enviable holiday ahead of
him of playing host at their summer residence in the Thousand Islands.
He was privileged to ask what boys he liked; he could have his own
canoe and sailboat, any of the servants from the city residence that he
wished, and just put in one long, golden summer, swimming, boating,
rollicking around, getting tanned and healthy. The only stipulation his
parents made was that in addition to the crowd of boys asked he must
invite one of the masters. It did not matter which one, so what did Hal
do but "cheek it up" to the Head, who had no family to summer with,
and who usually wandered off to some lonely mountain resort by
himself for the entire vacation. Professor Warwick was amazed.

"Why, Bennington," he exclaimed, "what ever do you want an old
codger like me for? There's young Graham, almost a boy himself, and
Lewes, the science man, a funny chap. I always think Mr. Lewes is
more fun than a cage of cats. I'm a dried-up old fellow that most of the
boys are afraid of. You won't enjoy yourself with me around all the
time."
"We're only afraid of you in classes, sir," laughed Hal; "no one is afraid
of you outside. I've heard the boys josh you on the ball grounds and at
the sports no end of times. You've just got to come, Professor!" And the
old gentleman did go, to the delight of Hal's parents, who left for
England perfectly satisfied that the boys would be well looked after if
the Professor was an inmate of their island home.
The party was just about the right size; two of the little boys who lived
at the Pacific coast were asked, then Shorty and Cop and little chunky
Johnny Miller and Shag Larocque--seven all told, including Hal, and
eight, counting the Professor, who, on the first night in camp said, a
little gravely, "Hal, my boy, it is a great privilege to be the son of a
wealthy man. I have never cared for money, but I would like to be in a
position where I could have the pleasure of entertaining my friends in
this delightful way."
"I hope I appreciate it, Professor," replied the boy. "Dad is always
reminding me of the stacks of people not so well fixed as we are. He
frequently tells me of the times when he went hungry--really hungry,
without twenty-five cents with which to buy a meal, and he says if ever
I forget it and try to put on 'side' that he will thrash me within an inch
of my life, even after I am twenty-one."
The Professor roared, a regular boyish shout. "And he'd do it, too, I
believe," he chuckled. "That is what makes Sir George so wonderful;
with all his wealth he is the same dear old chap he always was. I knew
him when he was your age almost--and the only thing about him that
has changed is his hair; it is a little thinner now--and grey."
"Yes, dad's a boy yet," smiled Hal, "but I won't give him a chance to
lick me on the money score;