HE COMES UP SMILING

HE COMES UP SMILING

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I The Beauty Contest
II A Close Shave
III Enter Mr. Batchelor
IV And When I Dine
V A Plan and a Telegram
VI What Is Heaven Like
VII Watermelon Yields
VIII Gratitude Is a Flower
IX On the Road
X The Deserted House
XI A Night's Lodging
XII The Key to the Situation
XIII Only to be Lost
XIV Billy, Billy Everywhere
XV Love in Idleness
XVI A Thief in the Night
XVII Alphonse Rides Away
XVIII Oh, For a Horse
XIX A Broker Prince
XX The Seven O'Clock Express
XXI Rich and Poor Alike
XXII The Truth At Last
XXIII Back to the Road
XXIV The Poet or the Poodle
XXV As He Said He Would

HE COMES UP SMILING

CHAPTER I

THE BEAUTY CONTEST

"You have a phiz on yer," said the Watermelon with rare candor, "that would make a mangy pup unhappy."

"I suppose you think yer Venus," sneered James, a remark that he flattered himself was rather "classy."

The Watermelon sighed as one would over the ignorance of a child. "No," said he, "hardly."

"Don't let that bloomin' modesty of yers keep yer from tellin' the truth," adjured James.

The Watermelon waved the possibility aside with airy grace. "With all due modesty, James," said he, "I can't claim to be a woman."

"Not with that hay on yer mug," agreed Mike, casting a sleepy eye upward from where he lay in lazy content in the long, sweet grasses under the butternut tree.

"When I was a kid, I took a prize in a beauty show," announced James, with pardonable pride.

"Swiped it?" asked the Watermelon.

"Dog show?" inquired Mike drowsily, listening to the pleasing drone of a bee in a near-by clump of daisies.

James