WHEN THE SMALL BOY GROWS UP!

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 751, 26 August 1929, Page 5

WHEN THE SMALL BOY GROWS UP!

SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR DEALING WITH "CAST-OFFS” When your boy doffs his school cap, you must prepare yourself for a new era. That era will arrive, riot gradually, but with a disconcerting suddenness, so that it is well to be ready to meet it. Your boy will want to put boyish things out of sight, as if the very remembrance of them were -provocative of pain. Far from having sentimental associations for him, childish toys will seem positively to worry him, as emblems of his immaturity. If you have i no attc in which to stow these relics of his childhood, you will be wise to advertise them in some boys’ magazine, and, with the proceeds of their sale, buy him a silk dressing-gown or a smart umbrella. Old school books will be ousted in favour of the fashionable minor poets, but you should rescue them before I they are consigned finally to oblivion. Mothers who are sending their younger j children to the same school may be ! delighted to have the chance of acquirI ing. at half-price or less, the multitude I of volumes now required in each successive form, and a deal may be effected to the advantage of both sides. Old cricket flannels, football boots, boxing gloves, and so forth, may be a boon to mothers with young families, and inquiry among friends will usually j discover someone who will he glad to take over the lot at a reasonable price. Sports outfits, representing an apprecij able outlay, are often welcomed likeI wise when a moderate price is placed upon them. L.G.S. A CHEAP AND TRIED CLEANSER This cleanser is easily made, and will be found useful for removing grease of all kinds. Required: A cake of sand soap, a packet of soap powder, a tablespoonful of borax, and a quart of boiling water. Put a few scraps of old soap into a basin, and dissolve by pouring a little boiling water on to them. Then add .the borax, soap powder, and sand soap, which has been finely grated, pour the boiling water into the mixture, stirring all the time. Pour into tins while still hot. Old jam tins will do for this purpose. here any longer?” Jack asked again. “H’m —er —no. Mr. Cleggett is so certain that a mistake lias been made that we cannot any longer detain you.” “Thank you.” Then, walking up to Costello. Jack said in a voice that was loud enough for everyone to hear, “If you weren’t a policeman, Costello, I’d give a few years of my life to have five minutes alone with you. Your own mother wouldn’t know you when I’d done with you! As you’ll be leaving this district shortly, I’m not likely to see you again, so goodbye—and may you get everything that sooner or later is bound to come to your sort!” | Before they had recovered from ! their surprise, he was through the door, followed by Nita. “Oh, Jack!” she gasped, when they reached the buggy Without a word he helped her up, and took his seat beside her. The loungers outside watched them drive away, while the station windows framed the perplexed faces of six astonished policemen. Nita laid her hand on his arm. i “Jack, what does this mean?” she j asked. | “What does what mean?” I “What you said about Costello.” He laughed. “Just a bit of b‘luff—that’s all.” Apparently it was more than that, however, for four days later Superintendent Hare was officially informed that Constable Costello had been transferred to a small township in Gippsland, and was to report forth-' with for duty at his new station! CHAPTER XVI. BRIANT DISAPPEARS. The fulfilment of Briant’s extraordinary prophecy became a topic which temporarily overshadowed discussion of the Kellys. Who was this youngstranger who was able to say, days in advance, what the Melbourne authorities intended to do? everyone asked. Was he himself a highlyplaced officer from headquarters? Next day Superintendent Hare personally rode out to Jacobson’s to question him. “I’m a clairvoyant,” Jack laughed. “I can see future events quite clearly at times.” “Please don’t fool with me,” said Hare sternly. “Well., what do you wish me to say?” “I want to know who you are.” “I told you that yesterday. My name’s Briant, and I’m a tramp.” “Where did you come from?” “Melbourne, four months ago.”