44.
BAD COMPANY.

_ WEN, I wish you would keep out of the way
$ of Jack Sharman. He is not the sort of lad
I care for you to associate with.” Mr. Parker
"S spoke kindly enough, but Owen walked off.
looking very surly, and muttering that if
Jack were good enough for Phil Jasmond he
was good enough for him.

On the whole, Owen was rather glad he had not actually
promised his father not to associate with the objectionable
Jack, when, lessons being over for the day, the two school
friends found the lad waiting for them by the edge of the
wood. “Come on, boys,” said Jack. ‘I’ve found some
sport for you. There are snakes about ete. A lee, as
something glided under his foot, “there goes one. Pick it
up, Owen!” Fearing that, if he refused, Jack might think
him a coward,.Owen stooped down, and was on the point
of grasping the snake, when he suddenly felt himself taken
by the collar and:thrown half a dozen yards away, while a
familiar voice exclaimed, ‘‘ How dare you, Jack Sharman !
You knew that adder might have seriously stung the lad!”
Jack tried to put a bold front on the matter, but failed, and
soon slunk away; while Owen and Phil ‘stood still, looking
very much ashamed, as Mr. Parker explained that he happened
to be walking through the wood, and came upon the boys just
in the nick of time.

“Now,” said Mr. Parker, “will you believe that that lad
is no fit companion for either of you?” The boys whispered
a frightened “Yes”; and from that day they have given Jack |
Sharman as wide a berth as possible. .