Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-04-21
Our Young Folks.
HOW THE BOYS FOOLED UNCLE
BULGE.

BUDGE.
Rick and Karl Away. spent q week
in the spring al Uncle Budge's. ~ II
1t had CHANGED for two or three wears
that they were there on All-fools'
Day, and at the end of the last visit
Uncle Bulge, on leaving them at
the cars, had urged them to come on
for the same time next year, adding,
"If you succeed in fooling me then, I'll
give you each a gold piece,
Uncle Bulge as completely forgot
having made such an offer. five minutes
after the boys had waved their hats in
good by, as though there were no April
Holidays and no gold pieces in the world.
But not 50 with the Barnes boys.
Gold pieces were not so plenty with
them that they would be apt to let
such an offer pass in one ear and out of
the other. Already seats at the circus,
fishing-rods and skates were in wild
confusion in their brains.
"A whole year to think up some.
thingr' said Rick.
81 don't believe there's bit of use
in trying" answered Karl We've
come to the conclusion no end of times
that we can't fool Uncle Bulge, and
we can't. That's all there is about it,"
ono harm in trying" venturned the
not easily discouraged Rick, thinking
how often he had admired the gold dol
lar on Chan Holmes watch chain.
"Let's try, anyway"
Sornext April-foOls' Day finding them
at Uncle Budge's, Karl and Rick were
tiptoeing about very early. They
spread the Berkville Morning argus Of
April l. 18SO-which they had slipped
out of Uncle Budgets file the day before
out on the floor, sprinkled some water
over it, folded it carefully, and Karl
went quietly down stairs, opened the
side door, laid the paper there, and took
up stairs the argus that the carrier had
just thrown. @t
About an hour afterward the break
fast-bell rang, and the boys went down
stairs. There lay the paper by Uncle
Budgets place, which caused SO prefer
naturally solemn an expression to come
over their faces that Aunt Bulge was
quite worried. 49,. =
''Now, l hope you're not getting
homesick," she said to Karl; 81 know
there's not much goin' on for you, rs is
used to large family and a good deal
of noise; still more cheerful tone
well think of something after I've
done up my work. ~ : ftf. f" .''l
An amused smile played about Kicks
Ups, to hide which he leaned his head
on his hand. ..... ....., ....,
your toothache ain come on again,
Richard?'' inquired Aunt Bulge, sym
pathetically. 4 r "
"Oh, I'm all right" said one, while
the other assured Aunt Bulge that he
didn't want to 60 home a bit, and was
having the best sort of time.
"Uncle Bulge has gone over to Will
son's," said aunt Bulge, '.but may be
in any minute. He left word not to
wait breakfast. Can you reach the
argus, Karl?''
'Well, WE'LL" began Aunt Bulge, s'if
another of those Wilkinses isn't mar
RED! Amanda j. WHY, now, l was
thinking that Amanda went last year;
but no. come to think, it was Alvira. 1t
does seem that just as regular as spring
comes round, off one on 'em goes. Now
Amanda is -" t
But Aunt Budge's dissertation was
cut short by choking scene, in which
Rick pounded his brother with such
force on the back that it was a wonder
they heard the front door open at all.
There's Uncle Bulge" said Rick,
hurriedly. s'Don't tell him anything
you've noticed in the Argus, Aunt
Bulge, or he'll suspect"
s.Suspectn' echoed Aunt Bulge, her
mind still on the Wilkinses. ''Suspect!'
ssSh--sh!'' implored. Karl. Its a
fool, Aunt Bulge. Help us to carry it
out. Last year $ paper-don't you see?''
swell, we'll, l declared said Aunt
Bulge, as the real state of the case
flashed over her '.Then," collecting
her thou hts, 81 was right about its
being Amanda, and But Aunt Bulge
interrupted herself by laughing so
he srtily that the boys found themselves
compelled to join her, though it APP
pea ed from the conversation, when
Uncle Bulge came to breakfast, that
Aunt Bulge had been recounting some
of the boys pranks of years before.
..How old was them" asked Karl
81 muslin forget to ask mamma, when
get home, if she remembers it."
Uncle Bulge seated himself, and
asked for the paper. Sguinted at the
date as Karl held it toward him, and
then siid: II believe I'd rather have a
little younger paper than that. This
comes within one of it boys, but guess
I'll take the one on the eighty"
''Well, now" exclaimed Aunt Bulge,
admiringly. '.And he never SO much
as took it in his hand.'
'We can't fool Uncle Bulge" said
Karl, uttering each word slowly. 'fThat
may as well pass into a proverb. 1t can
not be done.''
'.l'm not so sure. We're not through
trying yet, you know put in Rick,
with peculiar look at his brother.
Karl motioned him aside after break
fast. -- a
What did you mean?" he asked.
THAT I've an idea. just isten;"
and great many questions and an
swers were exchanged in a hurried un-
dertone.
'Grand-if it will work. Then we |
must be all ready by the time he comes
down stairs?'
"Yes. and before that send a tele-
gram to the boys"
1.-The boys" meant Hal and Jack
Putnam; "a telegram" note pinned
to the string that went round a wooden
peg at one of the Budget windows,