The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-12-09
ELL.

ELI.
Under aboat, high and dry, at low tide, on
the beach, John Wood was seated in the sand,
sheltered from the sun in the boats shadow,
absorbed in the laying on Of verdigris. The
dull, worn color was rapidly giving place to q
per, which lay by, was taken up to remove the
last trace of barnacle.
1t was Woods boat, but he was not boat
man he painted cleverly, but he was not q
painter. He kept the brown store under the
elms OF the main street, now hot and still,
captivating the heart of an awkward farmers
boy, as she sold him q pair of striped sus-
penders.
As the church-clock struck the last of twelve
decided blows, three children came rushing
out of the house on the bank above the beach.
cottages, weather-worn without, but bright
and bountifully home-like within-with its
trim parlor, proud of cabinet organ; with its
front hall, now cooled by the light sea-breeze
drifting through the blind-door, where tall
clock issued its monotonOus call to siesta on
the rattan lounge: with its spare room, open
now, opposite the parlor, and now, toos draw
ing in the salt air through close-shut blinds,
in anticipation of the JOYFUL arrival this even
ing of Sister Sarah, with her little brood, from
the city.
The children scampered across the road, and
then the eldest hushed the others and sent
little brother ahead to steal, barefoot, along
the shining sea-weed to his father.
The plotted surprise appeared to succeed
completely. The painter was seized by the
ears from behind and cat tured.
"Guess who's here, or you can't get up"
said the infant captor.
'sIt's Napoleon Bonaparte; don't joggle,"
aoiH for hcfa
the water-line.
"No! MOI non' with shouts of laus Liter
from the whole attacking party.
''Then it's Captain Ezekiel!"
This excited great merriment: Captain Eze-
kiel was an aged, purblind man, who leaned on
q cane
After attempts to identify the invader
with the taX-collector come for taxes, then
with the elderly minister making pastoral
call with the formal schOol-master-the vic
tim reached over his shoulder, and, Selling the
assailant by a handful Of calico jacket, brought
him .eN around; squiir5mi,n,Eg, MI, before him.
verdigris.'
Great applause from the reserve force be-
hind.)
81 suppose mother sent you to say dinners
ready" said the father, rising and surveying
the green bottom of the boat. 81 must eat
quick, SO as to do the other side before half
And with a child on each shoulder, and the
third pushing him from behind with her head,
he marched toward the vine-cOvered kitchen,
where, between two opposite netted doors,
the table was trinity set.
'Father, you look like mermaid, with your
green hands," said his wife, laughing, as she
handed him the spirits of turpentine. "a
woman could paint that boat, in light dress,
and not get a spot on her,"
He smiled goOd-naturedly: he never spoke
much
81 guess Louise wont have much trade to-
day" said his wife, as they all sat down; ''it's
30 hot in the sun that everybody'n wait till
night. But she has her tatting-work to do,
and she's got book, too, that she wanted to
finish"
Her husband nodded and ate away.
80, can't We go up street and see her this
afternoon!" said one of the children.
''Who can that bes" said the mother, as an
elderly, Notwithstanding man stopped his
horse at the front gate and alighted The
man left the horse unchecked to browse by the
roadside and came to the door.
80. it's you, Captain Nourse," said Wood,
out his hand. 'sCome to summons me as
witness in something about the bank case, l
suppose. Let me introduce Captain Nourse,
Mary" he said. deputy Sheriff. Sit down,
Captain, and have some dinner with u.s."
"No, guess l won't SET" said the Captain.
81 cal'lated not to eat till got home, In the
middle o. the afternoon. No, III set down in
eye-shot of the mare and read the paper while
you eat"
81 hope they don't want me to testify any,
where to day." said Wood; ''because my boats
half verdigIis'd, and want to finish her this
afternoon"
'sNo testimony to-day" said the Captain.
'sHi! hill Kittyl" he called to them mare, as she
began to meander across the road; and he
went out to a tree by the front fence and sat
down on green bench, beside q workbasket
and half finished child's dress, and read the
country paper which he had taken from the
office as he came along.
and leaned on the fence by the Captain. His
wife stood just inside the door, looking out
ct them.
The shank case'' was the great sensation of
the town, and Wood was one OF the main wit
nessee, for he had been taking the place Of the
and riled, to the widespread distress Of de-
posters and stockholders and the ruin of Hon.
Edward Clark, the President. Wood had
locked the safe on the afternoon before the
eveutful night, and had carried home the key
with him, and he was to testify to the contents
81 guess they're glad they've got such .
witness as John,h said his wife to herself, as
she looked at him fondly, "and / guess they
think there wont be much doubt about what
he says"
swell, Captain" said Wood, loosely,
breaking spear of grass to bits in his fingers,
81 didn't know but you'd come to arrest me-"
The Captain calmly smiled Is only man can
smile who has been accosted with the same
humorous remark dozen times day for
twenty years. He folded his paper carefully,
put it in his pocket, took OF his spectacles and
put them in their silver case, took red silk
handkerchief from his hat, wiped his face and
put the handkerchief back. Then he said,
shortly:
"That's what haze come for"
Wood, still leaning on the fence, looked at
him and said nothing.
"That's just what I've come for, said Capt
ain Nourse. "I've got to arrest you; here's
the warrant" And he handed it to him.
"What does this meanr said Wood. 81
can't make head nor tail Of this"
"Wel," said the Captain, 1.-THE long and
short is, these high-t0ned detectives that
they've had down from town, seein' Is our own
force wasn't good enough, allow that the safe
VAS unlocked with key, IN due form, and