Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-04-21

she, .hurriedly told the cook that Mr..
Budget would probably be coming
down town soon. with "April-fool ="
chalked on his back. ......,,
Ye don't name itr' cried the in
terested Bridget. "Oh. thin byesi
thin by esl''l and she Jew after the de-
parting milkman with the news, omit
ting, however. the word probably"
But to return to Mr.. Budget. Jus.
as he was putting on his coat. he heard
whispers OF, 49, t,,. -r,.u
..He'sgoing. Karl. as sure as I'm aliver'
i"And hasn't noticed it. Well. that
too gOod.'' 40 sosH i7fi t.'i i
Hes looking in the glass now" e,
"Sh7-sh!' don,t make SO much noise. )"
"He sees it. I'm sure. or he'd have
gone long ago" 49,. gs.-o..l .,ss4 -
Ssh sh! can't you?" a,
Mr.. Budget heard it all. al believe
I've left my pocketbook.'' he said. half
aloud, as he turned to 90 upstairs. ia
"It's all up now" said Karl, vexedly.
"Mayb be not. Keep dark"
"Couldn't very well do otherwise un-
der these coats. Why doesn't he go?
I'm smothering." .i G n''' 7"
This decided Mr.. Budget. Up he
went. and with Aunt Budgets hand
glass and the mirror took q complete
survey. 7.si. lo-l - @ A1ia 90 -i.
s.Did you find itP'' called Aunt
Bulge, as he came down again.
Yes" from Uncle Bulge, who was
listening for more whispers. 10
'.We'n open the window, and watch
him down the street." .....t
'Sh-sh! How the Putnams will
starer'
A suppressed giggle followed.
The shutting of the front door was a
signal for the boys to rush wildly out OF
the hall closet into the dining-room.
where Aunt Bulge was lowering over
the breakfast dishes.
"What is it?'' cried Aunt Bulge,
putting on her glasses. "Oh, what red
faces! Did YOU get shut imp
"We're foo!ing Uncle Budge," said
Rick, breathles sly. "He promised us
each gold piece if we could" and he
dashed upstairs after Karl. -se.
They raised the windows cautiously,
but not too quietly for. Uncle Bulge.
He heard but did not look up, though
he began to feel little i'll at ease; and
no less so when the milkman, who was
dashing away from the Putnams, refined
in his horses very noticeably, nudged
the small boy on the side OF the wagon,
and both looked curiously ut him.
MIR. Budget walked few steps, then
looked furtively behind him. Imagine
his feelings at discovering that the
milkman had stopped his horses, and
that the small boy was running quietly
after him, but stopped as he noticed
Mr.. Budget glance around.
''There certainly is something
decided Mr.. Budgett; ''though
l didn't think those little rascals would
make spectacle of me. As I live,
their heads are out of the window yet.
And look at the Putnamsr' he ex-
aloud s,t -,s..,.-.. .,
Well might he stop in surprise. There
was Mrs. Putnam standing in the libra
ry window, with Abby and Sarah on
tiptoe beside her; the two boys at the
large upper window poking each other
and giggling audibly; Mr.. Putnam at
third, apparently consulting Their
but looking across at Mr..
Budget as though he possessed far
more interest for him than anv degree
On the indicator; and lastly, Jane and
Bridget on the side stoop, gazing as
though they were candidates for Bar
NUNS. .rs..ptr
Uncle Bulge turned abruptly and
went home. u
"Polly, what's the matter with me?"
he asked, walking into the dining-room,
where Aunt Bulge was drying her cof-
fee-cups. IAN Berkville is agog."
'Berkville agog!' cried Aunt Bulge,
MIR. Budget. critically.
Ssr L
the boys are up to some thing,
for they said as much"
'Of course they are," agreed Uncle
Bulge; ''but can't you take it of, Pollyp
IT. on my back, guess"
Bulge. why don'r you shake your
self, jacob"
Uncle Bulge laughed heartily.
ut would be as WE'LL" advised Aunt
Bulge, ito give 'em the gold at once.
,or they'll play the trick, Jacob, what
ever it is, on you till you do"
"Give them tho goldr exclaimed
Uncle Bulge. wonderingly. my dear
Polly, what do you meanp"
"rhey say you promised 'em gold |
piece last year if they'd come on and
90. you this"
~ did?" with still more surprise in
MS voice-..I didp Pom my word I'd |
forgotten it. Well, well," producing
The purse that Polly had knitted for him |
years ago. "Where are the rascalsp'
Then going to the stairs, ''Rick and
Karl, come down here" he called,
with an affected sternness in his voice. |
'The idea of your daring to make a guy |
If your old uncle!' ..
1--WE haven't made a guy of you"
laid the boys, rushing down; '.and it
sn' mean fool at all, Uncle Bulge, |
or it's really nothing"
"Nothingr' echoed Aunt Bulge. |
- Why is everybody staring, then?"
"Only the Putnams," they ex-
blamed. 1--WE sent telegram to the
,oys-''
.Telling them what?" interrupted
Uncle Bulge. '.Not all aboutit. hope?"
"No; merely to be on the lookout
or you"
"You don't mean itr' chuckled
Uncle Bulge; "and that that whole
amily is fooled from garnet to cellar.
nilkman included. Well, we'll, pretty
rood, pretty good. You deserve q re-
g. ho foxw trsol,s