Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1881-04-22

"
sEeither,' laughed the BOYS. mer.
AaApril-fool on Mr.. Budget
"And mustn't be missed" added
Hal. Jane. please tell us when Won
see Mr.. BUDGET come down street"
Jane went into the Kitchen, vhera
she hurriedly told the cook tha: NJ
Budget Jwould mobsbly .be coa1in,
down town soon. with "April-foolH
chalked ON his back.
..Ye don't name itr' cried the in
terestetl, i3ridyet "Oh. thin bye,I,
thin by e,,'' and she few after the A..
parting milkman with the news. omit
ting, however. the word "probably.n
But to return to AIR. Budget. Just
as he was putting on his coat, he heard
whispers of,
"He's going. Kari. as sure as I'm aliver'
"And hasn't noticed it. Well, that,
too good"
"He's looking in the glass now"
"Sh--sh. don make so much noise.
"He sees it, Pm sure, or he'd have
gone long ago.
"Sh-sh, can't your
Mr.. Budget heard it all. 81 believe
I've left my pocketbook," he said, half
aloud. rs he turned to go upstairs.
ats all up now" said Karl. vexedly.
Maybe not. Keep dark"
Couldn't very well do otherwise IN.
der these coats. Why doesn', he 90.
I'm smothering."
/ This decided Mr.. Budgett. Up he
went. and with Aunt Bulge hand glass
and the mirror took q complete survey.
Ibid you find it2'' called Aunt
Bulge, rs he came down again.
I Yes" from Uncle Bulge, who was
listening for more whispers.
wen open the window, and watch
him down the street, 4-, A
Ssh sh, How the Putnams will starer'
A suppressed giggle followed.
The shutting of the front door vas
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 it9'' cried Aunt Bulge,
putting on her glasses. "Oh. what red
faces. Did YOU get shut in?9''
We're foo,ing Uncle Budge," said
Rick, breathlessly. He promised Us
each gold piece if we could.' and he
dashed upstairs after Karl
They raised the windows cautiously.
but not too quietly for Uncle Bulge.
He heard but did not look up, though
he began 70 feel little i'll at ease: and
no less SO when the milkman, who was
dashing away from the Putnams', reined
in his horses very noticeably. nudged
the small boy on the side OF the wagon,
hot III Of
Mr.. Budget walked few steps, then
looked flrtively 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
wrong" decided Mr.. Budget: Though
/ didn't think those little raseals would
make spectacle of me. As / live,
their heads are out of the window yet
And look at the Putnamsr' he ex-
claimed, aloud.
Well might he stopin 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 audibll; Mr.. Putnam at
third, apparently consulting a ther-
mometer, but looking across at Mr.
Budget as though he possessed far
more interest for him than any degree
on the Indicator; and lastly. Jane and
Bridget on the side stoop, gazing as
though they were candidates for Bar
num- s.
Uncle Bulge turned abruptly and
went home.
Polly, what's the matter with me?"
he asked. walking into the dining room,
where Aunt Bulge was drying her cof-
fee-cups "All Berkville is agog."
''Berkville agogT' cried Aunt Budge,
NJ. Budget. critically.
..rm sure / don't know over what.
However, the boys are up to something,
for they said as much
'.Of course they are agreed Uncle
Bulge; '.but can't you take it off. Polly?
1t $ ON my back. I guess
Something aliveI'' screamed Aun.
Bulge. why don't you shake your
self. Jacob?''
Uncle Bulge laughed heartily.
.'It would be as WE'LL" advised Aunt
Bulge, Ito give 'em the gold at once,
for they'll play the trick. jacob. what
ever it is. on you till you do r
"Give them the goldr' exclaimed
Uncle Budge. wOnderinglv. "My dear
Polly. what do you mean?
''fhey say you promised 'em gold
piece last year if they'd come on and
fool you this"
II did9n with still more surprise IA
his voice-''I did? 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 toics-
'.rhe idea OF your daring to make agay
Of your old uncle!
I'VE haven't made a guy Of You.
said the boys, rushing down; ..and it
sn' ia mean fool at all. Uncle Bulge.
.or it's really nothing"
Nothins.'' echoed Aunt Bulge.
why is everybody staring. then?'
..Only the Putnams. they explained.
I'VE sent telegram to the boys
TELLING them WHAT" interrupted
Uncle Bulge. Not ali aboutit. hope?'
% No; merely to be ON the lockout
or you ....
You don't mean it,' ohitekled
Uncle Bulge; "and that that whole
amily is fooled from garret to' cellar,
included. Well. well. pretty
rood, pretty good. You deserve re-
yardl boys. for thers'll be fs~ tricks
'laye to-day that'll end as pleasantly
IS this. It's the right kind OF one. and
he more Of that sort the merrisr."
Beauties. amt theya' cried Aunt
3utge, admiringly, as the boys laid
heir gold pieces on the table where the
I'm came streaming ia. and called her
o. look at them. ....sG