The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-08-12
Tim and I3ob'll never

there was prayer meeting ncIu In inc NTpssloWh
Methodist church, situated mile from Miss
Falhful's house.
Andy and Pop always went; not because
they liked it, but because Miss Faithful, who
was dcvout member OF the congregation
was afraid to leave them at nome, tor fear they
would burn down the house or commit some
other desperate decd OF "A like nature.
please let US stay home tonight" pleaded
Andy, as he sat with her at supper, while Pop
slowly polished the tins at the sink, averaging
"A rub every two or three minutes.
mo: don't ask H." WAS the decided reply.
II can't trust you. Like rs not you'd burn
the whole place down before ia got half TO
| Crosstown. Conc Pop, sit down and eat
while clear away the dishes, and then we'll
start. You both deserve II thrashlng for gong
| off his afternoon without leave and attending
meeting is small enough punishment, good
ness knows"
! The church was full. 1t had been previous
| Is announced that Deacon Ellis and Deacon
Snow, of Chenille, who were visiting Deacon
| Marley for Il few days, wOuld give their eXpe
rencc, and the attendance was consequently
very large, for these gentlemen were looked
urOn rs shining lights and great respect
was shown them. Miss Faithtu had invited
them both to "A late supper when meeting
should be over, and had on the way to church
| -
rs to their conduct on the forthcoming great
occasion.
| But neither of the eminent gentlemen had
arrived when Miss Faithful, little late, cu
tered the church with her two charges. Al
ready inquiries were being made about them,
and anxiety, mingled with disappointment
was visible on every coun,enanCe.
| Halt an hour passed, and still the dracon>
did not come And then Deacon Marley rose
slowly from his seat
MY friends" he SAID, Il an unable to ac
count tor the extraordinary absence Of our
respected brothers They left my house a. five
o'clock with the intention Of taking walk
by the river, and, since they did not return to
tea, anticipated meeting them here, great,
| " fear some accident has betallen them"
Andy looked at Pop. Pop returned the look
The same idea presented itself to the minds of
10th. 1t was an idea that struck chill to the
very marrow IN their bones.
Aunt" whispered Audy to Miss Faithful,
I'm awful sick 10 my stomach, guess it was
that piece of cOcoanut pie ate. I've got to
go out. Can't Pop 90 with me?'
He looked so pale that Miss Faithful cred
tied his assertion of sudden ILLNESS, and nod
ded assent.
The boys went ont together, careful not to
glance as each other, tor tear of being suspect
ed of their completely IN the absence of the
deacOns
We've gone an done it now, shore 'nutf,"
whispered Pop, with shiver, when they were
once out of the church.
They set off tor the river with the speed OF
young deer. When within few yards OF it
they heard shouts for help.
Oats dem," said Pop. "Dey mus be pow
erful mad by dis time"
The deacons were, indeed, considerably out
OF temper, as well they might be, for they had
been wading around IN the shallow water near
the island for nearly three hours, shouting at
the top of their lungs for assistance
"Hullo" answered Andy. What d'you
WANT"
He asked the question by way of taking ev
cry precaution against suspicion, for, OF
course, he knew very well what they wanted
Some wicked bows stole our Clothes an
swered Deacon Snow, land we've been here
ever since haltpasl five. Whoever you are, III
give you dollar If you'll 90 to Deacon Mar
ley's, and tell him to send US something to put
on"
And III give you another dollar If you'll
hurry up" said Deacon Ellis
The boys were off like flash and returned
in a short time with all the necessary gar
ments, aud Deacon Marley following in their
wake.
Ii was too late for the deacons to attend
meeting; the congregation ha! dispersed. SO
they went at once to Miss Faithtul's, where,
over goodly supper, they recounted the story
of their wrongs
What made you think Of coming to the
r,ver" asked Deacon Ellis, as he patted Andy
on the head in "A benign manner
"Deacon Marley said you'd gone there to
walk" answered Andy, in very low tone,
"and we thought you might have failed in"
Good boys" said the deacon. You de
serve n holiday tomorrow for this
The boys did not appear very appreciative
To the praise lavished so freely upon them.
Miss Faithful made suspicious by sad expe-
rlence, detected embarrassment in their man
ners and guilt IN their faces \ horrible
thought seized her as she recollected their un.
explained absence of the afternoon She wait
Ell until the deacons had lighted their pipes,
and then excused herself for few minutes.
Going up stairs, she opened the door Of the
back attic Pops bed was empty. In the
front attic the condition of affairs was the
same; Andy's bed had not been disturbed.
Suspicion rpened into certainty at once. Miss
Faithful leaned from the window OF the back
attic, and looked down into the yard below.
Nothing was to be seen or heard. Gong soft
ly down the back stairs she opened the kitchen
door and went out All was still. Exercising
great caution in her movements, she made her
way toward the barn-yard, turned a corner of
the barn suddenly and almost fell over two
small boys, who, by the light of lantern,
were digging with an energy she had never
seen equalcd. The hole was already nearly
two feet deep. On the edge of It, awaiting
burial, lay a heap of clothes.
Perhaps it is as well to draw veil oyer the
scene that followed. Sufficient be it that both
the deaCOns were given a chance to exercise
their muscles on two small boys, and that the
bows In QUESTION took their meals standing"
for a week to come.
More than all, the story got out and was the
source of unmltgated delight to Tim Waters
and Bob Harris who, after all, had not gone
IN swimming on that fatal day, and who were
never weary of tauntinr the unhappy reveng-