The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-08-30

went 10 iHe ydIu WueTe the WORK was
going on. That gave Luff chance
to forget his fathers parting charge
to him and to prepare another trick
for Little Brother.
Miltl Milti" he called. HThey're
waiting for you"
As Milt knew that he was expect
ed TO help Luff draw Walt and Russ
up out of the well, he reluctantly
left the kitchen corner and his book
and went out in answer to the call.
Luff stood amid the rubbish at
the edge of the well leaning on the
windlass and looking down. Mil
ton, as he drew nigh. could hear the
steady click, click of the sledge and
drill below.
de walked carefully around to the
opposite side of the well from Luff,
and looking III, saw Russ and Walt
still at work, with no appearance of
stopping.
''You told me they were waiting"
he said. "They are not half ready
yet"
"Yes, they are, replied Luff, with
a sober look on his red, chubby
face. They are going to tamp now.
and they want the fuse Run and
fetch it.
Where is it, Milton asked.
"Why, under that board there;
don't you know. Hurry"
Little Brother did not ask why
Luff could not have got the fuse, in
stead of calling him from the house
before even the tamping was begun;
nor did he expect trick. He ran
to the board, lifted ii with one hand,
hastily put the other on something
coiled up there, and started back
with shrek of horror
Luff' roared with laughter, leaning
on the windlass, which fairly shook
with his weight.
"Why don't you bring the fuse.
Milt?" hecried, checking with mirth.
whats the matter with the fuse?"
Its snake. You knew it was
snake" gasped poor Little Brother,
still shuddering from the shock
| The fuse ain'ta snake" said Luff
The fuse is there, too | didn't
mean for you to get the snake"
But YOU knew would see it, and
! it's a mean disgusting trick, Milton
protested, Indignantly.
"Of course | knew you would see
it, said |. But it won't hurt you.
It's dead"
81 know il won't hurt me. 1t
wouldn't hurt melt it wasn't dead"
cried Little Brother, his ewes flash
ing as his mothers could sometimes
fash. But ] dread the sight of a |
snake. dead or alive; you know it. |
and that's what you sent me to the |
board for"
II sent you there to cure you of
being such a coward" said Luff, !
still laughing, but not so heartily as
at first.
IN, you didn't" Milton declared.
"You wanted to have some low,
silly, hateful sport; that's what YOU
did it for. You didn't think any,
thing about curing me of being a
coward. You know, though. | don't |
like some things YOU do, and which |
I'm glad / don't like,-fun with dead |
snakes, for instance-you know I'm
no more a coward than you are"
The bows color had come back
into his cheeks, his voice rang out
with spirit, and his blue eyes spar
kled as be told his brother this |
truth
you re careful to keep out of my
reach when you say that" said Lufi.
That shows you're co ward"
1T shows that | don't like you
and your ways; that's what it
shows" replied the boy. "If
don't ike a certain thing | can't
help it; whether its dead snake or
a big brother"
"0hi" Luff sneered. trying not to
show that he was cut by this sharp
retort.
81 could go and take hold of that
snake if it was necessary; should
not ike TO, but | could do it. | /
could hug YOU, too, if it would do
either OF us any good. But | don't
see that it will, and so Id rather
have nothing TO do with either of
you
Milton did, however, walk reso-
lutely mp TO the board, take the in
nocent little reptile on stick, and
fling it away out of the yard.
Luff did not often see him show
so much spirit, vet he should have
learned before this that the delicate
and sensitive boy could do the most
disagreeable things with unfiinch-
ing resolution If. as he said, ii was
necessary.
Luff actually repented what he
had provoked him to say, and be-
gan to think of some other trick to
play off upon Little Brother As he
could not at once invent new one,
however, he resolved 10 try an old
one again. 4
Milton did not like to be held over
the brink of the well. He had also
a great dread OF the sound OF the
blast. and would always, when it
was fired. hold his ears and run from
il as far as possible.
"I'll catch him and hold him al
ter the fuse is lighted, thought
Luff. That will give him a good
scare"
He said nothing. however. until
the blast had been charged and
tamped. and Russ and Walt were
ready to come up out of the well.
Give me turn herenow, Milt, =
said Lufi, soberly. NO more fool
ing"
at viii do for you to say no more
fooling,n Milton replied. slowly ap-
proaching the windlass. Its you i
that do it ALL" 4
swell. fun is fun, and work is
work" said Luff. Now it's works
turn. Catch hold here"
Little Brother laid hold of the
spokes on one side of the windlass
ond lifted. Luff pulled down on
the other side. The strong rope
wound up on the roller, bringing the