Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1895-07-04
the room


the door by this time.
Mr. .Joplin's tall form uprose suddenly
from his chair. He took few long steps
and placed his big hand on the lads shout
der.
'sHerer he said, fairly propelling the
little chap back into the room. Come
back hereV
"I,m not goin to the country tomor-
row the lad persisted ''Lemme go; I'm
busyi''
"Sit down therei' commanded Mr.. Jop-
lin.
Now. when Knucks had received the |
precious ticket emitting him to the coun-
try week he had flown homeward as fast |
as his crutch would carry him.
Little Jimmy Patton, the sun stricken
lad. lay on the brisk little cripple's bed.
He looked up weakly as his friend hoped
into the room.
"Ive got it, Jiml' Knucks cried eager
ly. 'I've got ticket for one, an you can
90 TO the country tomorrow"
you'll get well now, old mani cried
Knucks. "An, Jim, you jest remember
everything you do an see an hear fer ter
tell me.
The sick boy held out the ticket.
'Iain't goin, Knucky, he said. You
are INC OnC NAV tpb WIZ sAShN'f N' e-N~ -
gop'
Mr.. Hallett was keen questioner, and
n was not long till he had the whole story.
COURSE wouldn't listen to him., said
Knucks in telling it. But it's no use; he
saws | got the ticket an I've got to go on
it."
"well, why don't your said Mr.. Hallett.
"Megn The boys tone was defiant, but
he looked worried and troubled, more than
he would tell "Me go? Who'd take care
of him while His voice shook, and he
started TO hop from the room. Keep
your ticket, a" he jerked.
"Sit down there again." said Mr. Jop-
lin. Here, little Teller, both of you can
go TO the country
Knucks had sat down, and now for
moment he stared at the man in the pep
per and salt suit.
''There's only one ticket, he faltered
finally.
Hang ticketsl" cried Mr.. Joplin.
tYou fellers are goin with me. Tomor
rows the Fourth of July. I'll give pot
latch I-git along with you. Tell the
other little Teller that both of you are goin
to the country with me tomorrow. Say,
hold on. Any more sick boys you know OFF
Invite 'em alp
John" interrupted the secretary.
Invite em all, - said Mr.. Joplin, talk
| ing him down. you've got to have
crowd when you give a potlatch. Hold
on! Better let Mr.. Secretary do the invit-
in. But you and the other little chap be
on hand here at this office by sun up.
Don't forget !"
Knucks glanced at the secretary inquir-
ingly and got a reassuring nod. He flew
| 4. foe nc no eotIlH nnCSihlV
wholly unmindful of the heat, and told
the glorious news. Jim Immediately sat
up in bed declaring that he felt well.
. "But what's potlatchp" he asked pres
emily
II dunno" answered Knucks, "but it s
something good.
Next morning mob of children stood
collected at the door of the Fresh Air So
ciety before the sun rose. They were all
boys.
Such crowd of weaklings as they were
white faced skinny little fellows-but
every face ashine with eagerness
While Mr.. Hallett had been issuing the
invitations the giver of the potlatch had
been equally busy. He had strobe hither
and thither, made purchases and sent tele-
grams.
Presently all was ready. Across the
ferry they were bundled into the cars, and
a variety of boxes of all sizes were thrust
into the express car, and away they went
1t was still early in the forenoon wher
they reached their destination-a pretty
green powered country village that Mr.
Hallett had recommended-and there was
a brass band at the depot to meet them.
We're here, fellowsr' cried Mr.. Joplin
to his boys. This is the place. It's ou
in the open air, and todays the Fourth o
July. Yell all you want to. The bant
will now play"
The musicians headed the procession o
whoopling lads to pleasant grove jus
outside of town. The boys who couldn'
run walked, and those who couldn't wall
rode in a long wagon on top of the boxe
that had come from the city.
! AS they entered the grove little jim
who was riding on the seat beside tn
, driver, lifted his thin face to sniff tn
breeze that blew fresh and odorous from
, the trees
! "Smell the green, Knucks, he cried
, turning to his comrade who was perche
, on one of the boxes in the wagon. "Oh
: smell the greenl'
1.-THE first thing" said Mr.. Joplin's bi
voice, sis to eat. Some of us didn't hay
as much breakfast as we wanted, and met
by some of us didn't have any at all. >
|, eat now, fellers, and talk later on.
q All those urchins fell upon that Ion
table almost like as many ravenous wolves
And then in moment Jimmy whispere
4 something to Knucks, and Knucks hoppe
I. over to where Mr.. Hallett was and wills
pered to him:
: "Mebby we oughtn't to eat too much
sir. 1t costs lots of money, an perhar
Mr.. Joplin
d Mr.. Joplin is the owner of a great cat
s tie ranch out In Colorado, y answered MI
8 Hallett. HE can afford this"
t 1--WE didn't know, said Knucks. III
pepper an salt suit looks kinder-well, "
d I'VE didn't know. ="
h And when Mr. Hallett told the ma
from Colorado what Knucks had said Nj
l. Joplin laughed big, hearty Haw Haw
l. and then he looked himself over, and the
II he colored. and then he laughed again.
Z When they had all eaten and were fillet
IS Mr.. Joplin stood up at the head Of II
mighty breakfast table in his seedy pepp,
l. and salt, and he said rather awkwardly:
ir II asked Mr.. Hallett to make you
n speech, but he says I've got to do IL.