Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-11-12
A SCIENTIFIC DEDUCTION
BY ALFRED o. ELDEN.

No; | do not think we intended tt
run away! 1t certainly was not pre-
meditated, but merely chain Of uncon
trollalble circumstances, at least, fol
two boys Of our age. However, you
shall judge for yourself.
was 10, and my brother Is years Of
age. Walters tastes were decidedly diff
ferent from mine. He was very quiet
by nature, caring but little for outdoor
sports and games dear to the heart oil
most boys. He was born scholar and
bookworm. A volume Of Dickens and q
comfortable chair were, to him, fal
more alluring than the hottest game OF
baseball that ever gladdened the heart
and distorted the fingers of Young
America.
For myself, was-well, just an ordi-
nary boy with, perhaps, more than the
average amount Of youthful schemes
The advent of circus in our little town
fully convinced me that nature had in
tended me for a trapeze performer, con-
sequently my dear mother, always my
confdante and sympathizer, had no
peace Of mind until a costume Of many
and wonderful colors was designed and
completed. She had natural talent
for realizing the wants Of boy. No
matter what manner Of garb was de-
sired, she was always equal to the emer-
gency, and many and startling were the
garments evolved from her resourceful
brain, TO meet the numerous demands
Of my youthful fancies.
My acrobatic ambitions were brought
to an abrupt termination by the trapcze
bar breaking while | was in the middle
Of wild gyration. dropped very sud-
denly, and also very forcibly, landing on
top Of my head on the hard floor, and
giving ME the impression that my era
mum must be driven in, entirely out Of
sight between my shoulders. ] think
it was nearly four weeks before I
could turn M neck without turning my
entire body.
1t was about a month after this cpl
sode, and the family cat had fully recov-
cred from the fit into which she had
been scared when struck, that l be-
came interested in pedestrianism. A
cousin from Boston came down for
two weeks vacaton from his studies,
and an opportunity to fill his lungs with
pure country air. He was big, strong
fellow, freshman in Harvard, and en-
thusiastic over all athletic sports, so
when | observed that every morning,
rain or shine, he invariably was out for
a two or three-mile constitutional, just
as an appetizer for his breakfast, he
said, it fired the spark OF my somewhat
abated athletic ambitions into fierce
flame again. II imitation is sincerest
fattery, my big cousin ought certainly
to have felt greatly hattered, for now
every morning found me pacing off
miles, and adding to my fund of already
vigorous health.
| had been endeavoring for a week
or more to enthuse some Of the benefits
to be derived from this morning spin
into my brother; and at last, by my
persistent efforts, one evening aroused
his interest enough to exact from him
\ promise to accompany Inc on the fol-
lowing morning, and II 1t proved agree
able, perhaps on every morning. II
lid not prove agreeable, as you will OBJ
serve.
He showed up, faithful to his promise,
bright and early, but absolutely re-
used to start without his breakfast.
There was nothing to do but wait for 1t,
ind it proved fortunate that we did so.
At last, about half-past seven, we
'ot under way, after casually mentior-
ng to our parents that we were going
or a walk
A pleasant course. and one which we
quickly agreed upon, was over what
vas known as the old hen-scratcher
Dad. Two miles along this route would
ring us to Cedar bridge, where the
Dad crossed small stream. Here we
damned to stop and rest a short while,
hen return, making a nice four-mile
aunt. Had these original plans been
arried out, all would have been well.
nut alas! who ever heard OF two boys
I our age doing things properly?
We reached Cedar bridge in good
larching order, but instead of return
ne as planned. we decided to keep on a
hort distance further, or far enough to
nable us to say we had walked five
lilies. Then some evil genius prompted
~ brother to suggest walking to East
ond, favorite resort fully six miles
eyond us.
| always thought that he planned on
living me all the walking wanted, re-
ing on the strength of his maturer
ye to carry him through. He failed to
,La into coneiderntion however that ,