Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-02-18
the lock and turned. Grooming in pain,

bled into the haven of warmth. Dorey
and White fell prone upon the floor.
sect up!" screamed Maybe, kicking
at them and tearing at his coat with
fingers that had no feeling in them.
Get up! Strip your clothes! White, is
there any liquor in the house?"
There was a two-quart demijohn Of
old Kentucky in Denslow's steamer
trunk. White knew of it. He stumbled
UP the stairs in his cracking garments,
Mayne and Dorcy after him.
They broke the neck just above the
wicker. a soapless shaving mug poured
full was portioned among them in fiery
gulps. 1t was refilled ind quickly
emptied. They stripped themselves Of
their clothes, plunged into. bath
cold, to draw the frost-rubbed them
selves with alcohol and with toughest
towels until the pink of returning cir
culation began to show. The shaving
mugw filed again and drained. Blood
bounded along the limbs and stirred
pleasantly in the eXtremities, but it
| was pleasure that was much akin to
! pain. Their hands and feet and faces
burned like fire. Their speech was
thick. They were very happy.
The mug was quite joke now. 1t
was really very funny. They began to
tell each other how very funny it all
was. They did not feel like standing.
because the table and the chairs were
coming around in circles. So they sat
down on the floor in front of the fire.
place and rolled about and laughed and
joked in delightfully."- silly way, and
felt altogether very good and very
funny.
And just at this time the bell rang.
"Who-who d'you spo-sposh that
ish?" said Mayne, making vain effort
to get his legs under him.
"DonnosIcare," said Dorey. "Sid.
| down. Letum freeze outside. We're
no sanitarium.'
There was sound of footsteps and
voices in the hall. The footsteps came
TO the sliding doors Of the library.
at is some of the fellows" whis-
pered White. Lets be ersleep.'
"Come in or stay out, whichever you
pleased" shouted Wayne.
| Carmichael, Sanborn and Denslow
stepped into the room.
You are a nice lot of freshmen
grinned Denslow, surveying the three
culprits and taking note of the gen.
eral condition of the apartment.
| "Where did you fellows blow from?"
Mayne demanded.
1--WE came in for some ice-boating,"
said Carmichael. Have you got any
on hand?"
"Yezzir," said Maync, who seemed
fascinated by the fire. "Yezzir, we sa-
saved Peg Wellington FIN drownin'-
drownin' us; we're celebratin' the
event."
"Where is the Peg Woffington?" de-
manded Sanborn.
''Her runners is rustin'," the Colonel"
observed. Whereat the graceless young
eters laughed. Her runners is rustin',
an we're goin' out to put some lather
on 'em, by'n by"
Then the story of the escapade came
out, and by the time the tale was told
in all its glowing particularly the three
heroes of the adventure began to feel a
drowsy contentment. They readily fell
in with Carmichaers suggestion that
they retire and "rest up" for awhile;
and they made a grand rush for "Blom-
my's" big bed. Sanborn followed them.
do you know that your father is in
town, 'Colonel?" he asked. HE came
in from Washington this morning"
Mayne and Dorey chuclkled. The lat.
ter punched White in the ribs.
You'll catch it," he gurgled.
81 might just as well be at the bot
tom of the lake." Colonel groaned.
Gle will want to know about the Greek
polish"
'Give him some la-lather," MUIR
INJURED Dorey.
"What in time is he out here for?"
Colonel" asked
HE came on unexpectedly to hunt
up some evidence in the timber land
cases, and he said he would be too busy
over at the capitol to see you till to-
night. So don't fret. Have your
sleep, and you will be all right when he
| comes"
Senator White, contrary to eXpecta-
tions, appeared at the lodge on the
court at about two o'clock in the after
| hooh. A'aHDolu gave Hill INC WlOic
story, and, in company with the three
upper classmen, the old gentleman stole
up to the chamber to gaze on the Sleep
ing boy.
The senator stood very STILL and after
a silent moment he gave little sigh
that was all pride and tenderness. He
smiled, too, little sadly, and there was
moisture in his eyes. Sanborn, Denslow
and Carmichael understood. They, too,
smiled at the sleepers: and if they in
that moment wished, with tinge of
regret, that their own days of fresh
man foolishness were before and not
behind them, why that was surely their
privilege as upper classmen.
81 am going in to Milwaukee to-
night" the "Colonel's" father whis-
pered, "and then back to Washington.
Tell the boy that saw him, and give
him his fathers love. Thank God they
are not under the ice!"
Mayne stirred uneasily in his sleep