The Worthington advance., 1900-12-14
cheeks we're bnlgng 6 they blew ssLa
Fiesta" march from their blaring

horns. @ !,sE n. z s
A the last strains died away loud
husky voice burst upon them:
Darn my skin If that ain't real good,
boys! That's the genooine article,
sure's you're born. 2
Looking around, the musician saw :
short; stubby man leaning over the
gate. He wore fur cap and q blanket
coat. (. / q; z i|5
That's the fust music I've heerd fur
years, boys" heSsaid. ..I'm Bill5Spelt.
I've Jest got back from Alasky. made
my pile and dug out fur Frisco. This
music makes me feel real good. Give
us another tune, boys" b
The leader looked at the house. A
light was bobbing about like a will-o'-
the-wisp from window to window, but
no one. came out.
Presently the martial strains of q
popular march Jared the window
panes. @@@
"Bully, boys!" circulated Bi.lspelt,
as the brazen notes ceased. That's
meat and drink and 40-rod whisky, all
in one. Boys,'I see a saloon down the
street, and" -
But az tAnt moment the front door
opened aud Mr.. Wrinkle came out with
a lamp in his hand. Mrs. Wrinkles dim
form appeared behind him. He epeered
to the right and left like hen in the
| dark. 1ss
"Gentlemen," he began, tremu.ously,
II do not know to what We are indebt-
ed for this great honor. You have made
mistake, haven't you?"
mo mistake at all, SIR" replied the
leader, with a. snicker. "That is COL,
amt it? It's all right"
'"Will you come in, gentle said
Mr.. Wrinkle, with despairing politeness.
"We're hardly situated so as to enter
tain you as we would wish, but you're
welcome, l assure you-very welcome"
Just then small, shrin wall foated
out upon the still air.
20, my goodness! They've walked the
baby!" exclaimed Mrs. Wrinkle, and she
vanished ike smoke.
''Thunder!" cried the leader, aghast.
"Never mind, gentlemen" said Mr..
Winkle, with untiring courtesy. "It's
not our baby, you know. Some one
abandoned it on our doorstep this very
evening. A very singular thing
''Trot him out!" burst out Bill Spelt.
stepping forward. II hain't hardly
seen kid fur years, pardner. I've been
up on the Yukon diggin' gold, and I jest
got back. It was tough, pardner. But
1 was a7scoopin' in the nuggets jest the
same. Can't I see the kid, pardner?'
"Certainly, FRIEND" replied Mr.. Win
kle. "Come in. AL come, in, gentle
men,"
''Well, we've walked up the baby, and
I guess We can't do much more dam
age" said the leader. -.
So they all went in and stood around
amongst the wreckage in the big par
lor, and Mrs. Wrinkle brought in the
baby, who blinked at the light and
stretched out it's little arms toward the
shining brass horns.
Darn my skin!" roared Bill Spelt, in
high delight, as the baby's tiny hand
clutched his big rough fingers. ''See the
little toad! There's the maxim of a
miner, boys. He kin almost handle
pick already. I've got something here
fur the kid.''
He thrust hand deep in his pocket
and pulled out heavy buckskin bag,
from which he poured handful of gold
nuggets. Selecting ha.f dozen of the
largest he gave them to Mr. Wrinkle. ''
Keep 'em fur the little. fe Her." he
said. Its little present fur him.
And now I guess we'd better go. Me
and my friends here has got little
business to attend to down the street."
I'VE are greatly obliged for this
pleasant CALL" said Mr., Wrinkle, some
what hazily.
II see. twas surprise to you, SIR
said. the leader. "But joke is joke.
I thought the young fellow was here,
but s'pose he'll be around tomorrow
and explain it al and have the laugh
on YOU"
"Who?" asked Mr.. Wrinkle, hopeless
ly puzzled.
"Why, the young fellow that hired
u.s."
Mr.. Wrinkle said no more. It was too
much for his troubled brain. Bill Spe.t.
Shafto and the band filed out. In the
yard they halted and played ''Peek-a-
Boo" Then they all went down the
street to the saloon where Bill Spelt
threw twenty at the bartender "for
a starter" as he said.
Meanwhile several blocks down the
street a well-dressed young man was
impatiently waiting at the gate of a
residence set in beautiful grounds. Be-
side him stood man with bass drum
and cymba.s.
"What has got the rest of the band ?'
exclaimed, the young man, in a sup
pressed but angry voice. a.. =
II don't know, sir" replied Potts. Il
was working in Oakland, and our lead
er wrote to me to come, and sent me
the number where to meet 'em. He's a
terrible careless feller, but don't see
how there could be any mistake"
An hour passed.. No band appeared,
and the young man was fairly dancing
with impatience and rage. -.
''I'E thrash that idiot of a lead err he
burst out. ITO play me q trick like
this, when he knows it's a serenade.
tool" ~a-..s ...-, g.. -. d..
just then another young man came
up the street, quietly slipped in the
gate and stole around the walks under
one of the side windows. He carried a
guitar in his hand. The first young
man almost foamed. with indignation.
That's Jim Barker" he growled.
''He's going to serenade her. Thinks
he can sing, the. conceited puppyI
Come on. I'll fix him!' rsE .I5s5. ID /