Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-12-01

as | watched them, by some unknown
| signal. they turned and started with one
| impulse back as they had come. heads
| down and tails up-not nearly SO tcrrify-
ing sight now that they were going
away as fast as they could run.
was naturally uncomfortable. but
didn't know just how TO improve my
| situation ut once.
! Why didn't / make fire and dry my
( self | have heard Of burning sand.
/ They have il in Africa, nut this wasn't
that kind. My teeth chartered little
accompaniment to the tenor of my
! thoughts. aud the water drippCd off my
garments and made a puddle around my
! feet. So that | had to move Mt intervals
to Keep from getting any wetter. while
Chesapeake stood idly by. writing for
something 10 turn up-the blackboard,
! probahly-and wondering if it wasn't al
most time for lunch-and pie.
This Is Thanksgiving" said to my
equine companion, as | spat some sand
out of my mouth. Turkey: cranberry
sauce Not for Your Uncle Smier this
year Chesapeake, Wen 80 on; and the
hrst house We come 10, even be it II one
room dng0ut. there we will spend the
rest of our Thanksgiving. and go back to
camp tomorrow My dinner will consist
of sour bread and fat pork with the hris.
Ties on; yours will be wet straw
After this melancholy homily driving
hcstilitdkt anu the front WnneIS before
me, and postponing the rescung of my
| belongings until some more favorable
time ! started across the sand and nm
the low bank: as | reached the summit |
eagerly. east my eyes abcut for the ex-
pected dugout.
What was that I saw mile or 50
away! One, two, three windmills rising
out of what looked like a city i'm the
earlier stages of its growth There
seemed to be barns and houses and sheds
and cOrrals enough for all the people and
all the cattle in the county | cogitotcd
moment: then mn idea--a pleasant idea
struck me. and | directed my course
toward the ncwly-dscovcrcd goal.
This. | said. by way of explanation TO
Chesapeake. lis Birchs ranch that we
hear 50 much about. We're right in one
at his pastures now. and | didn't have
sense enough to know it, This was ev-
identity satisfactory to Chesapeake. for
ne pricked up his ears and moved ON nj
a good gait Perhaps he Smeled pie.
Birch was indeed well-known namc
IN that part of the country. His ranch.
til" largest anywhere around, embraced
thousands of acres of fertile prairie, over
which wandered myriads of cattle. His
beautiful residence in HAYS | had fro
qucntly seen. and had heard the wild
est accounts of the elegance of his ru.al
home
We shall see" thought I. whether ar
circle. | don't suppose | do look very
inviting"
| tied my long-sufferinG quadruped 10 4
fence post and, with joy in my heart and
icewater in my boots, passed IN the walk
To the largest of the houSes-a big.
square butf-colored structure. with broad
piazZas which at another season might
have been described as inviting.
Please tell Mr.. Birch | would like 10
see him, | said to the housemaid. who
answered my vigorous ring at the bell.
Walk IN, sir. was the response, and
| was conducted INTO little office or re-
ception room where blazed a cheerful fire
It certainly did feel good to get close 10
that hire. took off the rest Of my
gloves. and. untying my scarf. removed
my hat. / unbuttoned my coats and M
lowed the grateful warmth TO penetrate
the rest OF my garments, and yapor rs-
ing frcm The damp clothes made me lool,
like an emaciated cherub riding in
cloud.
\ door opened and Mr. Birch entered
y short. thick-Set man he was. with a
sun-tapned face. little gray mustacbe.
and small, tHinkling eyes. He shook my
nand with 4 heartlneSS that made me
feel al home Immediately. and as soon rs
he discovered how wet and cold | was.
a room. gallons of hot water and whole
layout Of dry clothes were at my disD0Sll
in jiffy
IT Is true. the clothes were from the
wardrobe Of Mr. Birch himself. who
measured eleven inches more around the
waist than | did, besides being a foot or
50 shorter. But what did I care fof
that: | put them on and went down ta
the parlor, whore the family were as
senbled. and the hearty reception thew
gave me made me feel quite happy. even
If my collar was Il aud my makeup
altogether ludicrous
Faithful old Chesapeake had 4 hcaninc
measure Of oats for his THANKSGIVING
dinner served in clean, warm stall.
No putting on airs now abont eating
them, either. for the days hard expert a
ence ha,i temporarily s0bered his wayT
ward spirit II his dessert was missing
he took it phiIosophically. / thought III
him when / was AT dinner. but couldn'h
muster the courage 80 ask Mrs. BirchV
for piece of pie for Chesapeake when
! had already eaten two myself Frank
Howard Scely in the Pathfinder.