The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-09-05


on. The wood, charred outside and
very dry, was hard and tough. AL
though it was a sunny day and his
eyes had adjusted their vision to the
dimness of his pit. he could hardly
see where to strike. He dared not
pry out large slivers. for if the edge
or handle of his Ratchet should break
he might never get out. His awkward
position and the one-hand work tired,
him rapidly, and he suffered OCCASION
al cramps.
During one of his frequent rests hs
heard Ban barking loudly outside.
Good dog! I'm coming!" he
When Tom did not appear for sup
per, Mrs. Cornwiler began to fret, but
not much, for he was often late. Aft
er supper, with no Tom to do the
chores, Mr.. Cornwiler grumbled, but
did them himself, saying:
Come, now, wife, the boy probably
has good excuse. hes pretty reg
ular, considering"
BY bedtime Mrs. Cornwiler was anx-
ious.
'l'm sure he's lying hurt some
where in the woods, fallen from a
tree; or maybe he's got lost"
"Pshaw, now, Edith! Tom couldn't
lose himself anywhere in this county
the darkest night that ever was; and
he doesn't know how to fall from a
tree. He'll be home all right pretty
soon. Likely he's hindered by some
thing he thinks important"
At ten o'clock Mrs. Cornwiler was
insistent and Cornwiler less confident.
He proposed to take the dog and
search.
Ban, being told to eco find Toni"
set off joyfully, wagging his tail. He
led Cornwiler straight to the charred
stub and barked, leaping against it.
Cornwiler looked the stub all over.
There were no signs of Tom. He
called, and fired his rifle. There was
no reply. He supposed the stub solid,
but thumped it. Unfortunately the
blow struck where the shell was thick
and where Tom had packed the debris
hardest inside. 1t sounded solid. Mr..
Cornwiler thought that Ban had fool
ish:y tracked a squirrel up it, or per-
haps coon mad been there and gone.
He dragged the dog away, ordering
him again to Find Toni" Ban in
stantly ran back to the stub and
whined and scratched, but Mr.. Corn
wiler pulled him away
Mr.. Cornwiler searched a long time,
but found no trace of Tom, and Ban
seemed puzzled and not much inter-
ested. After midnight Cornwiler be-
gan terribly anxious inquiry, rous-
ing neighbor after neighbor. No one
had any tidings. Mr.. Millwaite
dressed took his rifle and accompa-
MED Cornwiler. Mrs. Millwaite, not
withstanding her depreciation of
Tom, went to cheer and comfort his
mother all she could.
Millwaite suggested going first to
the charred stub. You know Toms
been there" he SAID, land it's the
right point to start from" As soon
as they arrived Ban began whining
and scratching about the stub. Corn
wiler sternly ordered him off, and the
poor dog, probably supposing it was
all right, reluctantly obeyed. Both
men believed the stub solid. and that
Tom had merely come and gone. The
news of the lost boy spread, and by
sunrise dozen men and boys were
securing the woods.
After getting breakfast and doing
the homework, Clara Millwaite, who
had been thinking, concluded that
Tom must, after all, be at or near the
charred stub. ga dog never mistakes
in such matters; men do" the sem
sible girl reasoned. She would go and
take look for herself.
"If Tom is there he'll be hungry
and thirsty" she thought, so she put
a generous breakfast and bottle of
new milk in bark basket.
Thinking Ban of no service, Corn
wiler left him at the house, and the
dog Immediately returned to the stub
and resumed his barking. Clara
heard him and hurried to reach the
spot and judge for herself of the
dogs behavior. She arrived just as
Tom drove a long silver through, and
put out his fingers for Ban to lick.
In few moments more he had the
aperture sufficiently enlarged for
Clara to pass in the bottle and slices
of food. Tom drank frst-a long,
thirsty pull. Then how he did eat!
with the appetite of a starved wolf
and the gratitude of a generous-mind-
ed boy. Clara bade him give her the
Ratchet, and while he ate she hacked
with the skill and strength of a pion-
eer girl. AS the wall was now pierced
they could chop the edges of the shell
and make faster progress. In half
an hour Tom was able to squeeze
through.
What an object he was! Bloody,
grimy and covered with rotten wood
from head to heels! Even his hair
was plastered with gore and dust.
Clara gathered leaves and helped him
clean it off as well as he could, but
it would require several severe scrub
baths and a weeks healing to make
him presentable.
While they walked home she rallied
him about his appearance, suggesting
that half the township, especially the