Sunday Washington globe., 1902-02-09

a matchP
II always knew lazily drawled Bene-
dict as he turned over on his right side.
and lay in an easy position with his elbow
resting upon the grass and ,his handsome
head supported by his open hand; that the
Cap'n had heart of adamant Charlie just
see how contented he sits there while we
two unfortunate youths are left to satisfy
our ravenous appetite with two paltry sand
wichcs and not a cent in our pockets,
thanks to the rapid time we had at Fred
erick last night, and with no expectation of
any either, until we come TO the post.ofice
in the next town"
yet there he sits" answered Browne,
caring not straw as to whether we starve
or feast.
"Of course not. !" said Benedict, its moth
ing to him either way"
What yer 'spect me to dor" cried the
boy in vexed tone, kin help it1"
do nothing, sarcastically cried Browne,
but Just sit there aud watch US starve to
death"
AS have long since relinquished all
claim to that abnormality named Claude, "
began Benedict, ''it would be ridiculous in
me to leave what was once nay share 70 you
Cap'n, but my other possessions do JOY
fully bequeath to you in case my rapidly
increasing weakness should terminate ia
tally. No, no, don't tear yourself away"
said Benedict as Bolivar arose to his feet
evidently with that purpose in view
Where the DEVILS he gone" inquired
Browne, as the figure of the boy disap-
peared from view around the corner of the
road2
Don't know, l am sure, " yawned Bene-
dict, but in the meantime am going to
drink his health in one Of those bottles of
beer"
'I'1 60 you" gayly cried Browne, and
together the two started for the spring
We'll, here's to the Cap'n said Browne,
when he aud Gordon had returned to their
former resting place and were now seated
upon the ground, each with a cool bottle of
beer in his hand AS they raised the bottles
to their mouth to drink the toast the figure
of Bolivar hove in sight In one hand he
held a good-sze chicken, and with the
other he dexterously plucked the feathers
from the bird with a deftness that was GER
tainly not acquired the day previous
His pockets had peculiarly bulging ap-
| pearance also that served to further sur
round him in mystery. Paying not the
slightest attention to his amazed employers
Y he clambered into the wagon and took
I therefrom a couple Of pans and a knife,
and with these implements he proceeded in
the direction Of the spring
We'll, how the deuce did he make the
raise, inquired Browne when he had suffi-
ciently recovered from his surprise.
" never" yawned Benedict was much
| of hand at solving riddles; as l advance in
age find my powers in this line growing
lamentably deficient, and / am very much
afraid that if 1 should tax my gray matter
with the present couundrum in question
there would in all probability be an absolute
and complete collapse; but it appears
Charlie, that we are to have chicken for
dinner2"
WELL" replied Browne, knocking the
ashes from out of his pipe, 81 don't care
how soon it's ready, although I am COM
/ pletelY Aabbergasted as TO where and
how the Cap'n got it'"
At this moment Bolivar appeared with
the chicken already cut into parts for fry
/ ing. In another pan he had several large
| potatoes. Depositing these pans upon the
| ground he quickly collected together a
suitable supply of firewood, and with the
aid of several large smooth stones, he con-
structed a iude but serviceable out of door
oven.
When the FIRE had begun to burn brightly
the boy melted some butter in the pan in
which he had the chicken, and then hold
ing this pan over the ERE, he began to dex-
terously fry the chicken with the skill of
an old time cook. The potatoes he placed
in bed of red-hot ashes, which kept con-
tinuously dropping down from the oven
above. The aroma of the sizzling chicken,
ra,,f go froe he .,.I
the quiet professional manner in which
Bolivar handled himself completely
charmed the two men as they lay back upon
the grass, and wondered greatly at the
scene going on before their eyes
When he had fried the last of the chicken
and had raked the well-cooked potatoes
from their bed of ashes Bolivar set them on
the white cloth that was spread out upon
the ground, and then going to the spring
he returned with the four bottles of cool
and eifervescent beer Sitting these down
upon the ground he fell back a little way
and gruffly announced that things was
ready"
| All, and such meal it was; the crisp
Drowned chicken, the potatoes done to
turn, with their favor greatly added to by
the manner in which they had been cooked !;
the large generous slices of home-baked
bread which had enveloped the sandwiches
and last but by no means least, that cool
exhilarating beer. Could the greatest cpl
cure ask more? think not. The beauty
of the scenery, the agreeable quietude, and
the novelty of tle gypsy like entertainment
served to further increase the already raw.
enous appetites of the two men and the boy,
Far away could be heard the lowing Of
the feeding cattle. In another direction
the yodling cries of some happy farmers
lad OH his way 10 his MONDAY meal, while
in the dense forest behind the songs of its
beautiful feathery inhabitants issued forth
in one grand sweet concord Of sublime mel.
ody. The sum- that glorious beacon of
comfort to all souls oppressed, beamed
down upon the little party under the trees,
and all the world seemed to be at peace
Yet far away on the busy marts of great
cities, Gods poor exhaused creatures we're
dropping by the wayside by the tens, by
the hundreds, aye by the thousands; a
sacrifice to the wicked Vaccinations of
their brother men.
Do you know Benedict" said Browne.
pausing for moment in his furious on
slaughts upon the viands and poising large