Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-06-06
Gall 60 to the ball game on me-" Mr..

Gall 60 to the ball game on me-" Mr.
Methuselah repeated.
"Say it again, will your said Billy
Reynolds, with his hand behind his
ear
"All go to the ball game on me-" Mr.
Methuselah reiterated. 81 hope it's q
bargain" he added eagerly.
"Sure thing" said Ed Frost. "Never
3ssent any offense, you know. Names
Are all one to us. Quite as soon call
you Mr.. James as the other, Mr.
Meth-er-Nr. James, mean"
Thanks" with evident relief. "And
you'll join me at the gameT Mr..
Methuselah made his exit amid va
ried chorus of Certainly" "Of course"
with pleasure"
Billy Reynolds was down early next
morning lounging in the window, as
usual, with the morning paper. He
glanced over the upper edge and saw
Hardy come In.
Strikes me, George" said he, that
Methuselah was pretty lively for a
man just getting over rheumatic fe-
ver"
Appendicitis, you mean," Hardy
corrected.
"He told me himself 1t was rheumat-
&c fever" Billy protested.
"Well, he described the rlgors Of ap-
pendicitis very wildly to me-" said
Hardy.
Billy Reynolds gave low whistle
of surprise. 1.-THE old FOSSILS been
stringing u.s." said he. "and botching
II like an amateur too"
"Let's find out what he told the 9th
ers," said Hardy.
The following day was overcast, and
at closing time great sheets of rain
were rafting down. The paying teller
had just slipped into his overcoat when
he found q half dozen very solemn
faced young men before him.
1--WE are here" began Sam Paine rs
spokesman Of the group. ito state a
few facts as given out by yourself. Mr..
Methus-er-James, and to ask you to
reconcile them if you will" Paine
cleared his throat. and Mcthusclah
looking very much like an animal ut
bay, mumbled, "Go on"
at seems" Paine continued, that
while away recently you had serious
attack Of appendicitis, according TO
your statement to Mr.. Harvey. and at
the same time you had the misfortune
(this is what you told Billy Reynolds
to be laid up with rheumatic fever
Moreover, IL we are to take into con-
sideration statements made to Mr..
Frost and myself respectively, you suf-
fered the pangs OF heart failure and
were threatened with pneumonia of
the right lung. We want to congratu-
late you on a constitution which could
bring you safely through these compll-
cations. But, with all these ills your
flesh was heir to, you enjoyed i'm
mensely hunting trip in the Adiron-
dacks remember what you told Mr..
Clark, and, although you spent the en-
tire two weeks there (this next Is from
Mr.. Gray, it did not deter you from
passing most delightful fortnight at
Old Orchard. Pardon us II we question
how you managed"
At first Mr. Methuselah's face was
study Of wrath. Then his eyes roveG
about wildly, as if he were contemplate
ing fight. At the end of the speech he
leaned against the wall. white and
shaken.
Up no began. IT'S none of your
COMPOUNDED BUSINESS" lie blurted out
He turned on his heel and angrily
snatched the cover from his umbrella
AS he did so stream Of small white
kernels fell to the floor.
Rice, by Jovew some one gurgled. !
On one side Mr.. Methuselah and Oh the
other the group Of n half dozen stood |
staring stupidity at the white grains.
Ed Frost was the first to rise to the |
situation. He stepped forward, slipping |
his arm through Mr.. Methuselah's and |
as he led him away he told the boys |
over his shoulder that he knew n quiet |
place down the street.