Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-27

the blood bounding with renewed life!
What boy, old or young, could resist the
witchery of all this? Certainly not these
old cronies.
"oh, say! This amt scrumptious ner
nuthin', | guess" said Joe as he filled
and lighted his pipe.
John was leaning over the bow with
ready spear. The boat. left to itself,
driftcd under an overhanging tree. and
as john raised his head to answer, he
received a blow which made him see
stars.
Nouch!" he roared. You blind ole
mud turtle, can't you see what you're
doin'?"
Don't holer er you won't ketch any
fish grinned Joe.
i Ding it all. Betty done it a purpose.
I've a notion t punch yer head.'
Better stay where y be. Mess y
want t git swatted overheard" and Joe
+ waved the paddle threateningly.
! TN git even, b jings!' growled
John.
Threatened folks lives long an
swered Joe complacently. You amt
tn on'y one tibet that trees bumped
| Amt Ell; who elSe?" Johns Curl
| csity mastered his anger for the mo-
ment.
| Seem it's you I'll tell. One day las
summer Wen you was cavortin' round
visitin'. a city Teller come UP here--a
kind of a dood he was-an' wanted T.
go fishin fer bullheads one night.
Thinks /, I'll hev some fun with him.
SO brung him down here when it was
dark good an plenty. He was settin'
In, no HOY no a N
got under tn tree boot owl let go, an
cricl1ity Christmas! say-that dood
jumped up in tn air, scared t. death
forty ways, hit thu tree. an squash he
went into tn water yellin' blue murder
fer tn p'lice."
Ibid he git wet?" asked John.
Huh, smarty!"
They had reached place now where
the spearing was good, and the catch
was one to brag over for a year.
Joe was happy and loquacious; but
John still meditated on vengeance.
Guess there's plum bushel on
EN-, said Joe gleefully.
Shouldn't wonder agreed John,
you go an git some baskets t carry
em in, while l unload
When Joe returned with the baskets,
utes, he found the fish piled up on the
bank: but John was not in sight.
Come on john he called, lets di-
vide EN- up"
There was no reply.
john" he called again. Where be
you?''
Still no answer.
A rabbit came out from the under
growth and watched him curiously. A
robin sang overhead and swallow
skinned the river. AS Joe followed the
latter with his eyes, he gave sudden
gasp. The boat lay by the landing, but
it was upside down, and Johns old
straw hat was floating in the water.
For moment Joe's heart stopped
beating. Then it gave mighty leap
that seemed to strange him.
He staggered down to the river bank,
calling huskily, John! John! joint"
But no voice made reply.
ooh. lordy lordy! He's fell in an is
droundin' there an I can't see him!''
How strange and far away his own
voice sounded Could it be? could it
be? Was he awake or dreaming? Was
that real sun whose slanting beams
turned the ripping river into molten
gold? And that noisy warbler in the
tree: could he sing while John was ly
ing here dead among the bushes? With
a frenzied cry Joe picked up a stone
and flung it at the bird, which flew
away with an angry scream.
Its all my doin's," walled Joe in an
agony of remorse and fear. If hadn't
coaxed him off spearin' he'd a ben
alive now. Err f I hadn't stopped fer
a drink O. that dum'd cider might a
got back afore it happened"
$50 you've ben guzzlin' cider, Ell? y
blame ole scallawag?"
joe whirled in his tracks There
stood John, hands in pockets, feet wide
apart, grinning joyously.
There are moments in which we live
years. There are times when speech
conveys no meaning. Joe was having
that experience. He gazed at John with
wide open mouth, utterly dazed.