The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-03

how many YOU git counted while I'm tn-
der, " and, putting his haifds together with
a whoop and a Splash, Uncle Joe disap-
peared from view.
Uncle Billy watched the spot and began
zone, two. three. four, FIVE. SKI"
"Twenty-one, twentyIttwo-twenty-n nine
thrty!"
Forty
Then Uncto Billy became Interested He
kept on counting aloud in measured
voice-"Fift -ffty-five-sixty!'
When he reached sixty lie paused ~
we was pardners.' On he counted,
enty-nine-eig lty!' Now
lie was rislbly anxious. But then he
reflected, Joe used to be a good diver.
and so he kept on until he pronounced
One hundred!
Il He paused again-and then he recalled
how Joe once had stayed under, sixty
hundred and twenty-five. With renewed
confidence he began, "One hundred, one
hundred and one, one hundred and two
and he kept 1t up with unsteady voice
until he reached "One hundred and TWEEN
ty-five!"
That was tho limit. Joes record had
never gone beyond that. Could 1t be
that Joe had been seized with cramps
down there in the bottom of Sycamore
Hole? Surely not. for had he not seen
Joe wet his knees to keep away the
cramps? He could wait no longer.
Joe! Oh, Joe!'
No answer
X "Joc, you've stayed down long enough!
Come up!"
No Joe appeared on the surface in re-
Spouse to this adomition.
zoe. come up! Don't act the fool
You've already brolee Your record !!
But this did not seduce Uncle Joe from
the cool depths or the pool.
Joe, eff you don't come up m comm
in after you'll!
He would wait no longer Uncle Billy
swan out 10 the point where Uncle Joe
had gone down. With a finger in each
ear to keep out the water he dropped
down until his feet touched bottom sand
then worked his feet mere and there IN N
an endeavor to touch Uncle Joe. He
came up putting. without finding trace
OF him. Pausing only long enough TO
draw two full breaths he tried 1t again
He did not stay down SO long. and again
his quest was fruitlcss. Then. warned
By his falling strength. he swan for the
shore. where he lay on the warm SAND,
painting and almost exhausted.
But it would never do to waste time. II
help were only close by Joe's body might
be found IN time to resuscitiate 1t. Joe
dead! And he had coaLed Joe to go
swimming. Joe hadn't said a word about
it until he himself had suggested It.,
True, he had tried to get Joe to come out
before he took the last dive; but then,
Joe would not have peen III the Water out
for him
Uncle Billy sobbcd aloud In agony,
ooh. Joe, to think at i should coax you
to your death! oh. Joe. joel
Then he heard the rattle OF a wagon on
the road, thirty rods away. and made Il
remember that his clothing was on the
river bank He lesitated. 1t might be
a woman And with a sense of shame
that made his whole body red. uncle
Billy ran back 10 the river. grabbed his
shirt and began to pull it on with tremb-
ling hands.
While his arms were extended upward
in a vain and desperate attempt TO forco
them into the twisted sleeves, 'Spnt,"
handful of soft mud MT MN IN the sl'li'-
ach.
For three seconds he was utterly Devil
dercd Then the true inwardness OF the
disappearance Of Uncle Joe flashed across
his mind. Clawng his shirt from before
his eyes, he beheld Uncle Joe, squattcd
on the sycamore. calmly surveying MN.
There are times in life when poor, weak
emotions; when 1t even seems that the
vocabulary which accompanies the ''gft
OF tongues" might prove barren and un-
interesting II was such time for Uncle
Billy He looked at Cncle Joe hxedly.
and finally inquired:
Joseph, how long have you been
there"
We'll Billy, I've been here an here
abouts fer quite a SPELL
well Billy ef my memory don't fall
me, an guess 1t don't. I've been here
an hereabouts ever since you counted
ffteen!"
Uncle Billy walked into the water. wash
ed off the mud. waded out. and proceed
ed TO put on his shirt.
Coin to quit Jest when were begin
ming to have fun?'
Yes. am goin' 10 Quit Just when
we're beginning to have fun"
"Sho,' Billy. Don't git mad. That's
the way we used to do when We was
pardnersS'
YES, / am a-goin' TO quit! That's the
way used TO do when we was pardners'
We'll. IL you must go, you must, reck-
on" This In a tone OF resignation.
Here's keepsake to take with you,
Billy. In remembrance Of the OCCASION"
and he deXterously landed another hand
ful of mud. this time on Hily's legs.
- &
"Good-by, Billy! I'm goin' to swim
across an hack Jest once more 10 take the
chill off," and no began to paddle across
dog style.
Uncle Billy had recovered his wind but
not his temper, That last handful NJ
mud dssipated any kindly feelings to-
ward Uncle Joe, lie washed off the mud
again. slipped on his clothing, watched
! Uncle Joe calmly floating. on his back
/ for moment, and the desire to get even
oyerpowered him.
Hurr!edly ne filled Uncle Joe's shoes
with sand. tied his shirt sleeves togeth,
er In good hard knots, and proceeded TO
soak the knots Well In the edge OF the
pool. Then he tied knot In each lee OF
lie overalls, slipped stone In each Inn
provised bag. yelled. Joe, oh, joe Here's
little Keepsake to remember me by"
and flung them far out toward Uncle Joe,
They fell short With mighyt splash. float
| ed "a moment and then calmly sank 70