The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-01-22
"Shorty' Loves
IN the Professor. ~
Observation-Disclosures
BY ROBERT F. GIBSON.


!. Ghool. For this there are reasons,
Nhich will relate.
~ The professor and Shorty are ILL
hated physically. Mr.. Berry, although
I've feet ten. inches in height, weighs
Aess than 12O pounds. He is delicate,
and his, voice is high-pitched, but he
ShAs q firm mouth and any amount of
lsssand." Still, he was rather looked
down on by the boys because Of his
physical insignificance until the day
came when he proved Shorty and
4 Short proved him.
The professor is only Is years OF
age. The boys at the school range
5aIl the way from - to %. as it is a
i preparatory school for college.
Shorty Clough is IS and only five feet
three inches in height. His real name
4 ID Charles. What he lacks in height
B he makes up in breadth. There are all
1 sorts of stories about his strength
and the feats he has performed.
IN, Shorty is rather slow of mind, al
though not stupid. If allowed sufficient
time he can imbibe and retain as much
knowledge as any of his quicker class
mates. The professor would early
have learned this if Shorty had not de-
Iliberately misled him. Shorty was
proud and he wished the professor to
think him lazy and negligent rather
than SLOW Besides, Shorty took boy
lsh pride in his strength, and chafed
at the thought that any one SO frail as
fhe professor should be in control of
him So they did not get along well
together at first.
H was the custom of Prof. Berry to
take the boys off on expeditions into
4 the country sometimes on Saturday,
ff 1t did not interfere with athletics
expeditions for the purpose OF studying
the geology and mineralogy Of the sur
4 sounding country. So when We learned
that cave had been discovered in a
wood some Is miles to the northwest
we were sure the professor would take
us to visit it, especially as rumor told
W0ndrous things of the. cave-for in
stance. that it went straight down into
. earth and had no bottom!
Dine Saturday soon after we set out
sA1 large wagon, having with us
hong. strong rope, lot of cord, an ak.
\ some tools, a lantern and plenty of
Il luncheon. There were eight boys with
the professor. Shorty was one of us,
D and all had gladly volunteered for the
day.
5s We arrived about ten O'Clock at the
EARN on which the cave was said to be,
u and the farmer told us we could do
anything we pleased in the cave. He
took no interest in it. What was it,
\ anyhow, but hole in the ground?
We found the entrance on hillside
u In thick woods. els that all it is?"
said one boy, as we gathered round an
II Opening in the ground almost circular
h and about eight feet in diameter.
ST There were three trees close to the
y edge, and the trunk of, one ON the
HOVER side leaned out somewhat over
n the opening. We gazed dcwn, but had
bsnot light enough to see anything be-
B low, as the trees met overhead, and
there was no direct light from the sky.
One of the boys began to let the rope
III down. "We'l see how deep it is" he
4said.
"You can't tell that Way!" exclaimed
Il Shorty. without weight on your
rope how will you know when 1t strikes
bottom? Besides, you ought to tie the
sEope TO- something first. Suppose it
d should. slip and drop I'M"
Shorty took the rope and tied it firm
~ to- the trunk of the small overhang-
= Ing tree: then he tied the ak to the
sSOther end and let it down. When
about Is feet had been dealt out the
* struck something and rested.
sssa Sits not deep at ALL" Shorty said.
sss'No, I'm wrong" he added, hastily, as
4 he jerked the rope and found the ak
ssdropping lower. THAT must be a
q ledge"
eyes, can see it now" said boy
B who was lying down peering over the
edge.
How. much rope have you let out?''
asked the professor, who had been ar
ranging his lantern, and notebook and
IS tools. Z:
asS s1''.About 60 feet, + think, sir. All, now
" II stops" exclaimed Shorty.
sss es.Well. tie string around the rope
where you are holding it and then draw
II t up, and we can measure it," directed
IS Us the professor.
Shorty did so, and the lower ten feet
sssok the 60 let down were wet!
III s| well, that doesn't look very prom
Il 1aing, boys" said the professor. LET
|sn1 lower light and get view of the
n ades. There may be o6-sho0ts or per-
Aps large openings"
The lantern was let down, but very
haf11s could be distinctly made out.
n .Professor;" said Shorty. ''let me 60
oRn On the rope and see what's there.
DE Of the boys can lower the lantern
- q eord."
~ suppose it is safe enough and you
E|sertainly are strong enough to come
S$lp again. Well, try it"
The rope was fastened more firmly
eslb0 the overhanging tree trunk, which