The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-05-06

~ by the elbow. OullnN. ne crleu,
! .'its Kim Fentriss. Look. Did you
see that old fellowT'
II saw particularly uninterested
and uninteresting gentleman sitting ON
a bag" replied his friend.
"Why. that's cid kimball Fentriss.
He's going TO town. lie lives On the
edge of the county"
Can this be true:" sail Meredith
gravely.
II wonder" said Iarkless thousht-
fully few moments latcr-"l wonder
why he had them changed AROUND"
"Who changed around:"
"The team. He always used 10 drive
the bay on the near side and the sor
rel ON the off,
"And ut present" rejoined Meredith
81 am to understand that lac is driving.
the sorrel ON the near side and the bay
| on the off:"
That's it." returned the other. ''He
| must have worked them like that FOL
some time. because they didn't look
uneasy. They're all right about the
train. those two. I've seen then stand
| with their heads almost against Il fast
freight. See there" He pointed TO n
white frame farmhouse with green
blinds. That's Win Hibbard's. We're
just outside of Beaver
Beaver: Elucidate Beaver. boy"
Beaver; Meredith. your informa-
| ton ends at home. What do you know
of your own state II you are ignorant
Of Beaver: Beaver is that city of Car
low county next in importance and
| population TO Plattvillc."
Tom put his head out of the window.
al fancy you are right" he said. 81
already see five people there"
Meredith had observed the change in
his companions mood. He had watched
him closely all day. looking for a re-
turn OF his malady. but he came to the
conclusion that in truth a miracle had
been wrought. for the lethargy was
| gone and vigor seemed to increase I'm
Harkless with every turn OF the wheels
| that brought them nearer Plattville.
| and the nearer they drew to Plattville
| the higher the spirits of both the young
men rose. Meredith knew what was
happening there, and he began to be a
little excited. As he had said, there
were five people visible at Beaver. and
he wondered where they lived, as the
| only building In sight was the station.
and to satisfy his curiosity he walked
out to the vestibule. The little station
stood in the woods, and brown leaves
whirled along the platform. One of the
five people was an old lady, and she eE-
tered rear car. The other four were
men. One of them handed the con-
ductor telegram. Meredith heard the
official say: "All right. Decorate ahead.
I'll hold it five minutes"
| The man sprang up the steps of the
smoker and looked in. He turned to
Meredith. do you know IL that gen.
tleman in the gray coat is Mr.. Hark-
less? He's got his back this way, and
don't want to go inside. The air in a
smoker always gives me a spell"
| "Yes, that's Mr.. Harkless."
| The man jumped to the platform.
"All right, boys" he said. RIP her
outr'
The doors of the freight room were
thrown open, and a big bundle of col
ored stuffs was dragged out and hastily
1 unfolded One of the men ran to the
| farther end of the car with a strip of
red, white and blue bunting and tack
ed 1t securely, while another fastened
the other extremity to the railing of
the steps by Meredith. The two COM
panions of this pair performed the
same operation with another strip on
the other side of the car. They ran
similar lines of bunting near the roof
from end to end, so that except for the
windows the sides OF the car were
completely covered by the national col
ors. Then they draped the vestibules
with flags. 1t was all done in trice.
Meredith's heart was beating fast.
whats il all about?' he asked.
"Picnic down the line" answered the
man in charge. removing tack from
his mouth. He motioned TO the con-
ductor. Go aheadr'
The wheels began TO move; the dec
orators remained on the station plat.
form. letting the train pass them, but
Meredith. craning his neck from the
steps. saw that they jumped on the
last car.
whats the celcbration?'' asked
Harklcss when Meredith returned.
"Picnic down the line" said Mere
dith.
"Nipping weather for picnic. a bii
cool. don't you think? One of those fel'
lows looked like a friend of mine
Homer Tibbs. or rs Homer might look
IL he were In disgrace. He had his hat
hung on his eyes. and he slouched like
thief in melodr;ima ns he tackled NJ
the bunting on this side of the car
He continued TO point out various
familiar places. finally breaking out
enthusiastically as they drew nearer
the town: Hello. Look there-beyond
the grove yondcr, See that houseT
ayes. John"
That's the Bowlders'. You've got t6
know the Bowlders."
I'D like to-
"The kindest people I'm the world
The Briscoe house we can't see because
it's so shut in by trees. and, besides, it'
n mile or so ahead of us. Well go ou
there for supper tonight. Don't yot
like BriScOe? He's the best they make
Wen go uptown with Judd Bennett IL
| lht pulhibuS. hhu you ~ hho" NJ"
rapid fire machine gun sounds. wan
TO 20 straight TO the Herald office" h
finished. with suddenly darkenini
, brow.
after all. there may be some ex
PLANTATION" Meredith suggested with |
| little hesitancy. II. Fisbee nigh
turn out more honest than you think"
HarklesS threw his head back ant
! laughed. Honest. 4 man in the pa!
, OF Rodney McCunc! Well, we can lie
> IL wait till we get there. Listen