The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-08-13


tion ends nj ilomr. Is :.as 80 &c 55511 80.
OF y0uf own state II you are ignorant
Of Beaver Beaver is that city Of Car
low county next In importance and
population 10 Piattyille."
Tom put bis head out Of the window.
II fancy yod are right" be said. II
already see five people there
Meredith had observed the change IN
his companions mood. He bad WATCHED
him closely all day, looking for re.
.::sa .:::s:a. OF his malady, but be came to the
conclusion that In truth a miracle had
been wrought, for the letbargy was
gone and ylgor seemed TO increase In
Harkiess with every turn of the wheels
that brought them nearer Plattvllle.
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
little excited. As he had said, there
were fve people visible at Beaver, and
ne wondered where they lived, as the
only building In sight was the station.
and to satisfy his curiosity be walked
out 70 the yestibule. The little station
stood In the woods, and brown leaves
whlrled along the platform. One Of the
Eve people was an old lady. and she en-
tered rear car The other four were
men. One Of them handed the con.
dnctor telegram. Meredith heard the
official say: "All right Decorate ahead.
I'll hold II five minutes"
The man sprang up the steps Of the
smoker and looked In. He turned to
Meredith. do you know II 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 SPELL"
"Yes. that's Mr.. Harkless."
The man jumped to the platform.
"All right. boys" he said. RIP her
QUIT"
The doors OF the freight room were
thrown open. and a big bundle OF col.
ored stuffs was dragged out and hastily
unf0lded. One OF the men ran to the
farther end Of the car with strip Of
red. white and blue bunting and tack
ed II 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. II was all done In trice.
Meredith's heart was beating fast.
"Whats II all aboutT he asked.
"Picnic down the line" answered the
man In charge, removing tack from
his mouth. He motioned to the con.
ductor, go ahead"'
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.
{ "What's the celebrationT' asked
HarkIess when Meredith returned.
"Picnic down the line" said Mere
dlth.
chipping weather for picnic. A bit
cool, don't you think? One Of those fell
lows looked like a friend Of mine.
Homer Tibbs, or as Homer might look
X he were In disgrace. He had his hat
hung on his eyes. and he slotched like
a thief In melodrama as he tackled up
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 yonder! See that houseg"
"Yes, John"
THAT'S the Bowlders'. You've got to
know the Bowlders."
"I'd like to-"
"The kindest people in the world.
The Briscoe house we can't see because
It's so shut in by trees, and, besides, it's
mile or so ahead OF us. Wen go out
there for supper tonight. Don't you
like Briscoe? He's the best they make.
Wen go uptown with Judd Bennett in
the omnibus, and you'll know how a
rapid fire machine gun sounds. ! want
to go straight to the Herald Office" he
finished, with a suddenly darkenang
-
brow. 49, - .-.s.A TSssSAs''
after all, there may be some ex-
PLANTATION" Meredith suggested with
little hesltancy. III. Flsbee might
turn out more honest than you think"
Harkless, threw his head back and
laughed. Honest! A man in the pay