River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-08-30
ne to tell your folks to come

this way, sick as I've been. And III
blame it all on you, see ii don't. II
you go oft now; SO you'd better think
it over. Besides, tell you it won't do
me any harm, and 1 guess l know bet
tern you / ought to, anyhow. I'm
three years older"
81 tell you, Benny Atkins, won't be
responsible for the consequences. Why,
it's outrageous. Now we're goin' home
right Off"
'Well, good-by, If you really must be
goin'. I'm goin' round by the melon
patch, myself"
Speeches. with rage, Sam followed
Benny straight to the melon patch, as
Uncle Benny knew he would. Though
somewhat hampered by the comforta-
BILE, which Sam had pinned on in such
way that he could not unfasten it,
Uncle Benny managed to climb the rail
fence. After a short search, he secured
a luscious looking melon, and then sat
down on low rail pile to carve it With
his penknife, Sam meanwhile looking
on in silent indignation.
"Have piece, Sammy" Uncle Ben
ny asked cordially. my, but it's cold
and sweet! Beats Cruel all out and
out"
Sam did not deign to reply; but
though outwardly stony, inwardly he
was beginning to yield.
well, are you goin' to eat It all
yourself?" he asked at length, after
watching Benny as long as he could
stand it.
"Oh, why no. forgot you hadn't
any. Here's a good piece, or shall We
go steal another?"
your conscience for one night" replied
Sam severely, especially as you're
goin' to die SO soon anyhow"
"Oh, don't be too sure about me dy-
in. I'm pretty tough, and, anyhow, If
am, might as well go for sheep as
a lamb" he added irreverently. Say.
Sammy, just listen to the bugs a-hum-
min"
The melon fir shed, boy fashion, the
two old cronies still sat on the rail pile
listening to the murmur of the insects
and the sound of the night breezes in
the trees, and drinking in the beauty
of the moonlight falling around them.
"Sam," said old Benny, at last, this
is heaps better than the young fool
doctors sedative. could go to sleep
this minute right here on the rail pile.
Besides, it's the first time I've had any
thing to eat for weeks. Gives a fellow
such a satisfied feelin'. If I'm goin'
to die anyhow, I'm glad had this lark
first"
well, let's go home, now, Benny,
replied Sam, rising stiff1y. 81 can't help
but allow we've had fine night of it.
and if it don't hurt you, won't care.
1t must be gettin on to 'leven o'clock.
and we'd better be gettin' back
Benny was very docile now, and suf-
fered himself to be led home peaceably.
On the porch they removed their shoes
and crept noiselessiy up the back stairs
to Benny's room The house was very
quiet. Evidently Uncle Benny was
right. The family was too worn out
to have noticed their absence, and the
self. A few minutes later Benny was
in bed again and very sound asleep.
Then Sam gave a mighty sigh of relief
and straightway proceeded to follow
suit.
The young doctor was much sur
prised the next morning, and much
nleased. How beautifully his sedative
had worked! Sam smiled behind his
hand. He had fingered to hear the re-
mort of the doctor, and he had emptled
the sedative out of the window toward
nlorning-but it was not necessary to
explain that. Then, too, the tempera-
ture was almost normal. 1t was most
remarkable! One unexpected symptom
there was, however, which the young
doctor couldn't understand. Uncl1
Benny had an old-fashioped stomach
ache.
Its very peculiar" remarked the
doctor. 81 have another case quite
similar. That is small boy up the
street. but there's nothing strange
about his case, for he'd BEEN eating
green apples and so on, and 1t would DC
more strange if he hadn't a pain. But
with the plain diet you've had | really
can't account for it,
Here Sam blushed, and Benny smiled
a pallid smile through his collie.
However" went on the doctor,
well soon correct that. It's nothing
serious. and the general Improvement
is wonderful"
"It's good tc listen to the two old
boys" said Uncle Benny's niece to the
doctor few days later as he was leav-
ing. why, to hear them talking OF
the old bridge and the melon patch,
you'd think it was only the other day
they were boys together. Really, doc
tor. you seem to have been unusually
successful in Uncle Benny's case"
Eyes, the sudden Improvement is In
deed remarkable" replied the young
doctor complacently. 81 flatter myself
it was the careful diet, together with
the judicious use of the sedatives that
brought him round. No doubt the
slightest laxity would have been most
disastrous. l shouldn't wonder if Uncle
Benny has years ahead of him yet.
From somewhere above floated down
faint but unmistakable chuckle.
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
rrHT-s