The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-06-22

freely. Perhaps 1t was not 30 bad
after all.
At the sight Of the boys. however.
the expression on the doctors face
changed very suddenly.
Boys" his voice was very STERN
"wash yourselves clean and go TO the
ONCE. Go to the operating room, close
the door, and wait for me-.
To the operating room o. al
places!
"Ooo-oo-oo." cried BOLD Ben" In .
weak little voice.
"Trus-st!" Kissed BLACK Bert,
Overwhelmingly.
The doctor sat on the porch until
the last hopeless little figure trailed
past toward the ONCE.
The Fierce Gang" had faced punish
ment often, so 1t was not that 30 mucn
as It was the awfulness of their crime.
What had possessed them to DO II!
And what would, what could their
father do to punish them? What u
he should send them to prison!
Before long they heard their father
enter. The members Of the Gang
sat down and booked at their fataer
with anxious eyes.
well, boys" he said, seating him.
self close by, there Is, of course, no
need to tell you why have come
here. Who did it,"
There was no sound in the room,
except now and then a sob from
BOLD Ben" who could not have
smothered them to have saved his lit
tie soul.
The doctor waited for some time.
then spoke:
There is no use to talk this matter
over. Every one Of you are old enough
to realize how wicked, how heartless,
how mean it was to have done as you
have. You must know how badly
feel about it, how your mother regards
1t. Which of you is the guilty one?'
II Again the doctor waited, but 10
ceived no reply.
"Of course, If cannot learn which
of you did it, then must punish each
of YOU"
No one spoke.
Every we'll Then, Albert, you may
sell your bicycle. as soon as possible
Ito whoever will give you the most FOL
it. You, with your brothers. mus
help me to raise money with which tt
buy another horse. You must know
that would be ashamed to drive
Patty, poor thing"
His bicycle! BLACK Bert" gasped
| That was too dreadful to even thinl
about. But listen, the doctor wa
again speaking.
Richard, you and Leonard will Civ
| up your pony and cart will speak +
Mr.. Draper the first of the week. HI
: was speaking of getting pony an
cart for his boys, and yours, no doubt
would be quite what he wants"
T. Dangerous Dick" clenched his fis,
How could he bear to see those Drape
e boys driving "Firefly," the pony, an
y riding in the neat little cart?
Terrible Len" buried his face 1
= his hands, and sobbed bitterly.
y II can't give Firefly' up. can't" b
: murmured.
= II am giving Patty up" his fathe
said, as he turned to Bold Ben," VIII
was staring expectantly into his fail
= er's face.
. "You, Benjamin, will dispose {
"A your hook and ladder wagon earl
" Monday morning. You will not b
,e able to get much for it, but every Ii
tie helps"
n The doctor paused. Except II
G Terrible Lens" sobbing and pathetl
X little cough from Bold Ben" theI
n was no sound in the room.
n That night, some time after Il
n. "Fferce Gang" had retired, "Blac
Bert" and Dangerous Dick" migl
i'd have been seen sitting bolt upright
II their beds, whispering earnestly. J
n nally BLACK Bert" rose and slippt
softly to the top of the stairwa
1t. where he stood for q moment in
ut listening attitude.
re Then he returned to the room, viii
ou pered come on" to "Dangero1
Dick" and together they went to Il
g" room across the hall occupied by u
~, two other members of the "Fier
en- Gang"
Terrible Len" sprang from his b.
ed with a smothered exclamation. II
Id happenings of the day, especially Il
Ike latter part of the day, had not be-
ng calculated to quiet ones nerves.
to- "Whassississ? he Kissed.
ry- "Shut up. amt nothin' goin' to hr
dy you," Dangerous Dick" whispered.
BE. We've come to tell you an BE
I'D Ben, I" BLACK Bert" whispered, leani
to close to his brother, that they ail
no. no trust at all. It's busted"