Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-10-01


tremble right under me, an q
hear most blood-curdling noise
in the tree, just as I've tole you.
ito nlagged and the boys keE
strained ears for sounds and wide
watchful eyes for sights. But bed time
came without any cause for alarm.
even to Jack, the self-confesseR
coward.
The amp-flre-which was not at all
necessary save for light-was care
fully put out. Then the boys crept
inside their tent and got into bed
But sleep did not come to their eyes
for some time, although they re-
Trained from conversation. Ever,
little while Jack would ask. in 10
tone: Everybody asleep?" And af
while he received no response
his question and knew that all we
safe in the land of Nod Then I
slipped cautiously from the tent, ia
ing something soft and white in h
arms. He, was absent from the teS
some five minutes when he returne
and again crept into bed. After lynn
there a minute or two he nudge
Paul, the boy nearest to him and whis
pered hoarsely: whats that?"
Paul was soon wide awake and in !;
trembling voice whispered: did You
hear something queer, Jack?" /!
Gee, yes. Didn't your" Jack return.
ed, speaking rather loudly.
Whats the rumpus?" asked FREQ
rousing from slumber.
TITS Paul's spook.'' said Jack
Didn't you hear that strange noise? 'S
And now all the boys were awake
and sitting up in bed, but the dark
ness Of the little tent was not con-
ductive go bravery. "Say," whispered
Paul, holding tightly to Teddie's larm
-Teddie being the one fearless boy
Of the camping partyv"do you thfnll
,it-it-will try to come in here artery
us? 1t sure is a spook--a real big
cave spook as I've heard about"
For wonder Teddie did not speak
but sat very still, no doubt wishing
just at the moment that he had not
made such boasts of bravery in the,
evening before retiring. Just now
he felt cold shivering sensation,
and also wished he we're in his own
room at home where danger never ia.
truded
"say, SO long as Ted amt afraid
Of nothin', s'pose we appoint him 4
vestigate," suggested Jack. the only
natural voice.
"Yep, Ted, you swear that you
amt afraid Of nothin', so why don't
you go out and see what the matter
is?" said Fred.
"Why don't you go yourself?" re.
turned Teddie. eve all know 1t amt
wild bull nor mad dog, neither.
And you say you faint afraid Of any,
thing else bull wild bulls and mad
dogs"
'How do you know it isn't w
bull?"' asked Fred. did you he
the noise? 1 didn't"
.'Nope, I haven't heard anything.
confessed Teddie.
Neither did +" cried Jim, speaking
for the first time.
"rhen you go, JIM" suggested
Paul. you amt afraid Of anything
except lightning, earthquakes and old
Satan. And we're all shore 1t amt
either one of them"
"Well. the ways Of Satan are
strange" said Jim, "and how do we
know it isn't that old fellow? Nope.
l don't want to run into the hands OF
Satan. / TESS up I'm afraid Of him
an want to stay as far away from him
as can"
'sThen let Paul go out said Fred,
determined to shift the work of inves.
tigation on other shoulders than hil
own
''But 1t may be spook." hoarsely
whispered Paul trembling In every
limb at thought of exposing himself
to a ghosts view. "It may carry me
off, or it might blow its breath m
me and wither me up" he went on,
his voice SO full Of fear that he could
scarcely articulate. Nope, I'll die
right inside this tent rather than to
go out in the dark an meet up with
spook." Then Paul pulled the
cover tightly about him, declaring in
whisper that he felt clammy
touch on the back of his neck.
II reckon then" said Jack. that
the job lays between me an Ted. As
he's not afraid of nothin', and I'm
afraid of everything but grub, we're
the two to go out an investigated
Come, Ted, git up an put on your
clothes. An don't take extra time,
either" i1
"But-but," demurred Teddie, how
do you know there's anything outside
except the things what ought to be
there? Nobody except you has heard
a noise. An maybe it's just your
cowardly instinct what makes you
hear-hear-'ma imaginary noises
Then in that case you oughtn't
to be afraid to go out with me-" said
Jack, pulling on his trousers, tI!f
it's my imagination there's nothin' to
make you sprint from danger as can
see.''
"Well, if Ted don't go with yo,l
this time. We'll all know it's a big
bluff he's been running on US" spoke
up Jim.
What's the matter with you kids,
anyhow" asked Teddie. Amt I
pulling on my clothes to beat the
band? l can't go till I'm dressed, can
II" But although Teddie tried to
speak with great indifference his