The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-07-06
:eely. Perhaps It was not SO bad


the expression on the Doctors face
changed very suddenly
Boys, " his voice was very stern
wash yourselves clean and go to the
Office. Go to the operating room, close
the door, and wait for me-"
To the operating room. Of ali
places.!
"Ooo-oo-oo!" cried Bold Ben" in q
weak little voice.
''Tr-us-st!" Kissed BLACK Bert,
threateningly.
The doctor sat on the porch until
the last hopeless little figure trailed
past toward the Office.
The "Fierce Gang" had faced punish
ment often, so it was not that so much
as it was the awfulness of their crime.
What had possessed them to do it?
And what would, what could their
father do to punish them? What if
he should send them to prison?
Before long they heard their father
enter. The members of the Gang
sat down and looked at their father
with anxious eyes.
well, boys" he said. seating HIM
self close by, there is. of course. no
need to tell you why I 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
snothered them to have saved his lit
tie SOUL
The doctor waited for some time,
thea spoke:
"There is no use to talk this matter
over. Every one of You arc old enough
to realize how wicked, hsw heartless,
how mean it was to have done ~ you
have. You must know how badly I
feel about it, how your mother regards
it. Which of you is the guilty one?"
Again the doctor waited. but re.
ceived no reply.
"Of course, if I cannot learn which
of you did it, then l must punish each
of you"
No one spoke
Every well. Then, Albert, you may
sell your bicycle, as soon as possible,
to whoever will give you the most for
it. You, with your brothers, must
help me to raise money with which to
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 think
about. But listen, the doctor was
again speaking.
Richard, you and Leonard will give
up your pony and cart. I will speak to
Mr.. Draper the first of the week. He
was speaking of getting a pony and
cart for his boys, and yours, no doubt,
would be quite what he wants."
Dangerous Dick" clenched his fist
How could he bear to see those Draper
boys driving "Firefy," the pony, and
riding in the neat little cart?
Terrible Len" buried his face in
his hands, and sobbed bitterly.
81 can't give 'Firefy' up. I can't" he
Il am giving Patty up his father
said, as he turned to BOLD Ben," who
was staring expectantly into his faith.
er's face.
'You, Benjamin, will dispose OF
your hook and ladder wagon early
Monday morning. You will not be
able to get much for it, but every lit.
tie helps"
The doctor paused. Except for
Terrible Lens" sobbing and a pathetic
little cough from BOLD Ben" there
was no sound in the room.
That night, some time after the
Fierce Gang had retired, BLACK
Bert and Dangerous Dick might
have been seen sitting bolt upright in
their beds, whispering earnestly. Fl.
nally BLACK Bert rose and slipped
softly to the top of the stairway
where he stood for a moment in q
listening attitude
Then he returned to the room, whis
pered come On" to Dangerous
Dick and together they went to the
room across the hall occupied by the
two other members of the "Fierce
Gang"
Terrible Len" sprang from his bed
with smothered exclamation. The
happenings of the day, especially the
latter part Of the day, had not beer
calculated to quiet ones nerves.
"Whassississ?" he Kissed.
"Shut up, amt nothin' goin to hur1
YOU, dangerous Dick" whispered.
We've come to tell you an 'Bole
Ben, BLACK Bert" whispered, leanins
| close to his brother, that they ain,
no trust at all. It's busted"
"Terrible Len" gave a sigh of relic
and nodded his head approvingly. Blu
BOLD Ben" made no sign. He lay yer,
still and feigned sleep. He did no
move an eyelid. Enough things hal
happened that day.
A quarter of an hour later, whe1
Mrs. Leeds went softly from one littl
| bed to another. she found every NOM