Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-05-30

menC often, so 1t was not that so muCn
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 ii
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.
We'll, boys" he said, seating him
self close by, there is, of course, no
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
it, Which of you is the guilty one?"
Again the doctor waited, but re-
ceived no reply.
"Of course, if | cannot learn which
of you did it, then | must punish each
of you"
No one spoke.
Very we'll 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 1 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 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 "Firef1y," the pony, and
riding in the neat little cart?
Terrible Len" buried his face in
his hands, and sobbed bitterly.
Il can't give 'Firefy' up. l can't" he
murmured
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 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 a
listening attitude.
Then he returned to the room, wills
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 a smothered exclamation. The
happenings of the day, especially the
latter part of the day. had not been
calculated to quiet ones nerves.
''Whassississ? he Kissed.
Shut up, amt nothin' goin' to hurt
you" Dangerous Dick" whispered.
We've come to tell you an Bold
Ben, Black Bert" whispered, leaning
close to his brother, that they amt
no trust at all. It's busted"
Terrible Len gave sigh of relief
and nodded his head approvingly. But
Bold Ben" made no sign. He lay very
still and feigned sleep. He did not
move an eyelid. Enough things had
happened that day.
A quarter of an hour later, when
Mrs. Leeds went softly from one little
bed to another, she found every mem
Der of the Fierce Gang" sleeping the
sound sleep that only healthy child
hood knows.
And she went down the stairway
smiling.