Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-02-27

the latest improvements" ventured
the man.
q know" nodded the girl. He was
a taxameter."
"Of course, the tortoise won," de-
clared tn boy.
No" Confessed the man. "The race
had to be declared off because the
kangaroo skidded."
1T must have been a very expensive
ride" commented the girl.
81 think it was only a trial run"
said the nan
In the Elephant house he must have
made up something more than usually
g%rotesque, because the discussion that
ensued between the children was par
ticularly lively. But there, as well as
in the Lion house, on account of the
people and the noise, | could catch lit
tie of their talk. When, again, / had
the opportunity of listening it was in
the comparative solitude of the Zebra
yards. They were manifesting ex-
IRENE interest in the Quaggas.
"They were soldiers once" the man
was saying.
"Of course; look at their Stripes
quoth the boy. {
The girl began spelling out the de-
scriptive notice that is affixed to the
fence. From South Africa!" h ex-
claimed. Where they in the war;"
Yes, in the transport department
rejoined the man. 1T happened near
the Vaal."
please go on" was urged.
"a Quagga who wasn't afraid, mar
rated the man, was always the first
on parade, but when fighting began
he got into a van, which he drove a
long distance for aid"
"Ah, a turning movement! Good
mani" remarked the boy.
so he got the D. C. M" augmented
the man.
The boy began thinking. Eyes" said
he, presently. THE Distinguished
Conduct Medal. OF counsel"
"No-District Court Marshal" cor
rected the man.
} Poor thing!" murmured the girl.
And now he's il. lager"
"Oh, no." objected the a This
is the Lower House, you know. He
was elected to it by Het Volk, and
The Quagga raised his unmusical
t voice.
He's speaking now. Hush!" adj
t monished the man.
Politics" whispered the boy.
. "Yes-suffragettes!" ~adventured the
y girl. .'."...
Then she said something abouI
Home" and they went off at a brisl
pace. As l strolled in their wake
felt grateful for the glimpse had hat
of the devotion which childhood cal
inspire in the heart of a grown man
of the magic sensibility that enables
the adult mind to see things with thu
eyes Of youth.
The afternoon was drawing in, ant
the people we're streaming through thu
gateway when reached it. AS | min
gled with them on my way out Their
was a touch upon my arm and, turn
ing, l looked down into the upliftet
eyes of the girl. Such pleading eyes
each with a tear trembling on the Ion.
lashes. By her side was the boy look
ing deeply concerned.
please, please, help us to find ia
ther!" she implored. We've los
him!"
She saw at once that was ready t
obey her, and, putting her hand i
mine, led me away while she poure
out her fears for her fathers safet,
Of personal anxiety there was not
trace. The reason followed quickl.
A blow on the head from a Boer riff
while he was defending a wounde
comrade had destroyed his reasol
Once withdrawn from their protectio
~ he was Observation-Disclosures as
child.
II All day | had been laboring under
delusion. The man was their charg
a not they his. 1t was they who ha
been ~endeavoring to stimulate his fai
ciful imagination, and so provide hi
with entertainment; and | had bee
- deceived by his unconscious humor.
When we found him wanderir
about aimlessly, as we did within fl,
10 minutes, the girls relief was intens
my darling!" she sobbed, trying
get her small arms round him. IN
poor dear!"
lr He showed no feeling at the I
union, made no remark; merely Il
Ter into step between his small protector
and left the gardens with one of the
ur- on either side guarding him tenderly
". @t
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