Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-12-19

/ uSco- W ncn get drowned, Win a
tight plank under me and a pair of
oars in my hand. 'twon't be In the bay,
I'll tell you that But was scared for
Van Brunt and his lordship in the
Dora Bassett- They didn't either OF
EN- know the jib from the rudder,
and the valet was too crazy frightened
to be of any use if he had
| But Van was sure to be cool enough.
and the broken gan would act like a
| double reef, so that was some COM
fort And the squall want going to
amount to nothing-twas only a fair
| breeze even now-so if Van had sense
| enough to keep the tiller straight and
let her run they'd fetch up some
where's alongshore. judged And, to
| make me hope still more, the suuall
| had brought a complete change of
wind with it; now twas blowing back
up the bay instead of out to sea-
So l squared my shoulders and laid
to the oars, heading for where, judg-
ing by the wind. the land ought to be.
Twas darker than black kitten in
nigger's pocket, but caflated to be
able to hit the broadside of the United
States somewheres. 1 got aground on
the flats five or six times, but along
towards midnight butted ashore at
the little end of nowhere where there
was nothing but bushes and sand and
pines, no sign of civilization. And by
this time twas pouring rain.
After couple of years of scratch
ing and swearing and falling down 1
come out of the scrub into a kind of
clearing. Then 1 discovered. a barbed
wire fence by hanging up on it like
sheet on a line and located the back
of a barn by banging into it with my
head Then a nice laxative dog come
out of the barn and located me, and
things commenced to liven up.
While me and the dog were con-
Quoting our experience meeting, a
light showed in an upstairs window
little ways off and somebody sticks
their head out and wants to know
what's the matter.
who are your he says
My names Pratt" says l.
Where are your
Well 1 says, judging by the feel
and smell I'm on top of the pig-sty.
But 1 amt real sure 1 can tell you
where your dog is, if you want to
know
What are you doing round here
this time of night?' he says.
I told him as well as 1 could. The
dog was having a conniption fit, trying
to bark itself inside out and l had
to say things over three or four times
SOS body could hear. But the Teller
at the window want satisfied even
then. I never see such a wooden
head.
What Pratt did you say you was?"
he hollers.
told him my name and where 1 |
hailed from
Sol ..Pratt?" he says. ttOf Well |
mouth? What are you doing way
over here?'
Blast it ALL" I yells. IF I want
half drowned already 1 should say I |
was getting wet. Turn out and let a
teller into the kitchen or somewheres.
won't you? And tie up this everlasting
Dog"
That seemed to wake him up some
Ind in ten minutes or so he comes
9ok1ng out with a lantern. I knew |
linn then. Twas Ebenezer Holbrook,
1uldy Ann Scudder's sisters husband.
Who lives over in the woods on the
inc between South Eastwich and
Vest Ostable. There was another
nan with him and blest if it didn't
urn out to be Nate Scudder himself.
Him and Hubby was visiting over
here, same as he said they was going
O.
Nate had more than a million uues-
ions to ask. Ebenezer tied up the
og-the critter pretty nigh broke
own and sobbed when he found
"a u t to be fed to him-and we went
nto the kitchen. Then Mrs Holbrook
nd Huldy Ann, rugged up tasty and
ecoming in curl papers and bed quilts,
Dated downstairs and there was more
uestions.
When Nate found out that one of
is dodgers was cast adrift in the bay
e was almost as worried and upset
S was. But Ebenezer agreed with us
hat there was a good chance of the
loops getting ashore safe. He said
by didn't l turn in on his setting
,Cm lounge for the few hours be-
yeen then and sun-up, and in the
forming me and Nate could take his
awl dory and cruise alongshore and
unit So l done it, though twas pre-
GUS little sleep 1 got.
About six o'clock we started
fought first I'd go up to Eastwich /,
llage and telegraph to Hartley Then
thought I'd better not; no use to
arc him till 1 had to- Nate had
card about the pig chase and Hart
VS. doings over there and he pes
red the life out of me with questions
,out that.
Queer that boy should turn out to
} his brother, want it?' he says.