Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-23
A NOVEL.

a joyful kind of experience. but twas
the first real daytime rest I'd had since
1 got naturalized. And. own up, l got
a good deal of comfort watching the
Hnavenlies try to do for themselves.
Mind you. if the thing had happened
when they first lit on Horsefoot bar.
when they was full of simplicity and the
love of it. l cal'late they'd have stood 1t
the island. anyway. only one was afraid
to say so and t'other dassent. SO the
| more the work piled up the uglier they
got.
Dinner was served at 4>o'clock: scorched
eggs again and coffee. No dishwashing
Twas storming hard as ever and the
draft kept both the stove and fireplace
roaring. SO more wood had to be chopped.
Martin" says Van Brunt. go out and
cut that wood. will you? The AK is by
the woCdpile-that Is to say. it's there II
| this blessed cyclone hasn't blown 1t out
to sea-
Hartley was poking at the stove. with
his face and clothes all covered with
ashes.
cut it yourself" says he. brisk.
You're doing nothing"
II cut it bafore,' snaps his chum
Think I'm steam eng!ne?"
He grabbed up the day-afore-yester-
days newspaper and went to reading
then went to the closet and got cigar
Van looked up and saw him.
Hand me one of those" says he, mo-
tioning toward the cigar.
There isn't any more. This was the
last one In the box"
The devil 1t is! And you take It? Well
by George!"
Now. see here. I saw you take four
this forenoon. and this is only my second
Don't he a prize pig
The stove ashes got into his mouth and
nose just then. so he had At Of sneez-
Ing. When twas over he slammed the
poker into the corner and went to the
window.
where's that idiot Scudder?" ne asks.
You mean natures nobleman?" says
I, smooth and calm. ''Oh. he won't show
up for day or so. Seas too high to risk
his dory. Dories cost money"
aren't you. skipper" he asks. troubled
1T isn't possible that that rascal will
stay at home and not come near U.s."
''Rascal?" says l. Rascal? Oh! yes,
yes. No. the rough diamond won't trust
himself aioat this weather. He's too ex-
pensive jewel for that. Wen have to
do without milk
Milk be hanged! It's my mail 1 want.
Why, I'm expecting-
He bit the sentence in two and looked
quick at his partner. But Hartley was
scOwling and staring out Of the window.
l guess he hadn't heard.
That fireplace needs filling" says 1.
after s au while: tn be mighty damp
ohu Ciiluy ucTc ~ lIc lIIS goes OUT.
why don't you chop that wood Van?"
asks Hartley. kind Of fretfui.
Chop II yourself. My hands are Bills
tered enough already"
:No more than mine. That COMPOUNDED
stove has fixed me. Where I'm not
burned I'm scraped raw"
Then there was another spell Of saying
nothing.
Fires most gone" suggests. by and
by
Let it Co." says Van. Hartley didn't
speak.
Now. see here" says. decided. eve
got the rheumatic and don't want to get
any more cold. You fellers have pre-
tended to think something Of me. If you
don't want my remains on your hands
and funeral to pay for, you'll chop that
wood"
Martin got down from the window seat
moving stin and lame
You're right. SOL" says he 1--WE are
ungratefui beasts. I'll chop that wood"
Hold on. old man." breaks in his
chum. You sha'n't be the only game
sport. I'll match you for the Job"
So they matched cents and Van Brunt
got stuck. He yanked on his hat and
coat and went out, banging the door
Hartley tackled the cookstove again.
Twas time to be thinking of supper, IL
We was going to have any.
Van was gone a long time and he come