Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-24
CHAPTER XVII.
Across the Bav.

the only safe way I'll go out on the
next train
We was al the dinner table when he
said it, Twas o'clock of the day after
the natural life sermon went up iIl
smoke. The weather was still pretty
mean. the sky being all clouded over and
the sea running high. But it had stopped
raining and the gale seemed to be peter
ing out. | was whole lot better and
was able to turn out and work.
I had my bands full that morning. too.
All three of us was close to starvation.
after twenty-four hours of short rations,
and it took some time to get us filled up.
Then / had the pig and hens to see to-
The poor critters lives had been more
natural even than ours-they hadn't had
nothing to eat. The pig was in particu-
lar trouble. The rain had turned his pen
into a sort of lake. and he was playing
Robinson Crusoe on seaweed island in
the middle of it. The way he grunted
for joy when I looked over the fence was
human-yes. sir. human.
Scudder hove in sigh about ten and the
Heavenies fairly fell on his neck when
he stepped out of the dory. But they
warnt so happy when he spun his
yarn. 1t seemed that the gale had
gled up the wires. and no messages could
get through either way. and want like
ly to for two three days.
Twas that that upset the Twins. The
Tea Lead market might be tied up in
knot for what they knew. and their
friends in the street might be robbinS
'em right and left. | picked up from
their talk that now was the most ticklish
time something about passing divi-
dend," or the like of that So that what
they arpIlpi about Inc dinner table
and it was decided that Van should go TO
New York right off. and pick up what
might be left after their chums and the
rest of the forty thieves had got through
shaking the contribution box.
I'm leave at once Van says. and be
in town tomorrow morning. If all goes
we'll I'll be back here next day. Mean
while. you. Martin. can be arranging
matters with Scudder'
He meant arranging for our quitting
Ozone Island for good. They was as
anxious now to get out of paradise as
they had been to move into II. I'LL men
toned word of natural &lfe they all but
threw things at me-
I.expected for sure that they'd lick
Nate Scudder for charging his dry-sea
son rates for secret keeping. But they
never mentioned it to him. When l spoke
of it to Van Brunt. he laughed.
''Oh, Scudder's all right he says. lie
had corner in secrets and squeezed the
shorts. that's all. That's legitimate.
Scudder has a talent of his own.
Yes. and he's making ii ten talents
in a hurry, like the Teller in Scripture
says /.
well, he doesn't hide it in napkin,
anyway laughs Van.
No" says l. II believe he uses one of
Hubby AIMS stockings
About :; o'clock got into the skiff,
the three of us. and rowed To the main.
Twas "a hard. wet row. l judged the
gale want all over yet We walked up
far as Mates. and there he was wait
ing in his buggy to drive Van Brunt to
the Wellmouth depot. Martin and Van
said goodbye and had final pow-pow
over the Tea Lead.
Goodbye" says I. Amt got any
real gilt-edsed. expensive secrets YOU
want kept while you're gone. have you?
I'd like to squeeze short or two my
self"
You ought to have seen Nate Scuddcr
bristle up and glare at ms. But his pas
senger only laughed. as usual.
No he says, mot a one My con-
science is clear. But | may unearth a
few while I'm away
Well. he did. But not the kind he eX-
pected.
had to step into Mates house to get
few, eggs Our own hens was too
weighted down under the natural to be
working overtime. Hubby Ann had the
remnants of a nickeled blue set OF dishes
that was handed down from her great
aunt on her grandmothers side and she
thought maybe Hartley'd be interested
at a dollar a nick. 1t took long to
make her believe he want that. we
wasted an hour more there. When
we got to the hill by the beach twas
most > o'clock.
''The winds hauled clear around" says
!. I'VE amt had all the dirty weather
yet This'll be bad night in the bay
Just then from behind us come the rat
Ting of wagon and the humping of
horses hOolS. Somebody was driving
our way like all get out.
WHO in time" says. Runaway.
amt it
But twas no runaway. In another min
ute horse all lather. hauling buggy
all mud, comes bouncing over the hum
mocky road and down the hill. \ girl
was driving it.
whoa" she screams shril. The horse
stopped like he glad Of the chance.
Eureka Sparrow I sings out. What
in the name of Soodness-
Twas Eureka, and the team was tho
one that the Fresh Airers had hired for
the season The girl looked as if she'd
been through the Wal. She had shawl
pinned round her. but it had slipped
down most her elbows. and her hat
vas over on The back of her neck
"Whats the natter | asks. is
"Dewey's AL rig ht." she says. leaning
from the buggy. Its little Dennis
Redny. He's awful sick-and-where's
MI. van bluHi.
Gone to New York. says Hartley.
stepping up to the wheel. What is it?
Tell me d bout it,.
She was almost crying. The poor lit
tie feller,' she says; ''he Was took this
morning. Pains and such suffering. We
sent for Dr. Bailey and he sick in
bed himself Then James drove over for
DIR. Penrose. and he'd gone up TO the city
| to medical society meeting There
| wa Mt nobody left but that new doctor at
West E.astwich DR.. Duncan. and nobody
! likes him. | wouldn't have him to a sick
cat. He says it's append-appendi-
something or other"
! ''AppendicitiS?' asks Hartley.
! 'Yup. That's what he says. And lie
| wants an operation tomorrow And Miss
Agnes don't trust him. and she's all up
| set. She thinks more of that boy. And
Sol" asks Martin. quick. lis this new
doctor a good one?'
No. MOI" says I. IF he said | had
| diphthery I'd be sure twas govt. And
| there amt another doctor nowheres
! around"
There's one says Eureka. IF we
| could only get him. Miss Talford read in
! the paper day before yesterday that Dr.
Jordan. the big Sturgeon
| Surgeon" says /.
! ''All right. surgeon. then. He's at the
! Wapatomac House for Il week. But. lac
| probably wouldn't come. and the tele-
graph wires are down and nobody thought
to write in time And that Dr. Duncan
morning. II he does he'll kill the boy
sure Just as he done Emelnc Ma
combers child What shall We do? Poor
/ Miss Can't nobody helm herp''