Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-08
A NOVEL.
By JOSEPH C.. LINCOLN,

down a considerable spell ago. his house
still stands, as pert and sassy an old
| gable-ended Jail as ever was. The house
was there and Scudder owned 1t. Like
wise he owned the sheds and barn in
back and the sickly bunch of scrub pines.
and the beach plum bushes and the
beach grass and the poverty grass. and
the world wthout-end of sand that all
these things was stuck up in. AS for the
live stock. that was seven thousand hop
toads. twenty million sand fieas. and
greenheads and mosquitoes forever and
ever: amen.
We fell into the Wallets wake and waded
through the sand hummocks up to the
house. And there on the piazza. sitting
in busted cane-seat chair. with his feet
cooked up on the railing and the regula-
ton cigar in his mouth. was Van Brunt.
kind OF damp and wrinkled so far as
clipper Robinson Crusoe as the aver
age man is likely to strike in one life
time.
Want we glad to see him! And he
was just IS glad to see us.
Hello. skipper" says he. reaching out
his hand. $50 you got ashore all right.
Good enough. I was bit fearful for
you after you left us last night.
After left him! liked that. And he
was fearful for me.
twas you that did the leaving. Talk
about dropping an acquaintance! I never
was dropped like that afore. Look here.
Mr.. Van Brunt. afore you and me go to
sea together again Wen have a little
lesson In running rigging. I want to
learn you what a mainsheet is"
"Oh." he says. careless like, Il guess
found 1T. after a while. At any rate If
it's rope 1 cut it. I cut all the ropes
in sight
Eyes. That's an acrobatic boat Of
yours; it seemed to want to turn somer-
sets. judged that that sail made it top
heavy so I told James to take the sail
down. He didn't know how, but we de-
cided that the ropes must have some
thing to do with it. So 1 cut 'em, one
after the other, and the sail came down."
Sudden" says
well, fairly so. Some of it was in the
water and the rest of it on James. /
resurrected him finally and we pulled
most of it into the boat 1t went better
them
did. hey?" says I. 1 was learning
seamanship fast.
Yes" says he eff I were you I
wouldn't have any sail on that boat. She
does much better without one. Then it
began to rain and I got some of the dry
sail over me. / believe 1 went to sleep
then-Or soon AFTER
Nate Scudders eyes was big as pre-
serve dishes. 1 guess mine was bigger
still
Good Lord says I. Did his-did
James go to sleep too
lieve James was holding some sort of re-
ligious service. How about it. james,
His lordship looked sheepish well.
sir" he says II don't Know. sir. I may
ave been bit nervous; I'm not used to
a boat, sir
IT shouldn't mind your praying.
James" Van says, sober as a deacon, IF
you didn't yell so. However. we got
here on the island about o'clock, be-
lieve. Rather. the boat came here her.
self; we didn't have anything to do with
l never in my life. They say the AL
mighty looks out for the lame and the
lazy. Van Brunt want lame, but
Well" says I. I'm believe in special
Providences after this
Van jumped out Of the chair
"By George he sings out. Talking
Of special Providences. Martin. come
here"
He grabbed t'other Twin by the arm
to the top of little hill near the house.
The rest of us followed without being
invited. / know you couldn't have kept
me back with chain cable. I haven't
visited many asylums and I wanted to
see the patients perform.
Look here Martin" says Van, when
we got to the top Of the hill. Look
around YOU"
We all looked I guess; I know I did.
There was the old Berry house. square
and weatherbeat and gray. And there
was dereict barn and half dozen pig
pens and hen houses stranded alongside
of 1T. And there was Horsefoot bar all
around us for half mile or SO, sand and
beach grass and hop-toads. all complete.
And beyond on one side was the bay,
with the water looking blue and pretty
in the forenoon sunshine. And on t'Other
side was the mile and half strip we'd
just sailed across. with the beach and
mainland over yonder. Not a soul but us
would have made irst-rate photograph
OF the last place the Lord made; the one
He forgot to finish.
Look at it,! hollers Van. Look at it!
Now what is 1t
I began to be sorry the keeper hadn't
arrived that time when I thought he was
coming. I cal'lated he was needed right
now. Martin seemed to think so. too. He
looked puzzled.
What is it?'' he says. whats what?
What do you mean.
why this whole business. Island and
house and scenery and quiet and all.
You old blOckhead.' holiers Van, giving
the other Twin an everlasting bang on
| the back. Don't you see? It's what
we've been looking for all these weeks.
it's the pure. unadulterated. accept-no-
| limitations natural life!
1 set down in the sand. Things were
I'd be counting my fingers and playing
cats cradle along with the rest Of the
looms pretty soon. ] knew it.
But. would you believe it. Martin Hart
| ley didn't seem to think his chum was
out of his mind. He fetched a long
| breath.
| by Jove"' he says. slow; II don't
know but you're right"
! Right? You bet I'm right. It's been
| growing on me ever since / landed. Well
| be alone: no females. native or imported
to bother us Here's a bully old house
with some furniture. bedsteads and so on.
already in it. l broke window and
climbed in for a rummage. Jolliest old
| ark you ever saw. Here's a veranda to
sit on, and air to breathe. and a barn
for a COW. and plenty of room for a gar
den and chickens-whew. Man alive 1t s
| that owns it, / want to find him quick"
| He didn't have to say it but once
Nate Scudder was so full Of joy that he
had to shove his hands in his pockets to
keep from hugging himself.
II own it, he says.
'You do. Scudder. you're gem l
| begin to love you like a brother. Martin
and hire this place; do you understand ?
It's ours from this minute. for as long
as we want it.
/ Nate commenced to hem and haw.
well. I don't know" he says. II don't
knows l ought to let you have il. There s
been considerable many folks after it,
| and"
Never mind They can't have it. We
! Outbid 'em. See?"
Hartley. considering.
| hy.r 70