Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-12-26

noon sunshine. And on t-~ther side
was the mile and a half strip we'd Just
sailed across. with the beach and
mainland over yonder. Tot a soul but
us in sight anywheres. The whole lay
out would have made a f1rst-rate pho
tograph of the last place the Lord
made; the one he forgot to finish
Look at it," hollers Van. Look at
it, Now what is it,"
l begun to be sorry the keeper
hadn't arrived that time when 1
thought he was coming. 1 caflated
he was needed right now Martin
seemed to think SO, too. He looked
puzzled
What is it?" he saws whats
what? What do you mean?"
why this whole business Island
and house and scenery and quiet and
all. You old blockheadi' hollers Van,
giving the other Twin an everlasting
bang on the back; Don't you see2 It's
what we've been looking for all these
weeks-it's the pure, unadulterated,
experimentation Natural Life!'
1 set down in the sand. Things were
coming too fast for me. If this kept
on I'd be counting my fingers and
playing cats cradle along with the
knew it.
But, would you believe it, Martin
Hartley didn't seem to think his chum
was out of his mind. He fetched
long breath.
by Jove!" he says, slow; 'T don't
know but you're right
Right? You bet I'm right. It's
been growing on me ever since 1
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. 1 broke a 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 barn for
a COW and plenty of room for a gar
den and chickens-whewI Man alive,
it's Paradise! And 1 want to locate
the man that owns it. 1 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 peck
cts to keep from hugging himself.
81 own it," he says.
you do! Scudder, you're a gem.
1 begin to love you like a brother. Mar
tin and I hire this place; do you I'M
derstand? It's ours from this minute,
for as long as we want it,"
Nate commenced to hem and haw.
We'll, 1 don't know" he says. 81 don't
knows 1 ought to let you have it.
There's been considerable many folks
after it, and
Never mind. They can't have it
We outbid 'em. See?"
What will we do for groceries ?"
asks Hartley, considering.
''Scudder II bring EN- to u.s." says
Van. Wont you. Scudder?"
well, don't know, Mr.. Van Brunt.
I'm pretty busy now, and
Wen pay you for your time, of
course
What about beds and cooking uten-
sis and SO on?'' asks Hartley, consid-
ering some more.
'tScudder'1l buy 'em for US some
where's
And milk, and eggs, and butter?"
''Scudder-till we get our own chick
ems and cow
And er-well. a cook? Who'll do
the cooking?"
Van Brunt stoops down and slaps
me on the shoulder.
Pratt says he Pratt will come
here and cook for us, and navigate US.
and be our general manager. Pratt's
the boy,"
"Fold on there!" sings out. ''Avast
heavfng, will you. If you think for
one minute that I'm going to quit my
summer job to come to this hole and
live, you're"
You're coming" says Van. Never
mind the price; Wen pay it. Now shut
up! you're coming"
What can you say to a chap like
that? 1 groaned.
Live on Horsefoot Bar" I says.
Live on it,"
"Horsefoot Barr" says Van. rs that
its name? Well, it's Horsefoot Bar no
more I've been evolving name ever
since 1 began to breathe here. Breathe,
Martin" he says. Draw a good
breath. That's it. That's pure ozone.
Gentlemen, permit me to introduce to
you, Ozone island"
Scudder grinned. He was feeling
ready to grin at most anything just
then.
Ozone island?" says Hartley,
Ozone island. A restful name. Well
it's a restful spot. Isn't it, skipper?
YES" says l. "As restful as being
buried alive; and pretty nigh as pleas
ant"
CTO BE CONTINUED)