Western Kansas world., 1909-03-06

hear our reasons for this proceeding
TT is not necessary" she says, cold
as ice. .T have heard enough"
The minister plucked up spunk to
speak. But she snapped him up short
as pie crust Then I tried it-and got
my medicine.
Mr.. Sparrow says she, '1et them
do their worst The children shall
come to my school. AS for you, 1
mean to-" Then she turns to me.
Does Mr.. Van Brunt know of this? ?''
she asks. Course couldn't say nothing
but 1 believed he didn't
Thank goodness" she says. And
just then who should walk in but Van
himself.
".HelloI" says he, surprised. "Eu-
reka told me you were at the village,
Martin, so Lycurgus rowed me across.
One of the children said you were
here. What is this, surprise party?
And Agnes, tool Am too late for the
refreshments
He smiled, but nobody else did.
Edward" says the Page girl, will
you do great favor for me?"
Yours to command, of course" he
answers. puzzled.
''Will you find a boarding place for
Mr.. Sparrow"
who? Eureka's father? Why,
certainly. What's the trouble? Is it
time for the Sparrows to nest again?
He can come over to the Island with
us. There's plenty of room. Hey,
MARTINI
Never mind your friend, please,
says Miss Page. IF he comes will
you protect him and treat him kindly?
Thank you. Then that is settled. Gen
tlemen, I believe there is no necessity
for your further inconveniencing your
selves. Your several bills will be
paid"
I looked at the doctor and he looked
at Poundberry. The minister and
Brown and Scudder looked at each
other. Maybe it seems queer that we
didn't speak up and make her hear
our side-the right side. 1t does
seem strange now, I'm free to say, but,
as for me, I couldn't have faced her
then no more than the boy with the
jam round his mouth could face
his ma.
Hartley was the only plucky one.
He says, swallowing once, as if he
was gulping down his pride, Miss
Page says he, you are treating me
most unfair. To judge without a hear
ing is not"
She held up her hand. There was a
kid glove on it, and even then I
noticed how well that glove fitted.
''Mr. Pratt" she says to me, It want
to ask you one question. Who is re-
sponsible for this? Whose idea
was it?"
1 hemmed and hawed The other
fellers might not have meant to do it,
but somehow their eyes all swung
round to Hartley.
81 see," she says. ST thought as
much. There is a proverb, I believe,
concerning what is bred in the bone.
Thank heaven, to me there are some
things in this world which outweigh
my personal convenience and-money.
You needn't answer, Mr.. Pratt. He
pays your salary, I believe"
My, but she said it bitter and scorn-
full. Hartley was white afore, but now
he was like chalk. He bowed to her,
stuck his chin into the air and
marched out of that house as proud
and chilly as a walking icicle. The
rest of us, all but Van and Agnes.
trailed along astern, like a parcel of
kicked dogs.
Washy sung out to us as we went:
Good day, gentlemen he says; Il
hope you'll come and see me some
times while I'm over to Horsefoot. /
forgive you free and clear. l haven't
no doubt you meant for the best.
The doctor and the rest was brave
enough when we was out of Agnes
Pages sight and hearing. They was
talking big about what they'd do to
Sparrow when they had chance. But
1 noticed none of 'em said much to
Hartley. He marched ahead, stiff and
white and glum. Peter Browns last
word to me was this:
Pratt says he, ''if you see q hole
in the sand anywheres tween here
it, will you? The way 1 feel now I'd
like to crawl into it and pull it after |
me. One about the size of a ten-cent |
piece would do, and even then I guess |
there'd be room and to spare for the |
rest of this gang"
When 1 got down to the skiff Van
comes running to catch up. He caught |
me by the arm and hauled me to one
side.
Skipper" says he, what the DEVILS |
the matter?"
could He roared. That's all right" |
he says. I'll fix that"
He went over to his chum and |
slapped him on the back
Brace up, old man." he says; Its |
a mistake, and a mighty good joke on |
you, isn't it? OF course I'll square you |
with Agnes
HARTLEY turr,ed on him So u,1iox that |