The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-05-29

held which he clutched carefully against his ribs.
Straight to Licorcelegs house he quickly Sped and
crept under a certain window from which two
strings were hanging to the ground. With the
eyes of faith he the other en- Of tho strings
attached as per agreement, to the respective big
toes of Licorice-legs and Reddy. He jerked
them and a subdued "Ouch!" came to his ears.
followed Immediately by the faces OF his fellow
conspirators. looking down at him. grinnins mist
lily. After exchanging few dramatic whispers they
Joined Shrimpy by way OF the wood-shed roof. The
trio crept down the street and made for the open
fields.
They did not talk much; they felt. in fact rather
subdued. They had never seen the friendly fields
in such ghostly guise before Tags of mist swept
before the first breeze of the dawn their feet were
entangled in cobwebs heavy with the dew: COW
arose from her bed Of ferns, looming before the
startled three like an elephant through the mist
II don't what come early for. said
Red ly with slight quaver.
"Phoo! ain't afraid retorted Licorice-legs.
Its gettn' lighter all the time"
Across two more fields and turnip patch and
the willows came into view, hiding the Professors
Iroquois mound. you go first said Reddy.
But the other two hung back. There was some
thing about this business of digging into Indian
mound in the ghostly dawn that chilled their en-
thusiasm. 1t finally decided that Shrimpy
ought to go first. being the nstigator of the VEN
ture, anyway. Shrmpy did not like it; but hidden
somewhere in his thin frame. he had touch OF
Al
bulge in his jacket and turned the corner of the
WILLOWS: There nothing scary about the
!nd3h(S after all: Reddy produced his shovel and
they took turns at digging They dug three shall
low hrles. covered them carefully with sod. marked
the places, and looked at each other. grinning.
They justified in their pride for most artistic
ally they had sailed the Professors Indian mound
with three of the choicest relics from Brinkman.
Sr's. famous collection.
That afternoon the Professor started out with
guileess eagerness to make last search for relics
in the mound. After two three brushes during
the week with his smilingy sarcastic rival he was
grimly determined to make his theory good. If
digging could prove the mound of Iroquos origin.
Iroquois it should be proven There a fever
ish note in his voice when. having arrived at the
mound. he urged speed and industry upon his fol-
lowers. The gang responded light-heartedly.
Side by side worked Reddy and Licorice-legs and
Shrimpy The first two seemed consumed with
some secret merriment: they were continually dig
ging each other in the ribs and gigging. But
Shrimpy his face flushed with excitement welded
his shovel in nervous silence.
Suddenly he threw down the shovel. stopped and
then stood up. In his hand he held a curiously
carved piece of pottery. The other searchers
crowded about him. Shrimpy leaned on his shovel
he had dreamed that he would; he held his find
up nonchalantly-but he was speechless at his
own audacity and dizzy on the sudden height of
Importance to which he had 1eaped. His blue eyes
were enormous behind his spectacles; his knees
trembled
"A carved water BOWL" the Professor cried.
"The finest specimen have ever seen. My dear
boys! This will prove my theory that the Iroquois
were advanced in the arts the Zunis, A most
fortunate find. Hans! This will prove beyond
doubt
But at this point twin shouts arose from Ncorce-
legs and Reddy. They had discovered treasures.
and they. like Hans, leaned nonchalantly on their
shovels while they held to envious eyes rabbit
pipe and a Queerly carved stone.
2Ii If the Professor was excited before he be-
side himself now. He almost incoherent with
the number Of things the rabbit pipe and the
carved stone would prove; he reckessly offered
quarter to the boy who would discover the next
relic Thus melted by hope of reward and by a
burning envy, the rest of the gang fell upon the
mount until it looked as If an army of wood-chucks
had chosen it for a tenement house.
But Shrimpy and Licorice-legs and Reddy dug
more. Indeed, Reddy and Licorice-legs were
incapacitated for work by their frequent seizures
of laughter, which made 1t necessary for them to
retire behind the willows and lie down. Shrimpy
wasted time away from the scene of his success.
He strolled about swelling noticeably. and offering
advice to the other searchers. His soul expanded
In the sunlight of their envy; he put his hands in
his pockets in imitation of Lcorice-legs and spoke
patronzingy when they besought him to point out
likely places in which to dig.
"Aw." he said. you've got to tell by the feel OF
the ground; that's the way did
even
sstent had thrown down his shovel in despair and
the expedition turned homeward, for 1t was ad
mitted by the Professor that more relics were
to be found Shrimpy walked among them on thu
homeward way. expatiating glibly on the method
employed in searching for relics. He and Reddy
and Licorce-legs were proudly carrying the
spoils at the head of the procession they ap
preached the town. when suddenly the Professor
stopped.
Let me take them moment, boys" he said
and wrested the bowl, the pipe. and the curiou
stone from their unwilling hands He darte,
ahead OF them eagerly. To shrimpy's horror b
made straight for the shop Of Brinkman. ST..
Shrimpy turned agonized look upon his com
panions in guilt but they. after the manner Of &C
completes. drew away from him when exposur
seemed imminent Shrimpy the Professor dis
appear within his fathers shop and his heart san
I'm . sickening manner His father . stron
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