Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1909-03-04

for myself, you underntAnd--no, In
deed. When I get drowned. with q
tight plank under me and q pair Of
oars in my hand, 'twon't be in the bay.
I'll tell you that. But waa scared for
Van Brunt and his lordship in the
Dora Bassett. They didn't either OF
'em know the jib from the rudder,
and the valet was too crazy frightened
to be Of any use n he had.
But Van was sure 10 be cool enough,
and the broken gan would act like a
double reef, 20 that was some com.
fort. And the suuall want going 70
amount 10 nothing-'twas only a fair
breeze even now--ao II Van had sense
enough to keep the tiller straight and
let her run they'd fetch up some.
where's alonsshore, judged. And, te
make me hope still more. the squall
had brought q complete change Of
wind with Il; now twas blowing back
up the bay instead Of out to sea
So I squared my shoulders and laid
TO the oars. heading for where. judg.
ing by the wind, the land ought TO be.
Twas darker than black kitten In
a niggers pocket. but carlatsd TO be
able TO hit the broadside Of the United
States somewhsres. got aground on
the fats i've or six times. but along
towards midnight butted ashore at
the little end OF nowhere where there
was nothing but bushes and sand and
pines. no sign Of civilization. And By
this time twas pouring rain.
After a couple OF years Of scratch.
ing and swearing and falling down
come out OF the scrub into q kind OF
clearing. Then discovered a barbed
wire fence by hanging up on It like
a sheet on a line and located the back
of a barn by banging into II with my
head. Then n nice laxative dog come
out OF tho barn and located me, and
things commenced to liven up.
While me and the dog were con-
Quoting our experience meeting. q
light showed In an upstairs window
a little ways OF and somebody sticks
their head out and wants to know
what's the matter.
who are your" he says.
my names Pratt" says I.
Where are your"
Well" / says. judging by the feel
and smell I'm on top OF the pig.sty.
But ! amt real sure can tell you
where your dog is. II you want to
know"
What are you doing round here
this time Of night?" he says.
I told him as we'll as could. The
dog was having a conniption At, trying
10 bark Itself inside out, and l had
to say things over three or four times
SOS a body could hear. But the Teller
at the window want satisfied even
then. never see such n wooden.
head.
What Pratt did you say you waSf"
he hollers.
told him my name and where /
hailed from.
SOL Pratt?" he says. "of Well
mouth? What are you doing way
over here?"
BLAST It ALL" yells. IF l want
half drowned already should say l
was getting wet. Turn out and let q
Teller into the kitchen or somewheres,
won't you? And tie up this everlasting
dog"
That seemed to wake him up some
and IN ten minutes or so no comes
poking out with a lantern. knew
him then. Twas EbeneZer Holbrook,
Hubby Ann scudder's sisters husband,
who lives over in the woods on the
line between South Eastwich and
West Ostable. There was another
man with him and blest II It didn't
turn out to be Nate Scudder himself
Him and Hubby was visiting over
there, same as he said they was going
to.
Nate had more than q million ques-
tons to ask. Ebenezer tied up the
dog-the critter pretty nigh broke
down and sobbed when he found
want TO be fed to him--and we went
into the kitchen. Then Mrs. Holbrooh
and Hubby Ann, rugged up tasty and
becoming In curl papers and bed quilts
foated downstairs and there was more
questions
When Nate found out that one oi
his dodgers was cast adrift in the bay
. he was almost as worried and upset
as was. But Ebenezer agreed with N
! that there was a good chance OF the
J sloop's getting ashore safe. He said
] why didn't turn In on his setting
room lounge for the few hours be
tween then and sun.up. and In the
, morning me and Nate could take his
J yawl dory and cruise alongshors and
} hunt So done It. though twas pre-
cious little sleep got.
About six o'clock We started.
thought FIRST I'd go up TO Eastwlcf
village and telegraph TO Hartley. Their
] | thought I'd better not; no use Il
scare him TIL had 20. Nate had
! heard about the pig chase and Hart
1 ley's dcings over there and he pes
tered the life out Of me with question:
abort that
Queer that boy should turn out 4
+ be HIS brother. want it," he says.
A tfVfff.n.n k.rkka.Su aawa Haa min