Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1909-01-13
CHAPTER VII.
Sweet Simplicity.


the Natural Life, what Van called the
experimentation kind. 1 says
they" but ought to have said "we'
for / was in it. 1 was in it over head
and hands from that time on. I didn't
mean to be. When 1 said 1 wouldn't
emigrate to Horsefoot Ozone and be
cook and general roustabout for the
Heavenly Twins I was just as certain
l meant what said as body could be.
NO." says 1.
'Yes," says Van.
How can ! leave the Old Home
folks?" I says.
How can you leave us?" he says.
"But you've got James,"
Eyes but James hasn't got u.s."
"But can't afford to come" says 1.
"You can't afford to do anything
else" says he. And that's about what
it amounted to- couldn't afford to do
nothing else. The wages kept jumping
like summer folks bids at one of them
auction sales of antiques" 1 seemed
to be as valuable. as grandmother's
busted hair cloth sofa. If I'd hung out
long enough 1 callate the Heavenlies
would have fixed me so I'd have begun
to feel twas a crime to die rich.
give in first; 1 want everybody to IN
derstand that
Gall right" says I. "That'll do; I'll
come. But hope you'll pay me in a
dark room. I'll be ashamed to look
you in the face and take that much
money"
They said they was satisfied If
was. was satisfied, all but my con-
science. Made me wish l could swop
consciences with Scudder.
Mates conscience wasn't worrying
him any; you can bet on that 1
wan'n't around when he made the deal
for renting EN- the island, but, from
what heard afterwards, the price
would have been high if he'd been SELL
ing it to 'em by the pound to scour
knives with. He agreed to get bedding
For 'em and tin things, and pig, and
crockery, and hens, and groceries, and
boards to tinker up the barn with, and
anything else that might come in
handy. Likewise he was to fetch and
carry for 'em between the village and
the island; so much to fetch and twice
that to carry. And Hubby Ann was to
do the washing.
When the Twins told me about 1t
you'd think they'd just pulled through
one of them stock IDEALS" Of theirs,
and come out on top.
Isn't it great?" crows Van, happy
as clam at high water. We've ar
ranged it all. Everything is provided
for and will be DONE"
could see two things that was go
ing to be done-brown; but 1 didn't
say nothing.
Its mighty good of Scudder to &C
commodate us this way" says Hart
ley. He's a gem, a rough diamond
"Scudder," says Van, as one of Ma
lures noblemen."
or course 'twa'n't none of my funer.
al; / couldn't interfere. But I'm a
democrat myself, so the nobility don't
appeal to me much, and if Nate Scud-
der's a diamond I'm glad / can't af.
ford jewelry.
The next day was busy one for all
hands, each in his own particular
line. Nate commenced running "ac.
commodation" trains, so to speak, be,
tween his house and the village and
Horsefoot Bar-Ozone island, should
say. AS for me, went up to the Old
Home house right on, explained mat
tiers to the manager and cleared out
for my new job. The Heavenlies moved
over to Ozone that very morning. Lord
James went with 'em and the simple
naturalness commenced.
Fast as Nate would arrive in his
dory with cargo Of dunnage I'd carl
it up to the Berry house and dump II
on the piazza Lord James was flying
around. with a face on him as sour as
a cranberry pie. opening windows anG
airing rooms and sweeping out. anC
the like Of that. The old shebang had
been shut up for couple Of year:
and was as musty and damp as a re
ceiving tomb. His lordship looked like
thu head mourner: this kind of worl
Jared his dignity.
Look acre, Pratt" says he to me
SOW long do you think we're going t.
stay 'eref"