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

disciplinarian. While he considering II ~
might better away. miles and miles. he
was being pushed up by the boys behind him mp &c
the open door Of the bookshop. where he stood
with. the others. Quakins observer Of the PROBES
sor's encounter with his rival.
I'm Gotteswillen," cried Brinkman when he
saw the relics the Professor proudly displayed
"You find them in that mill-mound! Vy-impos
sible!'
He examined the relics His ama.ement grew
until he became apoplectic over the water bowl
"vy:" he cried. this bowl is Aztec! See the
Aztec Photograph for water. vair did you get him?
vair? Nod in that acknowledgements
He stared at the Professor with red-faced suspt
cion The Professor slightly nonplussed. but
triumphant Brinkman snatched up the carved
stone his eyes bulged as he examined It.
"Du lieber Himmel!" he said. weakly. this 10
Zuni! How could you find ceremonial stone OF
the Zunis in lroquois mound?"
The two antiquarians elared at each other
Brinkman. ST.. breathing hard N he bent over
the water bowl.
TT is Aztec." he declared.
''It is Iroquois!" retorted the Professor.
There was pause. Outside the shop the Profess
sor's followers pressed forward with interested
grins. Inside. Brinkman Sr wrinkled his brow
and pulled out his lips the beautiful lines OF
the water bowl.
81 have seen It before!" he cried. suddenly. and
FASTENED to the other end Of the shop. where his
precious collection reposed behind glass doors His
practiced eye swept the shelves terrible Ger
man exclamation burst from him. His Aztec bowl.
his Zuni ceremonial stone. his rare Miami pipe.
we're gone!
1t was q dreadful moment that followed. The
Teutonic wrath of Brinkman. ST.. filled the shop
and seered the row of boys outside. 1t shriveled
the very soul of Shrimpy and caused . sickenin2
sensation in the stomach pits of Licorice-legs ana
Reddy. They were convinced that Shrimpy would
drag them into it; he was Just the whitc-livered
A~1A Ah~Una o0~vAn Nh~tv vfpsvA
do it, and they guessed at what would happen to
them then-the Sheriff would get them. most
likely.
''vat want to know IL who took my relics?"
Brinkman was laundering under the nose Of the
dismayed Professor. when he heard small voice
at his elbow. saying: II took them. father"
A mighty relief surged in the hearts of Licorice-
legs and Reddy Shrimpy had not told them:
evidently not going to. for he stood looking
up at his father in q wan silence which was some
way the silence OF boy who intends implicat-
ing half the gang to spread his own guilt thinner.
Reddy and Licorice-legs. knowing what they knew.
felt a passionate thankfulness that they were not
in Shrimpys shoes.
What with bewilderment and indignation. Brink
man. ST.. extremely terrifying. a. he stared
down at his SON and begged to know Why. Why b
should have done such . thing.
81 wanted to dig them up" said Shrimpy.
'You wanted to dig-you wanted to-you-mein
lieber Colt! Did you bury them In the Professors
mound?"
shrimpy nodded. Words were impossible. He
had reached the depths Of humiliation. The sting
Of the moment lay not much In fear OF the
heavy Teutonic hand In the painful way he could
feel that of staring eyes behind him. 1t seemed
to burn Inundated back. that concentrated
gaze Of the gang.
His eyes travelled miserably from the floor to hts
fathers face. and for = moment he was distracted
from his troubles. Brinkman. ST.. was pur-
Nth hat fhroa IN nR1o
him. He spluttered and gasped and then fell into
. chair. roaring with laughter. The mighty sound
Of 1t filled the shop: 1t rasped the nerves Of the
Professor until the only dignined thing left for
him to do to leave the presence Of his prthful
rital. He stalked out with one look Of utter dis
taste At both father and The row Of boys
melted away after him. II they had fingered they
would have Shrimpy's father with tears Of
laughter in his looking At his son with new
admiration.
Hans. mein Liebling" he said impressively. =
will an antiquary make out Of you yeti"
But since he was German father. he punished
his son. dutifully. That little Shrimpy.
however. The chastisement was . sngularly light
one. What remained with him was utter. dis.
NAL sense of failure. He had Matched gorgeous
scheme and 1t had failed. in the very presence d
the gang.
From his bedroom window later Shrimpy looked
out on the scented autumn twilight. Half hous
before the gang had been in the Square playing
pom-pon- pull-away. Their voices had come mp e
him. and the sound Of Curly Brights jew's-harp.
They had all gone. now. Maybe they were sitting
on the steps Of the post ONCE. talking: or per-
harps they had gone down to the shanty to build Z
FIRE and roast apples- He shut his mouth and
winked his eyes hard behind his thick glasses.
There very little to live for. after ALL Oh
crackey! What was that?
Some one had thrown = handful Of pebbles
against the window. He looked out. Lcorice
legs and Reddy stood underneath. grinning in Z
friendly fashion.
iii, Shrimpy! OUT" they whispered
Were goin' have . corn-roast down by the mill
You come along an help coon the corn. win
you. Shrimpy?"
There was . new note In their voices. TheJ
spoke q to an equal Shrimpy threw one leg ovel
the window Eu preparatory to descending b. "a,
Of the trellis.
"T dunno but I'd just SON." he said.