River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-08-26

HuGQ anu udZLlluS. OO"A
in the valley an automobile carrying
three passengers and the chauffeur
rolled easily along a white macadan
road until, at the direction of the maj
who occupied the front seat with the
driver, the machine came to stop a
the crest of little knoll.
Get out, boys, and let's steal little
fruit. | haven't robbed an orchard
since was kid" spoke Doc FloyC
to Col. Bill Powley and Jack Cleland
who were with him on a pleasure ride
few miles out Of Los Angeles.
The Colonel and Cleland, while moi
eyincing so much enthusiasm as Floyd
nevertheless followed their leader
through wide gate and up a drive
way into one of Lucky Baldwin's big
orange groves, where the fruit, some
green, some yellow, hung temptingly
And now we can say when we gel
back home that we picked oranges
while standing in plain sight of q
mountain covered with snow" re
marked Floyd. 81 haven't seen the
old man who owns this place since
he was racing his horses around Chi
cago'
Having satisfied their playful spirit
of larceny the little party stepped
back into the waiting auto and hur
ried on back towards the city, after
having seen the closing of the racing
season in San Francisco. Spring had
come and the tourist season was at
an end The members of the little
party were thinking of getting back
to the comforts Of the High Rollers
club and the nightly game of bridge
with kindred spirits.
There has been some fellow here
looking for you two or three times
this afternoon" the hotel clerk in
formed Floyd when he called for his
key when he was once more back in
the city. "He didn't leave any card
Said he'd be back this evening"
II have no idea who it could be-
replied Floyd II will be in my rooms
until dinner time. If he comes again
have him phone up to me-"
The three friends parted company
on the floor of the hotel where their
rooms were located Col Powley an
nounced that he proposed to have his
forty winks" before dinner as the
ride in the open air had made him
sleepy. Cleland went to his room tc
wash away the dust of travel but soon
raped on FIoyd's door, where he
found his partner making a somewhat
more elaborate toilet than his own
had been.
I've been thinking I'd like to take
a run up through the mining towns,
announced Cleland, who was known as
the pessimist of the party owing tC
the fact that he never became enthus
iastic over any question.
THAT might not be a bad idea,
returned Floyd, "but l don't believe
the Colonel would care for the trip
Well ask him and see how il
strikes him. I'm in no particular
hurry about getting back home, so fal
as I'm concerned. What is your idea
in taking the wild and woolly?'"
ooh, l don't know. l just hearC
that things were beginning to boon
again for the first time since the
panic. l thought if you'd like to take
a chance we might be able to sell {
little order. Some of those mining
men may have too much money fol
their own good"
well, it's worth considering, at an!
rate, Jack, and I'll just sleep over i
tonight | can't see that there is am
necessity for passing up any tricks
BY the way, wonder who it was tina
was looking for me while we were
out?"
AS if in answer to Floyd's query
the house telephone bell rang and hi
was informed by the operator that
Mr.. Jackson wished to see him.
"All right, I'll see him here. Hav,
him come right up to my room," ht
replied. 1T must be the fellow wht
was looking for me this afternoon,
he continued to Cleland when he ha,
hung up the receiver of the phone
81 don't know who Jackson is, though
The only Jackson l recall is our frienC
Howard Jackson, who died in New
York three years ago.
At the sound of approaching step!
in the hall, Floyd turned and opened
his door without waiting for a knock
"Why, it's Towards kid brother" h,
announced, as he grasped the hanC
of his caller in friendly greeting. g
was just wondering who it could be-,
he explained. This is Jack Cleland
Tommy. He knew your brother Howar,
almost as we'll as 1 did. We wer,
all shocked to hear of his death whel
that sudden spell of fever took hin
off. You were with him at the time
weren't you?"
Eyes, l was there 1t was prett,
tough. He was only sick a week an,
there were only the two of us left"
And what are you doing way ou
here on the other side of the world
Did you bring his racing stable on
here?"
mo, he only had one good horse il
his stable They were all sold at auc
ton and didn't bring much more thai
enough to square up his debts. wa
never on the race track much, yo
know. l went to work in a railroa
Office as soon as I got through higl
school, I came out here two year
ago to take place in the Office of
western road"
Il hope you like the rain load bus
ness and are prospecting at H." wa
the kindly tended remark of FloyC