Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1909-03-25

oRo WNut u8WM W na0Ht NfNis 49,
didn't give him q chance to talk: Just
"a sooH 90 the stun was put on Enors
he announces that Scudder must 60
right back and drive him over to East
witch. Nate backed and fiIIed, a. ua.
ual. telling how busy he was. and how
he hadn't ought to leave. and 80 en-.
But Van corks him right up with q
ive-doliar bill and on they went.
rugged the milk and butter and the
rest Of the truck up to the house and
started in on another stretch of work.
I'd had a vacation OF ten minutes or
so; now twas time TO begin again.
After I'd cleared up round the kitchen
and the like OF that, went on down to
the Dora Bassett and tackled her. Van
Brunt had cut away about everything
but the mast, and I had TO rig new
halliards and sheets and dOwnhaula
and land knows what Drat that Heav-
emily! twas a two days Job.
While was making a start on Il
Hartley comes loafing down from the
house.
Skipper" he says, lets have an
other one OF your chowders for lunch.
viii you? They're the real thing"
We'll. tell you. Mr.. Hartley" says
I. II we have chowder I'd ought to go
and dig the clans right now. on nc.
count OF the tide. And. honest. hate
to leave this work I'm on. Stlll, OF
course. II you say so. why"
What's the matter with my digging
emf" he says.
/ grinned. why, nothing" l says.
so far as I know. except that it's
something Of n Job"
Job" he says. It'll be fun. Tell
me where to go-and what to dig 'em
with, Rnd-and how to do t."
told him 70 take the skin and 4
clam hoe and n couple Of buckets and
row across to the mainland. There was
clans all alongshore there, knew.
you go along till you see 4 lot Of
little holes In the sand" I says. then
you dig. Want TO look out that they
amt sand-worm holes. nor razor fish.
And when you begin TO dig" I says.
you want TO lay right into II, cause
the clans are likely to be 'run-downs'
and they get under fast. So"
Hold on a minute" says he. How
am going to tell worm-hole from a
clam-hole.or a clam.hole from a-what
was lt?-barber Ash hole?"
Razor fish," says l. Not barber.
Well. don't know how to tell you. ex-
actly. II it's n sand.hole there's likely
to be a little tiny hole alongside the
regular one; that is. there is some
times and sometimes there Amt. And
II It's razor fish--well, can tell EN-.
but oal'late you'll have to use your
own judgment"
He said all right. he guessed he'd
get along. So on he went. and pretty
soon him and Lord James comes down
and gets aboard the skinf His lord.
ship was loaded with no less than four
buckets. besides clam hoe and the
garden hoe and the stove shovel. Twas
the most imposing clam hunt outfit
ever l see. II I'd been a clam and
see that battery coming my way I'd
have took to tall timber.
Sure you've got hoes and buckets
enough?" asks. sarcastic.
Il guess So" says he, looking around
at the weapons. I'VE might need an
other pail. perhaps. but IL we do III
send James after t."
His lordship started rowing, taking
strokes FIRST with one hand and then
with the other, and the feet got under
way and waltzed. as you might say.
zigzag across TO the main. Twas as
calm as a millpond and they hit land
up towards the point by the Neck Road.
Then the clam slaughterers got out
and disappeared round behind the
point. went on with my rigging.
Ii got to be IL o'clock and no signs
OF 'em. Then II; lunch time. Tide
was coming In fast, you couldn't have
got q clam now without diving outfit
But still Rll quiet on the Potomac.
went up to the house and commenced
to slice ham and fry potatoes. had
my doubts about that chowder.
Everything was ready by and BY
and stepped to the door to take an
observation. And then see 'em com
Ing. rowing more crab fashion than
ever. walked down to the inlet tc
meet 'em. And such sights as they
was. Blessed If they didn't look like
they'd been through the war-LorC
James especial.
hi. Soil" sings out Hartley. as the
skin floats in. broadside on. 'Myl bu
I'm glad TO see you. Give James |
lift with the clans and things. will
your I'm done up"
He looked IT, He was barefoot anS
barearmed, with his trousers rolled al
above his knees and his shirt sleeves
above his elbows. And the valet wa
the same. and both of 'em soaking We
and just plastered with wet sand an,
; clay.
gave one glance at them bare les
and arms.
"For the land sakesl" l sings ouI
Pull down your pants and you
alaaVaa. You'ra burned IN a blister II