The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1909-08-20
srshlp. The Doctor gave a con-

with me then. He Snatched 1t from
the desk where 1t stood, and was half
way to the ceiling before Jimmy got
his mouth open to demonstrate. The
Doctor showed the trap aside, swung
the lantern slowly about his head as
he took comprehensive survey, then
set 1t down, and drew himself up. The
instant he cleared the opening jim
iny's head popped through it, his legs
swiftly following.
The loft was the store room for dis
carded books and wrecks of furniture,
piled about in disorderly fashion. On
box near the trap lay the object OF
their quest; a package carefully wrap
ped In burlap and brown paper. AS
the Doctor laid hands on 1t, Jimmy
snatched the lantern and dived down
to the ladder He thought he saw
something stir back in among the
piles of books. 1t might be rat, 1t
might be-almost anything. At the
foot Of the ladder he cried, Hurry
up!" The Doctor was just emerging
from the trap, and although not anX-
ious to llnger, he took time to drop
his burden carefully on Jiminy's up
turned face. 1t pleased him to hear
Jimmy sneeze, gag, and try to spit
out the dust.
But his smile only lasted until he
had united the package, when 1t
changed to a prolonged stare, accom-
panied by melancholy whistle. He's
got 1t after ALL Jimmy" he said;
hes gone and got 1t after all"
you've got the wrong bundle" The
Doctor shook his head in somber and
assured negative. There wasn't any
other; there never has been. And
how do you s'pose these got up there
If he didn't put 'em there to cheat?"
He held up an object that threw jim
my back In 'convulsions of mirth.
"Breeches-his old work breeches!
Oh, Moses-and we've been thinking
1t was the flag! Oh, s'posin' we'd
tried to run them up tomorrow morn
ing when the folks were all here"
and Jimmy rolled on desk quite
helpless.
The Doctor did not laugh. He re-
garded the garment with his chin
resting on his hands, while perplex-
ed frown drew his brows together.
That's what he was up to. Let's see;
this Is how he said It.: We've got to
have your flag for the Fourth Not
May we have it?' civil like. But
We've Cor to have It, And l tells
him: Our flags going up here on the
morning Of the Fourth Of July, be-
cause here's where 1t belongs says /.
Give you treat all round for the
use of It, says he. No, SIR says |.
Ice cream, cake and lemonade says
he. No, sir, says L; maybe you can
have 1t in the afternoon, for you did
give couple of dollars toward get
ting 1t, but we gave the most and it's
ours All right; keep your old f1ag,'
says he, but | knew by the twinkle in
his eyes that he was bound to get it
somehow, IL we didn't hide 1t away
from him, but | didn't 'spect he'd be
after 1t before tonight. I've been up
here most every day, and it LOOKED
all right. Just his smartness to stick
his old breeches there and make us
think twas safe till we started to run
7 of i'm 10 l. 4.
my uncle"
Dad says he's Trlckey by name
and trickey by nature" Jimmy was
venturlng on delicate ground. Uncle
and nephew were not so many years
apart In age, nor altogether diverse
in disposition.
The Doctor scarcely heard him; he
was doing some hard thinking. The
lantern light shone on his red hair,
and revealed gathering resolution In
each freckle. Red hair and blue eyes
can be trusted to take care of them
selves, red hair and brown eyes to
look after other people, red hair and
gray eyes-beware! The Doctor had
gray eyes.
Jimmy" he said, pounding the
desk he sat on with his fist, well
have our flag on our own Flagstaff if
we have to chop theirs down. Now,
you listen. He and Nick Fielding and
Joe Strayer and lot of the other
flreboys ii stay up till midnight to
blow off the anvll-you know they al
ways do. Then they keep up racket
for while, run up the flag and go
home for nap When they go home
for nap this time, Jimmy, Wen jerk
our flag down in hurry"
Moses! Wen have to hang round
and watch them all night"
Who's carin'? I'd liever stay up
ten nights than have Harry Trickey
keep our flag on his old pole."
Il don't believe we can haul 1t
down by ourselves"
"Pshaw. it's just like pulling 1t
down here, only the ropes are long
err"
Particularly dear to the heart of
the Doctor was District Seven's new
flag, He had been the originator of
the plan to purchase 1t, the most per.
sistent beggar of contributions, and
despite rooted objections to manual
labor, had even dug and delved to add
to the fund Therefore he felt a spe-