The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-03-19

sailed across, with the beach and
mainland over yonder. Not a soul but
us In sight anywheres. The whole lay
out would have made d flrst.rate pho.
tograph Of the last place the Lord
made; the one he forgot to finish.
Look at III" hollers Van. "Lcok at
It! Now what is IT."
l begun to be sorry the keeper
hadn't arrived that time when l
thought he was coming. I callated
he was needed right now. Martin
seemed to think 30, too. He looked
puzzled.
What Is it," he says. What's
what? What do you mean?"
why this whole business. Island
and house and scenery and quiet and
all. You old blockhead!" hollers Van,
bang on the back; Don't you see? It's
what we've been looking for all these
weeks-it's the pure, unadulterated,
accept-no.imitations Natural Life!"
l set down in the sand. Things were
coming too fast for me. II this kept
on I'd be counting my fingers and
playing cats cradle along with the
rest of the looms pretty soon. I
knew it.
But, would you believe 1t, Martin
Hartley didn't seem to think his chum
was out of his mind. He fetched a
long breath.
by Jove," he says, slow; 81 don't
know but you're right"
Right? You bet I'm right! It's
been growing on me ever since l
landed. Well be alone; no females,
native or imported, to bother us.
Here's a bully old house with some
furniture, bedsteads and SO on, already
in it. l broke a window and climbed
in for a rummage. Jolliest old ark
you ever saw. Here's a veranda to sit
on, and air to breathe, and a barn for
a COW and plenty of room for a gar
den and chickens-whew! Man alive,
it's Paradise! And l want to locate
the man that own 1t. / want to find
him quick"
He didn't have to say it but once.
Nate Scudder was so full of joy that
he had to shove his hands in his peck
cts to keep from hugging himself.
Il W it," he says.
You do! Scudder, you're a gem.
l begin to love you like a brother. Mar
tin and I hire this place; do you I'M
derstand? It's ours from this minute,
for as long as we want it,"
Nate commenced to hem and haw.
We'll, l don't know" he says. 81 don't
knows l ought to let you have it.
There's been considerable many folks
after it, and"
Never mind. They can't have It
We outbid 'em. See?"
What will we do for groceries? ?"
asks Hartley, considering.
"Scudder II bring EN- to u.s." says
Van. Wont you, Scudder?"
We'll. I don't know, Mr.. Van Brunt
I'm pretty busy now, and"
We'll pay you for your time. Of
course"
What about beds and cooking uten,
sils and so on ?" asks Hartley, consid'
ering some more.
"Scudderll buy 'em for us some
where's"
And milk, and eggs, and b~utter?"
"Scudder-till we get our own chick
ems and cow"
"And-er-well, a cook? Who'll do
the cooking?"
Van Brunt stoops down and slaps
me on the shoulder.
Pratt" says he Pratt will come
here and cook for us, and navigate us,
and be our general manager. Prattl
the boy!"
Hold on there!" / sings out. "Avast
heaving, will you. II you think for
n minute that I'm going to quit my
summer job to come to this hole and
live, you're"
You're coming" says Van. Never
mind the price; We'll pay 1t. Now shut
up! you're coming"
What can you say to a chap like
that? I groaned.
Live on Horsefoot Bar" I says
Live on it,"
-Horsefoot Barr" says Van. rs that
it, name? Well, it's Horsefoot Bar nc
more. I've been evolving a name ever
since I began to breathe here. Breathe
Martini" he says. Draw q good
breath. That's it, That's pure ozone
Gentlemen, permit me to introduce to
you, Ozone island"
Scudder grinned. He was feeling
ready to grin at most anything just
then.
Ozone island?" says Hartley,
Ozone island. A restful name. Well
les a restful spot. Isn't it, skipperf'
YES" says l. las restful as being
buried alive; and pretty nigh a pleas
ant"
CTo BE coNTINUED)