The Echo register. (Echo, Umatilla County, Or.) 190?-1909, 1909-07-09
~ship. The Doctor gave q con.


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 a comprehensive survey. then
set II down. and drew himself up. The
instant he cleared the opening Jim.
iny's head popped through 1t. his legs
swiftly following.
The loft was the store room for dis
carded books and wrecks OF furniture,
piled about In disOrderly fashion, On
a 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 It. Jimmy
snatched the lantern and diyed down
to the ladder. He thought he saw
something stir back In among the
piles Of books. II might bs a rat. II
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. II pleased him 10 hear
Jimmy sneeze. gag. and try TO spit
out the dust
But his smile only lasted until he
had united the package. when It
changed to a prolonged stare. accom-.
panied by melancholy whistle. He's
got It after all. Jimmy" he said;
hes gone and got It 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
II he didn't put 'em there TO cheat?'
He held up an object that threw Jim
my back In commissions Of mirth.
"Breeches-his old work breeches'
Oh. Moses--and we've been thinking
1t was the flag. Oh. sposin' we'd
tried TO run them up tomorrow morn
and Jimmy rolled on a desk quite
helpless.
The Doctor did not laugh He re-
garded the garment with his chin
resting on his hands. while a perplex.
ed frown drew his brows together
That's what he was up 10. Let's see:
this Is how he said Il: 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 tells
him: Our flags going up here on the
morning OF the Fourth OF July. be-
cause here's where II belongs says |.
Give you treat all round for the
use OF It, says he. No. sir says l.
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 II. but We gave the most and It's
ours AN right; keep your old flag.
saws he. but knew by the twinkle In
his eyes that he was bound TO get II
somehow, II we didn't hide 1t away
from him. but | didn't 'spect he'd Ne
after II before tonight. I've been up
here most every day, and II LOOKED
all right Just his smartness TO stick
his odd breeches there and make us
think twas safe till we started TO run
It up; say It's mean OF him II he is
my uncle"
Dad says he's Trlckey by name
aud trickey by nature" Jimmy was
venturing 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. we'll
have our dag on our own flagstaff u
we have TO chop theirs down. Now
YOU listen. lie and Nick Fielding and
Joe Strayer and lot OF the other
hrehoys II stay up I'll midnight to
blow OF the anyil-you know they al
ways do. Then they keep up a racket
FOR a while. run up the flag and "a
home for a nap. When they 20 home
for a nap this time. Jimmy. Wen jerk
our nag down IN a hurry"
Moses wcll have TO hang round
and watch them all night"
Who's cariu, ia lieycr stay up
Ten nights than have Harry Trickey
keep our flag on his old pole"
Il don't believe we can haul &,
down by ourselves"
"Pshaw. It's just like pulling (,
down here. only the ropes are long.
| er."
Particularly dear 20 the heart Of
The Doctor was District Seyen's new
nag lie had been the originator ol
The plan to purchase e, the most per.
-is.rnt begsag oi contributions. and
despite rooted objections TO manual
labor. had even dug and delved 10 add
20 the fund Therefore he felt a spe-
cial proprietary right In the banner
that was to float over the school house
during certain patriotic exercises on
the morning ~ ;he Fourth
hut the village of Amadan. near
the outskirts of which the school
house stood. had park. flag pole