Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1910-08-25

ny God Il e mans been outside tie
T-alis for years y0u can't blame him
for wanting 70 loot ~ the flowers q
miuuse Il Re gets inro tho garden some
DAY That can't harm them"
Gene do you know you're crazy
yor-selfs-- sadly pronounced Buuce.
With Z shake of the head They say
then loOnies do know il sometimes
and nice. cTazy turn you done me
TO. tvin= ne NJ here with folks Ike
flfcse- he added. with vehement re
Uraach as full realization Of his many
yTToucs oyercane him You know
never had Ho1hin' 10 say 10 no ladies.
and IS soon as I eTer soc one CHOKE
up. ana NY neck gets bot and my ears
N I'D Interduced me as bis seere-
Ta-y.- a=ain appealing 10 the invisible
audience. Waugh, Secretary, Ia
mike q h Of q secretary. wouldn't
I. Come on. Gene Pry yourself
loose from All this darn fOolishness
be1ore its too late
1--we already given you nv deci-
SIGN interrupted Kirby. with some
aspe-ity. but I-arkin. don't Jet my
affairs de1ain YOU
Bunce. after q farewell invocation of
the heavens. resigned himself 10 the
inevitable and. seating himself on the
garden seat. proceeded TO pick his
teeth, while he fastened q piaintive
and expectant eye on the distant
house
The partners sat in moody silence
f0- some time until AZ length their
raveries were Interrupted by the ad-
vent Of Judge Pleydell Mr.. Randall
ard NJ. Veaudry. The judge had but
returned from the steamboat landing,
and as he approached the occupants
Of tie garden seat his expression was
Of so serious a character that Bunce.
ever on the lockout for trouble, now
scented danger and nudging his com
panion- jumped 10 his feet But Kir-
by though wary eyed. remained out
yTardlr cool and entirely self possess
eC and. embracing this heaven sent
opportunity ~ further agETavating his
partner. promptly introduced the lat
tsr as my secretary
Colonel Noreau. sir" began the
jude. somewhat astonished ar the fe-
ruciry u Nj Bunce's bow. 81 have the
INST astonishing piece Ct news for
you. What would you say II I told
you that yOu had no right 10 he here
al ali. sir:~
As Plevdell. preserving his stern de
manor, laid hand OF Kirby's shoul.
isT mis- companions exchanged startled
aLd sisnilean; glanees. while Nj
BuHce grew Apologize and edged
nearer his partner. All eyes were now
Oh Kirby. but his expression of mild
surprise and courteous interest never
tl-anged.
We'll. reckon I'd have TO say tina.
tie joke was Oh me- judge" he calmly
replied.
( Pieydell began n laugh
We'll. sir. according 10 rumOr. you
amt here. According TO rumor. you
amt anywhere. because you're dead"
To him IL was huge joke. ana he
roared until the tears mingled with
bis Snowy mustache ali ignorant Of
the fact that he had propounded a
literal truth; ignorant of the fact that
his companions We're still significantly
eying each other and that Mr.. Bunce
was having exceeding difficulty with
his collar. In fact. Kirby was the
sole member OF the interested audi
ence who appeared to appreciate the
fun humor OF the situation.
When Is my funeral?' he asked.
with smile. Il don't want to miss
that"
( His compOsure somewhat recovered.
but, still chuckling and occasionally go
ing OF into another spasm of laughter.
the judge proceeded TO explain the
manner in which be had gained the
interesting information.
'SThe afternoon steamer does not
stop. sir. and am Obliged TO row out
In boat to get MY letters. The news
was shouted TO US from the deck as
she moved away. Al could catch
was the words. Colonel AIoreau dead
and / think they added. This morn
ing The distance was too great for
me TO secure any further items from
that interesting liar. sir
! And. still laughing. Pleydell clapped
( Kirby on the shoulder. while Mr..
Bunce. drawing his first long breath.
mutely thanked the Almighty that all
guilelessness and innocence had not
entirely deserted mankind when the
serpent entered Eden.
But il was apparent that Mr.. Ran
dali and II. Yeaudry owned more dis
cernment and that their quick snspi-
cions. previously aroused. had now be-
come active, pregnant with danger. 1t
80 happened that they We're now aug
mented by none other than the Gen
eral, who would have died rather than
Willingly betray his trust During the
judges discourse the boy had Joined
the group. seeking ont Kirby as his
natural companion. Looking at the
others hand and again at his breast,
the General suddenly exclaimed: Il
know what ell those things are that
you wear They re caineOSr