The Redwood gazette., 1910-04-06

have called to see Mr.. Peter Brown; he
is-er-a relative of mine"
You don't say says !. "Come right
up and set down, Mr. Mr.
Montague says the feller-" Booth
Montague
So he come up the steps and set
down in a piazza chair like King Ed
ward perching on his throne. We told
him all about Peter and Belle and
Ebenezer, and about Stumpton and
Maudina He was good deal inter-
ested and asked considerable many
questions. Pretty soon we heard a
carriage rafting up the road.
"Hellov says |. Il guess that's
Peter and the rest coming now
Mr.. Montague got off his throne kind
of sudden.
"Ahemp' says he. as there room
here where may ay-er-receive Mr..
Brown in less public manner? 1t will
be rather surprise for him.
and
Well, there was a good deal of sense
in that. | know 'twould surprise me
to have such an image as he was
sprung on me without any notice. We
steered him into the gents parlor and
shut the door, and when the decks
was clear Jonadab and me tackled
Peter 7.
Peter" says Jonadab, we've got a
surprise for you. One of your rela-
tions has come"
Brown, he did look surprised, but he
didn't act as he was any too joyful.
Relation of mine!" says he Come
off! What's his namey
We told him Montague-Booth Mon
tague. He laughed.
'Wake up and turn over," he says.
ssThey never had anything like that in
my family. Booth Montague! Sure
'twa'n't Aigernon CoughdropsY
The checkerboard feller was stand
ing up when we opened the door.
''Hello, Petey!' says he. cool as GU
cumber and sticking out foot and a
half of wrist with hand at the end
! of it.
Now, it takes considerable to upset
Peter Theodosius Brown. Up to that
time and hour I'd have bet on him
against anything short of an earth
quake. But Booth Montague done it
knocked him plumb out of water.
Peter actually turned white.
Great he began and then stop
ped and swallered. ''Hanky' he says.
and set down in chair.
tdTho SO r,oa xycs s<DoAoxy
it does me good to set my eyes on
you. especially now, when you're the
real thing"
Brown never answered for a minute.
Then he canted over to port and
reached down into his pocket. "Well,''
| says he, 'how much?'
But Hank, or Booth, or Montague
whatever his name was-he waved his
1ipper disdainful "Nun-nun-nun-no,' -
Petey, my son. he says, smiling 'It
amt how much this time. I've come
to live with you, Petey, and you pay
the freight"
Peter jumped out of the chair. "Live
with me!7 he says. "You Friday even
ing amateur night! It's back to Ten
Nights In Barroom' for yoursr' he
says.
'sOh, no, it ain't!7 says Hank, cheer
full. It'll be back to Pepper Dillaway
and Belle. When I tell 'em I'm your
little cousin Henry and how you and
me worked the territories together
why, well, l guess therell be gladness
round the dear home nest. Hey!"
Peter didn't say nothing. Then he
fetched long breath and motioned
with his head to Capn Jonadab and
me. We see we weren't invited to the
family reunion, so we went out and
shut the door.
1t was most an hour afore Brown
come out of that room. When he did
he took Jonadab and me by the arm
and led US out back of the barn.
"Fellers," he says, sad and mourn
full. ''that-that plaster cast In a crazy
quilt" he says, referring to Montague,
is my cousin all right, and his
names Hank Schmults. but the sooner
You box that fact up in your forgetory
the smoother twill be for yours drear-
lily, Peter T. Brown. He's to be Mr.
Booth Montague, the celebrated Eng
lish poet, SO longs he hangs out at the
Old Home, and he's to hang out here
until-well, until can dope out way
to get rid Of him.
What makes you call him a poet?"
Jonadab says.
Peter answered pretty snappy:
"'Cause there's only two or three jobs
that a long haired image like him
could hold down." he says. I'D call
him a musician If he could play Be
della on a jewsharp But he can't.
SOS he's got to be poet"
And poet he was for the next week
or so. Peter drove down to Wellmouth
that night and bought some respecta-
bic black clothes, and the follering
morning when the celebrated Booth
Montague come sailing into the dining
room, with his curls brushed back
from his forehead and his new cut
away on and his wrists covered up
with clean cuffs, blessed if he didn't
1rol~ afcfira fcI f~~-4 a.