Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-31

jet fit in the first entrance.
After his thrashing that night slipped into his
room. knew nothing to do for him but to apply
some camphorated oil to the wets on his thin shoul
ders "You see" he explained, twisting his wet little
face at the smart, "she got tonight cause this
time couldn't yell loud enough to stop her, like
mostly do. I'd have walked up the boarders and that
would have shamed poor motherer awful"
1t during the next season when was still at
the old stand, and the Brandshes playing III another
and distant city, that day the manager received
telegram asking tersely:
Hare you seen n1y Johnnie in Columbus?
same Brandish"
And this again was followed by the message from
brother manager:
sSpare enpchsc-tcar for little chaps mind. Ran
a,cay, perhaps after Indians-hunt up former boy
chMn,s. Things bad here r. a."
We were all shockel-all sympathetic I gave the
of Patsy Grogan, B1indy Pete and big Jim
Moran; but their aristocratlc addresses I'M
known to me- / could do no more
Next day Hattie, my roommate. and I sat in sad
silence in dull boarding house room, goolning over
the missing boy and his frantic mother. heard tap
the door and possibility flashed in my mind.
opened the door very quietly, and there in the dngy
hall poised one foot. the other extended ready for
instant flight, stood little Jack Brandish. With one
swift glance he swept first the room beyond, then
turning to gave little startled and shrank
violently away. But my hand on his shoulder,
while laughed "No Jack, you don't! Draggle-
tail dresses have not changed me one Bit But come
in from this freezing hall and let us talk a while;
I'm glad to you y"
When I had drawn him into the better lighted
his appearance shocked So had to turn my face
aside to wink away the tears while he rather sfly
received the greeting of Hattie, who at once donned
hat and cloak. @.s{
where's she gOing?" he asked suSpiciously. as he
tried to edge toward the door. ITO the. theatre?'
"oh, no. responded Hattie, lightly, ..Tm only going
down to Bains, to try to match this ribbon and she
q n niece living the table
AS she left, sprang after her and under cover
Of laughing wrangle about her habit of leaving the
quick, but tell him not to let Jack know sent for
him" Then closed the door and turned to find my
guest almost holding the small stove in his arms in
his eagerness for warmth; for the cold seemed to
have penetrated the very Of his quaking little
body AS busted myself mending the fire asked:
Whatever brought you to Columbus, Jack!
"Oh" said he, passing chapped and infamed hand
across his brow in careless man-abouttown manner.
Ger, just came up to see the boys and enjoy
IL lump in my throat for his fair hair decently
smoothed in front at the back treacherousy betrayed
him, as there were tangled in it wisps Of straw and
hay. Poor little runaway!
Turning to me, he said, "You used to know lots Of
things! want to know If the men lied to me the
other night, riding along in the caboose; they said
that the wild Indians Of the plains farther away
from Columbus than Columbus is from Cincinnati
but that's bounder, amt 1t!
mo, I'm afraiC not, Jack. The Indians are days
and nights farther away to the West, and besides
they not wild: there only tame Indians now"
NO. not exactly Uncle Sans soldiers labored with
them earnestly, and his cavity is still coaxing them
to keep off the warpath, and do a little farming"
"Have they stopped destroying the gently nurtured
white women with babes in their arms?
tried not to smile as recognized that speech
from wretehed border drama.
Eyes the gently nurtured are perfectly safe now.
"Well, if they've cut out the dance the scalps,
and the slaughter of women and babes why, that
busts up the Indian business and s'pose it doesn't
matter so much about Bndy Pete being back
down and turncoat Why, last season he wouldn't ever
let rest, he crazy to go hunt redskins. He
wanted me to hook two coonskin caps from the prop
erty man. and said he'd rip the fringe all off the Win
dow shades. SO could sew it down our breeches
legs like hunters do And he stole his fathers Ratchet
for tomahawk, and his mother licked him for trying
to take blanket for us to sleep In. And then when
come back here all ready to 60 West with MIN, he
began to back down.
sHave you anyone Lesides Blindy Pete yet?''
paused.
"Yes?-he rather decent boy. You saw him?'
"N-n-no not to speak to. i looked in at the Win
dow and they were all just sitting down to supper.
and-(hs voice sank very low)-and was ashamed
to 90 in just at mealtime like wanted something
went away ra
Der old gray Billy the horse that hauled the wood?
Well just went down to his stable, by the river and
he was there, and he knew me, and he was SO warm
and the straw was real Deep and guess fell asleep
there"
caught the chapped little hands in mine: @Jack--
Jack boy! listen to me-be honest dear, to your old
chum! You had no supper-have you had any break
fast? Have you had any lunch!
He lifted his head high, but 1t could not stay lifted
His white face drooped-his voice shook, as ne so aa
thing keeps biting at me- and get kind OF dizzy wnen
walk
1 rushed from the room, turning the key In the
lock precaution and presently managed 10 get
sandwiches and bowl Of coffee
AS Jack began ravenously his food, I said to