The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-09-29

been found out about that Thomas
thing?
Course 7 amt. Didn't Peabody say
not to tell soul till We was sure
S'pose I'd tell Keturah and Angie?
Nights well paint it on a sign and be
done with 1t. NO, no! I've Kept mum,
and you do the same. Well, I must be
goin'. Hope to goodness we hear some
good news from Whit by tomorrer."
But when tomorrow came news OF
any kind was unobtainable. No trains
could get through, and the telephone
and telegraph wires We're out or com
mission owing to the great storm. Bay
port was buried under a white coverlet
three feet thick on a level, which
shone In the winter sun as If powdered
with diamond dust. The street shovel
ing brigade, meaning most of the ac-
tive male citizens. was busy with
plows and shovels. Simmons was de-
serted In the evening, for most Of the
regular habitues went to bed after sup
per tired out.
Two days of this; then Gabe Lum-
ley, bis depot wagon replaced by q
sleigh, drove the painting Daniel into
the yard or the Cy Whitaker place.
Gabe was much excited. He had news
Of Importance to communicate and was
pulled up in consequence.
'The wires all right again, Georgi-
anna" he said to the housekeeper, who
had hurried to the door to meet him.
''F'ust message just come through.
Guess who its for?"
"Stop your foolishness, Gabe Lum-
ley" ordered Miss Taylor. ''Hand
over that telegram this minutel Don't
you stop to talk! Hand It over~
Gabe didn't intend to be ''corked"
thus peremptorily.
Its pretty important news, Georgi-
anna" he declared. kind Of bad
news too. I think I'd ought to prepare
you for It sort Of. When Cap'n Obed
Pepper died r
Died! For the land sakes! What
are you sayin'? Give me that, you
fool head! Give It to mer'
She snntched the telegram from him
and tore 1t open. It was not as bad as
It might have been, but 1t was bad
enough. Lawyer Peabody wired that
Captain Cyrus Whitaker was at hits
home In OWtable sick In bed and threat
ened with pneumonia.
Captain Cy, hurrying homeward In
response to the attorneys former tele-
gram, bad reached Boston the day of
the blizzard He had taken the train
for BaFport that afternoon. The train
had reached Ostnble, after O'Clock
The captain, burning with fever and
torn by chills, had wnllowed through
the drifts to his lawyers home and
collapsed on hrs doorstep. Now he was
very i'll and at times delirious
Fog two weeks he lay, fighting OF
the threatened attack OF pneumonia.
But he won the fight, and at last
word came to the anxious ones at
Bayport that he was past the danger
point and would pull through. There
was rejoicing at the Cy Whitaker
place. The board Of strategy came and
performed an impromptu war dance
around the dining room table.
"Whe-e-eT' shouted Bailey Bangs,
tossing Bos'n above his head. Your
Uncle Cy's weathered the Horn and is
bound for clear water now. Three
cheers for our sideI Won't we give
him reception when we get him back
herer'
Wont wer' crowed Asaph- We'll,
I Just guess we will! You ought to
hear Angie and the rest Of 'em chant
hymns Of glory about him. a body d
think they always knew he was the
salt of the earth. Maybe don't rub
it in a little, hey? Oh, no, maybe
notv'
Sand Hemanr chimed in MI. Bangs.
"And HemanI Would you ever believe
he'd change so all of sudden2 Bully
old Whit! 7 can mention his name
now without Ketury's landin' on to
me like q snowsIide. Vince! 7 say
| wh-e-e-e"
He continued to say &c, and Georgi-
anna and Asaph said what amounted
to the same thing. A change had come
over our Bayport social atmosphere, q
marvellous change. And at Simmons
and-more wonderful still-at Tad
Simpsons barber shop plans were
being made and perfected for proceed
ings In which Cyrus Whitaker was 70
play the most prominent part.
I Meanwhile the convalescence went
on at rapid rate. As soon as he was
permitted to talk Captain Cy began
to question his lawyer. How about
the appeal? Had Atkins done any
thing further: The answers were sat
isfactory. The case had been dropped
the Honorable Heman had announced
its withdrawal He had said that he
had changed his mind and should not
continue to cspouse the Thomas cause
In fact, he seemed to have whirled
completely about on his pedestal and,
like compass. now pointed only n
one direction-toward his "boyhood
friend" and present neighbor. Cyrus
Whitaker.
"Its perfectly astounding" com
mented Peabody. What In the world,
captain. did you do to him while you
were in Washington"
"Oh, nothin' much" was the rather
disinterested answer. Him and me
had talk, and be saw the error Of his
ways, I cal'late How's Bos'n today?
Did you give her my love when you