The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-05-04

You bet | didn't. There'd have
been mutiny right then if I'd caught
sight of yon You little Ss.nipin. Play
in it on your Uncle Cy. was you? |
didn't know yOu could keep a secret so
WE'LL
"Oh. yes. can: Why. I know an
ever so much bigger secret too. 1t
is Why most forgot! You just
wait"
| The captain laughingly begged her
! to divulge the big secret. but she shook
her small head and refused The
horses trotted on at a lively pace. and
the miles separating Ostable and Bay
port were subtracted one by one. 1t
was magnificent winter weather The
snow had disappeared from the road,
except in widely separated spots. but
the big drifts still heaped the fields
and shone and sparkled in the sun
shine. Against their whiteness the
pitch pines and cedars stood darkly
green and the skeleton scrub oaks and
bushes cast delicate blue penciled
shadows. The bay. seen over the
flooded. frozen salt meadows and dis
tant dunes. was in its winter dress Of
the deepest sapphire. trimmed with
whitecaps and fringed with stranded
Ice cakes. There were snap and tang
In the breeze which braced one like a
tonic. The party in the carriage was
gay one.
Getting tired. captain p asked Pea
body
"Who? Me? Well, guess not.
Most home. Bos'n. There's the salt
works ahead there"
They passed the abandoned salt
works, the crumbling ruins of dead
industry. and the boundary stone. now
half hidden in a drift, marking the be-
ginning of Bayport township. Then
from the pine grove Mt the curve far
ther on. appeared two capped and
coated figures. performing a crazy fan
dango.
who's them two lunatics." inquired
Captain Cy. "whoopin' and carryin' on
in the middle of the road? Has any
body up this way had a jug come by
express Or Hey! What? Why, you
old idiots you. Come here and let me
get hold of your
The board Of strategy swoOped down
upon the carriage like Trumet mos
quitoes on summer boarder. They
swarmed into the vehicle. Bailey on
the front seat and Asaph in the rear.
where. somehow or other. they made
h: hnn Hc.ho Il
ings and thumps on the back.
what you dom way up here in the
west end of nowhere?" demanded Cap
tain Cy. by the big dipper, I'm glad
to see you! How'd you get here?'
walked" cackled Bailey. "frogged
it all the way. Soon's Mrs. Peabody
wired you was goin' to ride, me and
Ase started to meet you. Want you
surprised?''
1--WE wanted to be the fust to say
howdy, old man." explained Acaph
WANTED to welcome you back. you
know"
The captain was immensely pleased.
well. I'm glad I've, got so much
popularity, anyhow" he said. "Guess
twill be different when l get down
street, hey? Don't callate Tad and
Angie II shed the joyous tear over me.
Never mind; longs my friends are glad
don't care about the rest"
The board looked at each other.
'"Tad?" repeated Bailey. And An
gle? What you talkin' about? Why.
they Ugh"'
The last exclamation was the result
Of a tremendous dig in the ribs from
the Tidditt fist. Asaph, who had lean
ed forward to administer it. was.
frowning and shaking his head. Mr..
Bangs reapsed into grinning silence.
West Bayport seemed to be deserted.
At one or two houses, however. fem
mime heads appeared at the windows.
One old lady shook calico apron at
the carriage. A child beside her cried
"Hurrah!'
AUNT Hepsy h'istin' colors by mis-
takev' laughed the captain. "She amt
got her specs. guess. and thinks I'm
Heman That comes Of ridin' astern
of span. Peabody"
But as they drew near the center
flags were flying from front yard poles.
Some Of the houses were decorated.
what in the world began Captain
Cy. Land sakes! Look at the school
house, and Simmons. and-and Simp-
son's"
The schoolhouse flag was Tapping In
the wind. The SCARED wooden pillars
of its portico were hidden with bunt-
ing. Simmons front displayed a row
Of little banners. each bearing letter.
The letters spelled Welcome Home"
Tad's barber shop was more or less
artistically wreathed in colored tissue
paper. There. too, flag was draped
over the front door. Yet not a single
person was I'm sight.
For goodness sake" cried the be-.
wildered captain whats all - this
meant And where Is everybody?
Have all hands'-
He stopped in the middle Of: the sen
tence. They were at the foot OF
Whittaker's HILL Its top. between the
Atkins gate and the whitaker fence,
was black with people. Children
pranced about the outskirts. Of the
kA.a