Graham guardian., 1911-07-28

I In the breeze which braced one like a
tonic. The party in the carriage was
a gay one.
"Getting tired, captainT asked Pea
body.
"Who1 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 drift. marking the be.
ginning of Bayport township Then
from the pine grove at the curve far
Their 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 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,
i where, somehow or other, they made
room for him. There were handshak-
| ings and thumps on the back.
"What you dom way up here in the
west end Of nowhereT' demanded Cap.
tain Cy. by the big dipper. I'm glad
10 see you! How'd you get here2"
walked" cnckled Bailey. "frogged
II 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 Asaph,
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 get down
street, hey? Don't cal'lute Tad and
Angie II shed the Joyous tear over mo
Never mind; longs my friends are glad
dOn't'care about the rest"
The board looked at each other.
"TadT repeated Bailey. And An
gle? What you talkin' about? Why,
they Ugh"
The last exclamation was the result
of tremendous dig in the ribs from
the Tidditt fist. Asaph. who had lean
ed forward to administer II. was
frowuing and shaking his head. Mr..
Bangs relapsod into grinning silence.
West Bnyport seemed to be deserted,
At one or two houses. however. FEM
inine heads appeared NJ the wiad"ws.
Onr old lady shook call,o apron Mt
the carriage a child beside her cried
"IIurrah!
Aunt Ilcpsy h'lstin' colors by mis-
taker' laughed the captain "She amt
got her specs. ! guess. and thinks I'm
leman That comes 1T ridin astcrn
Of span. Peabody"
hut as they Grew near the center
flags were dying from front yard poles.
Some of the houses We're decorated.
"What IN the world began Captain
Cy. LAND sakes. Look AT the school
house, and simmons. and and Simp.
sons."
The schoolhouse flag was tapping In
the wind The SCARED wooden pillars
Of It's portico were hidden with bunt-
Ing. Simmons frcnt displayed row
Of little banners. each bearing Il letter.
The letters spelled "Welcome Home!
Tad's barber shop was more or less
artistically wreathed In colored tissue
paper. There. too. ilng was draped
over the front door. Yet not single
person was In sight.
"For goodness sake" cried the be-
wildered captain. whats all this
mean: And where IL everybodyi
Have all hands"
He stopped In the middle Of the sen.
tence. They were II, tho foot OF
Whittakcr's hill : Its top. between the
Atkins gate and the Whitaker fence,
was black with people. Children
pranced about the outskirts Of the
crowd A shout came down the wind
The horses. not In the least fatgucd
by their long canter. trOtted up the
slope. The shouting grew louder A
wave of youngsters came racing to
meet the equipage,
"Wha, what In timer" gasped Cap
tain Cy. whats up? r.
And then the town clerk seized him
by the arm. Peabody shcok his other
hand Bos'n threw her arms about his
neck. Bailey stood up and waved his
hat
"lt's you, you old crltter!" whooped
Asaph "It's you. d'you understandY'
THE appropriation has at last gone
through" explained the lawyer. land
this is the celebration In consequence.
And you are the star attraction. be-
cause. you see. every one knows you
are responsible for It."
That's what!' howled the excited
Bangs. "And we're going to show you
what we think Of you for dom IT,.
We've been plannln' this for over a
fortnl't."
"And knew It all the time,"
squealed Bos'n. "and didn't tel! a
word. did IT.
"Three cheers for Captain Whit
taker!" beloved person in the crowd.
This person wonder Of wondersl-wa
Tad Simpson.
The cheering was. considering the
size of the crowd, tremendous. Be.
wiidered and amazed. Captain Cy was
assisted from the carriage and escort
ed to his front door. Amid the hand
kerchief waving, applauding people he
saw Keturah Bangs and Alpheus
Smalley and Angeline Phinney and