Crittenden record-press., 1913-05-29
T.. ". Oakley
THE FELLOW THAT APPRECIATES YOUR Blu!

'lm-.Z.s. -
was nailed to the top of the pole. AL
though it was hazardous thing to do.
| found it more comfortable than cling
ing to the smooth serface of the pole.
"'Well, ma, he's slick looking cit
izen all right, remarked Billy, after
he had taken good look at me, but
he doesn't look like he'd hurt anybody.
He d never take the prize at beauty
show, would he, ma?'
"'No, he wouldn't. Billy, (tee-heeD
replied Fluffy, but of course the poor
fellow can't help his looks. | think,
too, there's something wrong with his
head. You and old Bounce can stay
here and guard him, Billy, and will
walk down the lane to see if | can't
meet your pa coming home. I'm un-
easy about Reuben.
Fluffy passed through the gate,
walked on down the lane and disap-
peared down the road. The moon was
still shining, but her pale light came
down through feecy clouds which chas-
ed each other through the sky, casting
ghost-like shadows across the lane and
fields, and, though l myself was un-
enviably situated, my heart went out
to Fluffy, poor thing. in her lonely
walk, knowing that she was distressed
because of my supposed absence.
BILLY and the dog took their places
near the pole to guard me. After sit
ting there for perhaps half an hour,
Billy looked up at me and said:
"'Old fellow, how are you getting
along up there? Pa is long time
coming, and Pm getting dad gum d
hungry. If you will get down and
then light out as fast as you can go,
I'll hold the dog until you can get
away
81 could see no good in my sitting
up there on that blamed martin-box
all night, waiting for some imaginary
bewhiskered Reuben to appear. so
accepted Bills proposition.
"Sliding down the pole, once more
stood on mother earth, Billy holding
on to the dog, which was making des-
perate efforts to get at me.
"'Now, be off as fast as your legs
will carry you,' said Billy. i don't
know how long IN be able to hold old
Bounce.
81 started down the lane in run,
determined to go to the home of my
nearest neighbor, Peter Brown, who,
l reflected, would know me, since he
was in the barber shop when ! was
deprived of my whiskers.
"As was fastening on in full tilt,
l saw, through the dim moonlight, the
form of Fluffy coming up the lane to-
ward me on her return home. The
poor thing looked about down and out,
and again could but feel sorry for
her.
"As approached her, could see
that she recognized me-not as her
husband and the father of Billy, but
as the man.up-the-martin-pole. Con-
sequently, didn't have to urge her to
give me the right of way to the mid
die of the road, for she gave me a
wide berth and only slightly bowed to
me as rushed bv, giving a good-by
wave of the hand as passed.
"When got to the end of the lane
l slackened my speed and walked lels-
urely down the road toward the home
of Peter Brown. 1t was only short
distance, and when l arrived at the
gate called him out.
Peter, l said. getting down to bus
mess at once, 4 want YOU to acco m
pany me home and identify me to my
family
"Peter, who was a good neighbor.
readily agreed to do so, and we started
back to my home ut once.
"As we approached the house. told
Peter to take the lead. which he did,
the two of US passing through the gate