The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-07-31

| having sent Hank to the bank in the
meantime to have him out of the way
and found the key carefully hidden
away under an empty barrel As Bar.
ker had suspected it had been tan,,ed
The mystery of Hanks supply was
solved.
"Now." said the doctor as be left
81 want you to send Hank Jones to the
college this afternoon before 3 O'Clock
with that key Impress it upon him to
be prompt-the lecture begins at 81
Barker nodded ass1rance
Hank was very much put out OF
countenance when he came back and
found the keg upon his desk He turn.
| ed suddenly with the remark that he
had something to do in the warehouse
Flight was naturally his first impulse
on seeing himself discovered.
Hank" said Barker. OBTAINING him,
Il just found that keg of DR.. Boden's
this morning, and l wish you'd take it
up to the college after the 2:42 this
afternoon. He's been down after it
several times"
Hank could hardly credit the testi-
mony Of his ears. He had expected
recriminations. revilings. discharge or
even worse when his fault was discov-
cred. Could it bS possible that they
did not know it yet? TO be sure he
had been extremely careful in tapping
! it, but. nevertheless. it plainly showed.
Surely they must have seen it. And
vet nothing was said.
However If concealment was the
word he was very strong for conceal
ment He would play his part At
2:45 he made ready to trudge out of
the station and up the hill with his
heavy load to the college. Barker
swore that he heard him sigh regret
fully as he careSsingly lifted the heavy
keg and departed.
DR.. Boden met him at the entrance
Good" he exclaimed. Il was afraid
you wouldn't be here in time for my
lecture and needed this for demon
stration."
He led the way to the lecture room.
where were awaiting them perhaps a
dozen students with notebooks in hand.
"Sit down for few minutes said
the doctor to Hank. You'll be inter-
ested in this"
He closed the door. and Hank sank
into chair behind the students. won
dering rather uncomfortably what
would happen when DR.. Boden found
his key third emptied. as be judged
it must be by this time. But he was
in for it now he knew. so he gritted
his teeth firmly together and watched
while the doctor began skillfully to
pry open the head of the keg.
II have here" began the doctor in
the usual formal tones of his lecture
II have here. gentlemen" he continued
as be removed the top and. puttin. on
pair of rubber gloves. began to g:",,e
about in the interior. "a specimen
which l have only been able to pro-
cure with great difficulty in this Sc
cluded place and in ways into which
hope you will not inquire too deeply.
specimen which | know will greatly
interest YOU" And with that he drew
forth from the dripping alcohol and
held before their eyes-the awful head
of negro!
Like the Gorgon's head in the hands
of cOnquering PerSeus. this horrible
thing confronted them with a distort-
ed. frozen grin upon it's features. But
to the medical students it was as moth
ing. They gazed upon it with absorb
ed interest shining in their fascinated
eyes,.
"Now. gentlemen" pursued the doc
tor. with twinkle behind his specta-
cles as he watched the whitening, hor-
ror stricken features of Hank Jones,
I'VE will
But he never finished that sentence.
There was stified sound as of a NOR
tai choking in agony and dull thud
as Hank Jones dropped to the floor in
a dead faint
A few moments suficed to revive
him.
1T is really too bad of me. Mr..
JONES' said DR.. Boden. Il should
have realized how it might affect one
on seeing such thing for the first
time. We physicians grow hardened.
and. of course. we don't think Of it at
all. Only | noticed that you had
great interest in kegs-this one espe-
cially-and l thought you ought to
know what it contained after taking
such good care of it."
1t was cruel revenge for such a lit
tie thing as tapping keg of alcohol.
Hank looked feebly into the doctors
grimly smiling face. but replied never
a word.
Half an hour later Barker opened a
note which was brought to him by one
Of the Joneses' neighbours boys:
Dear Mr. Barker-I don't suppose Hank
will be able to work any more this after.
noon. He had a severe nervous shock
he was nearly run over by livery team
on his way from the college and is very
much upset. l think he will be all right
by morning. MRS. HANK JONES.
Barker read it over again before he
sent it by the waiting boy to the col
lege for DR.. Roden. During the after
noon he burst frequently into unex-
pected fits Of laughter over the routine
work of the depot and occasioned much
wonder among the waiting passengers.
who were apparently so constituted
mentally as to require visible cause
in the case of sudden hilarity.
OF course the story got out Stories
H., L. Dad r o,,l,