The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-10-02

FifSt-thuIb, LETT hGnd-ADe nae
insisted on extending their scooter
sail until he, Samuel, had felt his toes
freezing In his boots.
Second forchngcr, left hand-on
being welcomed by the entire force ut
Bleak lin and asked how long they
expected to stay Abe had blurted out,
"A hull week." explaining that Sam.
uels rule requiring at least seven days
of exile from his wife every six months
barred them from returning In less
time.
The Keeper was a widowcr, all tho
other men were bachelors. How could
they be expected to understand? They
burst into guifaw of laughter, and
Abe, not even conscious that he had
betrayed a sacred confidence, sput-
tered and laughed with the rest
Samuel lad half a mind TO return
tomorrow Jest to spite EN-" Let's
see, hos many days Of this plagued
week were left? Six. Six whole
twenty.four hours away from Blossy
and his snug. warm, comfortable nest.
She wasn't used to keepin' house by
her to wind the clock on Thursday,
and feed the canary, and water the
abutilou and bcgonias cglar?
Grimly Samuel took up ofiense No.
3. Abraham had further told the men
that he had been brought over here
for hardening process; but he was
willing TO bet that If Samuel could
keep up with him, he could keep up
with Samuel
Then followed offense on offense
Was Samuel to be outdone on his own
one.time field OF action by an old
ladies' darling? No!
When Abe sat for a half.hour in the
lookout up In the freezing. cold Gu
pola, and did duty lest to be smart"
Samuel sat there on top Of his own
feet, too
When Abe helped drag out the ap-
paratus cart over the heavy sands for
the drill Samuel helped, too. And
/ how Juggling at that rope brought back
] his lumhacol
When Abe rode in the breechee-
buoy. Samuel insisted on playing the
sole survivor of a shipwreck too, and
went climbing stlHiy and lumberingly
up the practise mast.
Abraham refused to take a nap after
4 dinner; $50 did Samuel Abe went
down to the outdoor carpenter shop in
the grove and planed a board Just for
the love Of cxcrtion. Samuel planed
two boards and drove a nail.
We've got two schoolboys with
US" said the keeper and the crew
"Ef I'd a.knowcd that yew had more
lives n my Maltese cat" Samuel was
muttering over Abe by this time,
I'd"
Count, count went Captain Darby
fingers. He heard the keeper rafting
papers in the office Just across the
threshold, heard him say he was about
TO turn in. and guessed Samuel had
better do likewise; but Samuel kept
on counting.
Count, count. went fhe arraigning
fingers Gradually he grew drowsy,
but still he went over and over poor
Abe's oifenses, counting on until OF a
sudden he realized that he was no
longer numbering the Gins OF his COM
panion; he was measuring In minutes
the time he must spend away from
Blossy and Twin Coyes, and the be-
gonias and the canary and the cat.
| What would Bossy say II she could
feel the temperature OF the room in
which he was supposed to sleep?
What would Blossy say II she knew
how his back ached7 Whatever would
Blossy do to Abe Rose II she could sus.
pect how he had tuckered out her odd
mani"
He's a regular boss" brooded Sam.
uel. "Oh, my feet!" grabbing at his
right boot ''I'll bet yer all got It's
them air chilblains That's what" he
added, unconsciously speaking aloud
Abes lids slowly lifted. He rubbed
his eyes and yawned He turned his
head on his hard, blue glngham-cov.
cred pillow, and stared sleepily at the
other.
"Yew been noddin', Sam1? Amt
gittin' sleepy Already, are yer?" He
glanced at the clock. why, It's only
half.past nine. Say what's the matter
with me an yew goin' west ter meet
No. s? Leetle breath o. fresh air'll
make us sleep splendid"
He started up from the couch, but
dropped back, too heavy with weari
ness to carry of his brayado Samuel
however. not noticing the discrepancy
between speech and action. was al
ready at the door leading upstairs.
"Yew don't drag me out o this sta
ton ternight. Abe Rose. Yew're a
regular boss; that's what yew be. A
reg'lai boss! A reg'lar--a reg'lar-'
He flung open the door and went
trudsing as fast as his smarting feet
could carry him up the steep and mar
row steps. wherein the passing OF
other feet for many years had worn
little hollows on either side.
Abraham limped from the couch to
the door himself. and called after him
"Saml. don't yew want tew sleeI