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

d sly kick. I'VE was jest a.gwine
ter take leetle scooter sail" lie ad
justed the skirt of his coat in I'd
effort to hide Abe's carpetbag, his OVID
canvas satchel, and huge market
basket of good things which Blossy
had cooked for the life.savers. Seen
anythink OF that air Eph Seaman"
Samuel added shading his eyes with
his hand and peering out upon the
cleaning surface Of the bay, over
which the white sails of scoo'ers were
darling like flock Of huge, single
winged birds.
"Ephs racing with Captain Bill
Green" replied the newspaper man,
Captain Bill's got an extra set OF
new runners at the side of his scooter
and wants TO test them. Say, boys
looking from one to the other OF the
old fellows, 80 you're going scooter,
ing, Ell? Lively sport! Cold kind OF
sport for men OF your age. Do you
know, I've a good mind to run in to
morrow an article on Long Island and
Longevity. Taking headline, Ell!
Captain Rose" turning to Abe as Sam
uel would do no more than glover at
him, ito what do you attribute your
good health at your time of life?"
Abe grinned all over his face and
cleared his throat Importantly but
before he could answer, Samuel
growlcd:
Ter me! His health an his life
both. dragged him up out of death
bed only week ago"
The editor took out his notebook
and began scribbl!ng.
What brought you so low. Captain
Rosc?" he inquired without glancine
up. Again, before Abe could answer
Samuel trod on his toe
Thirty mollycoddline womcnfolks.'
Abe found his voice and slammed
the fist of one hand against the palm
OF the other
III you go an put that in the pa
per, Ill-I'll--'
Words failed him. He could see the
sisters fairly lighting for the posses
sion OF the Shoreyillc Herald tomor
row, evening, as they always scram
bled, each for the first glance at tho
only copy taken at the home, and he
could hear one reading his name aloud
reading of the black ingratitt de of
their brother member.
Jest say" he added eagerly that
the time fer old folks ter stick home
under the cellar door has passed. an
nobody is tew old ter go a.galliyantin'
nowadays. An then yew might men.
tion"-the old mans face was shining
now as he imagined Angys pleasure
that Mis- Rose is gone deown ter
Twin Coves ter visit Mis- Samuel Oar.
by fer week, an Cap'n Darby an
Cap'n Abraham Rose" his breast
swelling out. ''is a.goin' ter spend a
week at Bleak Hill. Thar. haint that
Capn Eph a.scootin' in naow? !
guess them air new runners O. Bill
Green's didn't work. He haint no
where in sight. He"
Les be a-gwine. Abe" interrupted
Samuel. and leaving the editor still
scribbling. he led the way down the
bank with a determined trudge, his
market basket in one hand, his grip
in the other, and his lips muttering
that "a Teller couldn't dew nuthin' in
Shoreville without gettin' his name
In the paper" But a moment later,
when the two we're walking gingerly
over the ice to the spot where Eph
had drawn his scooter to a standstill.
Samuel fell into self-congratulatory
chuckle.
"He didn't find out, though, that
had my reasons for leavin' homo tew.
Women.folks, be II only one. hain't
good all the time fer nobody. come
ter see Blossy twict year afore we
was married, reg'lar: an naow,
cak'late ter leave her twict year
fer a spell. A week onct every six
months separate an apart" proceeded
the recently made benedict "ls what
makes O man an his wife learn haow
ter put up with one another In be.
tween times"
why. me an Angy," began Abe,
have lived tergether year in an year
out fer"
"All aboard" interrupted Captain
Eph with shout. ITS a fair wind
bet on making 1t in FIVE minutes and
fifty seconds"
Seven minutes had been the record
time for the five.mile sail over the ice
to Bleak Hill. but Samuel and Abe,
| both vowing delightedly that the skip
per couldn't so too fast for them,
stepped into the body Of the boat and
squstted down on the hard boards.
They grinned at each other as the
scooter started and Eph Jumped
aboard--grinned and waved to the
people on the nhore. their proud old
thoughts crying:
II guess folks will see now that
we're as young N VIC ever was!"
They continued TO grin AZ the boat
spun into full flight and went whizzing
over the Ice. whizzing and humping
and bouncing. Both their faces grew
red, their two pairs Of eyes began to
water. their teeth began to chatter;