Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-26

a gIuttOn, l could put IN the other
things later.
was carrying out my first pailful
when Doctor Barnes came down the
path and took the pail out of my hand.
What are you doing?" he asked.
Making a slider"
No" I said bitterly, Z am water
ing the flowers"
Good" He was not bit put out.
Let me help you" Inside, he put
down the pail, and pulling me in,
closed the door.
Now forget it," he commanded.
Just because a lot of damn fools see
a dog in fit and have one, too, is that
any reason for your being scared wall
eyed and knock-kneed? Lord, l wish
you could have seen them staggering
into my office!"
Il saw enough I said with a SILVER
That German, Won invalid" he
went on, hes the limit. He accused
US of poisoning him for reasons Of
state!"
Where are they now"
My dear girl, he answered, putting
down his glass, what has been pound
ed into me ever since I struck the
place? The bathsi l prescribe 'em
all day and dream EN- all night. Where
are the poisonees now? They are
steaming, stewing, exuding in the hot
rooms of the bath departmental of
them, every one of them! In the hold
and the matches down."
Just then somebody fell aginst the
door and stumbled into the room. 1t
was Tillie, as white as milk, and
breathing in gasps.
Quick" she screeched, Minnie,
quick!"
What is it?" I asked, jumping up.
Shed fallen back against the door
frame and stood with her hand clutch
ing her heart.
That dev-devil-Mike! she pant
ed. He has turned on the steam in
the mems bath and gone-gone away"
With people in the BATH" Doctor
Barnes asked, slamming down the pail
Tillie nodded.
Then why in creation don't they
get out of the baths until we can shut
Off the steam % I demanded, grabbing
up my shawl But Title shook her
head in despair.
They can't" she answered, hes
hid their clothes!"
The next thing I recall is running
like mad up the walk with Doctor
Barnes beside me. steadying me by the
arm. l only spoke once that I remem-
Der and that was just as we got to the
house.
That settles it!' I painted, des-
perately. It's all over"
Not a bit of it," he said, showing
me up the steps and into the hall. The
old teakettle is just getting het up a
bit. By the gods and little fishes, just
listen to it singing down there!"
The help was gathered in a crowd
at the head of the bathhouse staircase,
where a cloud OF steam was coming
up, and down below we could hear furi-
Gus talking. and somebody shouting,
Mike! Mike!" in a voice that was
choked with rage and steam.
Clothes! Send US some cIothes!"
It was Mr.. Sam calling. The rest
was swallowed up in a fresh roaring.
as if a steam pipe had given away.
That settled the people below. With
burst of fury they swarmed up the
stairs in their bath sheets, the bishop
leading, and just behind him, talking
as no gentleman should talk under any
circumstances, Senator Biggs. The
rest followed, their red faces shining
through the steam-all of them muir
derous, holding their sheets around
them with one hand, and waving the
other in frenzy. 1t was awful
The help scattered and ran. but
stood my ground. The sight of a man
in a sheet didn't scare me and it was
not time for weakness. A moment
later the engineer came up and after
him Mr.. Pierce, with & towel over his
mouth and a scTew-driyeT in his hand
He was white with rage.
Who saw Mike last?" he shouted.
Here Mr.. Moody, who's small at any
time. and who without the padding on
his shoulders and wrapped in a sheet
with a red face above, looked like a
lighted cigarette, darted out of the
crowd and caught him by the sleeve.
"Here!" he cried, we've got a few
things to say to you, you young"
Take your hand off my arms!"
Numbered. Mr.. Pierce.
The storm broke with that They
crowded around Mr.. Pierce, yelling
like maniacs, and he stood there,
white-faced, and let them wear them
selves out. The courage of a man in
a den of lions was nothing to it. Doc
tor Barnes forced his way through the
crowd and stood there beside him.
And I stood there and watched, my
mind awhirl, expecting every minute
to hear that they were all leaving, or
to have some one forget and shake
both fists at once.
And that's how it ended f1nalIy-I
mean, of course, that they said they
would all leave Immediately, and that
he ought to be glad to have them go
quietly, and not have him jailed for
malicious mischief or compromising
felony, The whole thing was an out
rage, and the three train would leave
the house as empty as a squeezed
lemon.
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