Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-02-12
CHAPTER XIV.
BACK TO THE OLD TOWN.

Spring ZONES about Rome by simple
tokens. In the black bottoms the will
lows gently free themselves from the
soillng snow. bend upward ever SO
Lightly, and presently are wands of
furry gray. In the clay gaps of the
nils n hears the tinkle Of water UNI
der ice and over rock. answering the
flrst call OF the robins. The rabbit
tracks along the fences drabble down
to mere muddy markings in the snow
and then are lost in the first faint
green. Also. in town. housewives hang
their rugs on the porches and beat
them. stopping to look UP at the blue
and breathe. as if the winters housing
mad taken g bit out of their souls which
now was coming back; and one sees
the children digging their toes in the
mud on their way to school. testing
eagerly its release from the frost.
But chiefly. in Rome people know
spring has come when Rube Van Hart
disappears. When the former Lacquer
began to climb the hills in February
and look off south: and when his work
IN C~armichaels stable grew slack and
his eyes vacant and his promises to
coach the high school ball team more
the News office to read the pink inns"
OF the chicago papers. paid no atten-
ton to Jim Minis, the tramp printer
asking for a chew. or to Wiley when
he asked Who looked good for the sec
ond cushion with the Cubs since Della
hanty was sold-paid no attention to
any one at all. but wandered down to
the junction and dreamily read the
names OF the box cars jogging down
the cut. why then it was safe to set
out garden truck-spring had come.
Then the News announced thai Rn-
rus Adrian Van Hart, time catcher
with the Cubs, had gone south to help
Win Inc spring try-outs at San An
tonic and would also get himself In
condition. This pleased RUDE and all
the town kids and hurt nobody. Poor
Old tube was merely slowed in a box
car getting ava Just because spring
called and baseball was here and he
could not help it. Among the Van Harris
there was no accounting for Rube.
And when RUDE came back to town
the ome knew it was near time to.
take In house plants and let the chill
dren so for hazelnuts. and resume the
work of the Shakespeare club.
With Rube watch for nip OF frost.
But now spring. and Uncle Michigan
spading up Mr.. Curran's garden, dis
putting with his housekeeper while they
package of seeds magnanimously dis
tributed by the Honorable James S.
Hall. NJ. c.. Their voices came ID the
editor at his desk. Jim Minis had gone
70 the blind tiger in the haymow OF
Garmichaels livery stable: and Aleck.
-tne press boy had stolen off to Sin
creek to see If it was vet good bullhead
fishing.
II I'm going to congress- naurmured
the editor. i must fire this spring fever
a scold everybody Into working He
was watching Janet Vance tie her
team OF colts to the county yard hitch
ing rail. her trim, blue figure against
the young elm green. She looked at
her watch decisively. It was early for
q county officer to be down town. She
came across the street with her direct
springy step and to the News door.
The editor took his feet OFF the desk
waved his hand lazily.
Janet, let's go fishing. Lets get Old:
MoWry.s .Ssssgon and take Aunt Abby
and Jim Mims-if he's sober-and
Mich q Aleck and all go fishing.
Wiley, that's what you've always