The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-04-02

Barnes!
darted back and put my ear to
the door, but they did not come In
at once. Mr.. Thoburn made speech.
saying how happy he was that they
were all we'll and able to go back to
civilization again. where the broiled
lobster fiourished like a green bay
tree and the prune and the cabbage
were unknown.
There was loud applause, and then
Senator Biggs cleared his throat.
Ladies and gentlemen. distin-
guished fellow guests" he began, Il
suggest a toast to the autocrat OF
Hope Springs. II is the only blot on
the evening. that, owing to the exi.
gencies OF the occasion. he can not
be with us. Securely fastened in his
room. he is now sleeping the sleep
that follows a stomach attuned to
prunes, a mind attuned to rule"
Eat, drink and be merryi" some.
body said, for tomorrow you Diet"
There was a swish and rustic. as II
a woman got up in a hurry.
DO you mean" said Miss Patty's
clear voice. that you have dared to
lock Mr. Pier-Mr. Carter in his
room?"
my dear young lady" several OF
them began. but she didn't give them
time.
"It Is outrageous, infamous" she
stormed. didn't need to see her TO
know how she looked. How dare you'll
Suppose the building should catch
firel"
"Firel" somebody said in a bewil-
dered voice. MY dear young lady"
Don't my dear young lady me-"
she said angrily Father Bishop.
will you stand for thisl Why. he
may jump out the window and hurt
himselfl Give me the key!"
Miss Julia's fingers were beating n
tattoo behind her, as IL she was afraid
might miss It.
''If he jumps out he probably will
hurt himself. II is impossible to re-
lease him now. Miss Jennings. but IL
you insist we can have a mattress
placed under the window"
Thanks. Thoburn. II won't be
necessary" The voice came from the
door. and hush fell IN the party.
slipped my bolt and peeped out
Framed in the doorway was Mr.
Pierce, with Doctor Barnes looking
over HIS shoulder
The people in the spring-house were
abject. That's the only word for IT,
Craven. somebody suggested later, and
they were that. too. They smiled
sickly grlns and tried TO be defiant,
and most OF them tried to put down
whatever they held In their hands and
to look innocent.
Mr.. Pierce never smiled. He
wouldn't let them speak a word In de-
fense or explanation. He simply
lined them up as he did at gym. and
sent them. one by one. to the corner
with whatever they had In their
hands. He made Mr.. Jennings give
up a bottle OF anchovles that he'd
stuffed in his pocket. and the bishop
had to come over with the cheese.
And when 1t was all over. he held
the door open and they went back
to the house. They fairly ducked past
him In the doorway, although he
hadn't said dozen words. II was a
rout. The backbone of the rebellion
was broken. knew that never again
would the military discipline of Hope
Springs be threatened. 'fhoburn
might as well pack and go 1t was
Mr.. Pierce's day.
Mr.. Won invalid was almost the last.
He stood by. sneering, with an open
bottle OF olives in his hand, watching
the others go out. Mr.. Pierce held
the door open and eyed him.
III trouble you to put that bottle
with the others in the corner" Mr..
Pierce said sternly.
They stood glarlng at each other
angrily.
And II refuse2"
you know tho rules. II you re-
fuse. there is a hotel at Flnleyville,"
Mr.. Won invalid glanced past Mr..
Pierce to where Doctor Barnes stood
behind him, with his caulifiower ear
and his pugilist's shoulders. Then he
looked at the bottle In his hand, and
from 1t to Miss Patty. standing haugh-
dly by.
Il have borne much for you. Pa
tricia," he satd, but | refuse to be
bullied any longer. | shall go TO the
hotel at Finleyville. and shall take
the little olives with me-" He smiled
unpleasantly at Mr.. Pierce. whose face
did not relax.
He walked jauntily TO the door and
turned, fiourlshing the bottle. THE
land OF the free and the home OF the
bravei" he sneered. raising the bottle
In the air. Standing jeering In the
doorway. he bowed TO Miss Patty and
Mr.. Pierce. and put an olive into his
mouth.
But instantly he made a terrible
face, and clapped a hand just in front
OF his left ear. He stood there a mo-
ment. his face distorted-then he dart.
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