Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-03-05
CHAPTER XII.

They took to it like ducks to water.
Not, of course, that they didn't kick
about making their own beds and hav-
Ing military discipline generally. They
complained a lot, but when after three
days went by with the railroad running
as much on schedule as it ever does,
they were all still there, and Mr.. Jen-
nings had limped out and spent half
hour at the wood pile with his equity
foot on cushion, saw it was a sue
cess.
1 ought to have been glad. l was,
although when Mrs. Dicky found they
were all staying, and that she might
have to live in the shelter-house the
rest of the winter, there was an awful
scene. l was glad, too, every time l
could see Mr.. Thoburn's gloomy face,
or hear the things he said when his
name went up for the military walk.
The strange thing OF all was the way
they began to look up to Mr.. Pierce.
He was very strict; If he made a rule,
it was obey or leave. CAS- they knew
after Mr.. Moody refused to take the
military walk, and was presented with
his bill and a railroad schedule within
an hour He had to take the military
walk with Doctor Barnes that after
noon aIone) They had to respect a
man who could do all the things in the
gymnasium that they couldn't, and
come in from a ten or f1fteen-mile
tramp through the snow and take a
cold plunge and a swim to rest him
self
It was on Monday that we really got
things started, and on Monday after
noon Miss Summers came out to the
shelter-house in a towering rage.
Where's Mr. Pierce?" she de
manded.
Z guess you can see he isn't here" I
said
Just wait until I see him!" she an
nounced, do you know that am down
on the blackboard for the military
walk today
why not?"
She turned and glared at me. why
not?" she repeated. why, the au-
dacity of the wretch! He brings me
out into the country in winter to play
in his atrocious play, strands me, and
then tells me to walk twenty miles
day and smile over it," She came
over to me and shook my arm. Not
only that" she said. but he has cut
out my cigarettes and put ArabeIla
on dog biscuit-Arabella, who can
hardly eat a chicken wing"
Well, there's something to be
thankful for" I said He didn't put
you on dog biscuit"
She laughed then, with one of her
quick changes of humor.
The worst of it is" she said, in a
confidential whisper, "I'U do it. l feel
It. guess If the truth were known
I'm some older than he is, but-I'm
afraid of him. Minnie. Little Judy is
ready to crawl around and speak for
a cracker or a kind word. Oh, I'm not
in love with him, but he's got the
courage to say what he means and do
what he says"
She went to the door and looked
DaCh SInlllnS-
I'm off for the wood-pile," she
called back. And I've promised to
chop two inches of my heels"
As I say, they took to it like ducks
to water-except two Of them, Won In
valid and Thoburn. Mr.. Won invalid
stayed on, I hardly know why. but 1
guess it was because Mr.. Jennings still
hadn't done anything final about set
Elements, and with the newspapers
marrying him every day it wasn't very
comfortable. Next to him, Mr.. Tho
burn was the unhappiest mortal I have
ever seen.
Doctor Barnes came out that after
noon and watched me while I closed
the windows. He had package in his