The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-29

BILE spring was forgotten when the
| dogs nearly tore down the side of a
! mountain to get to a wood chuck. 1t
was a great fight and Organ and the
| reporter bet their money on the chuck.
| But two dogs were TOO many for him
and Sir Ground Hog took the count
after a great battle.
Lunch was had at the rock house
| and all but BOtkin and the natives
prayed for their cots. Botkin was still
| was all and more than could be eX-
Ipected 1t was natural amphitheater
of solid stone, 100 feet wide, zoo feet
deep and walls of so feet high. Some
day when the Kansans &c back, they
will stage a vaudeville show there.
Botl1in's Sore Toe.
1t was after the party left the rock
house that the pace began to show on
Botkin. He hung back and used his
| walking stick freely. Here 1t was that
| cial and dealt him foul blow. He
innocently kicked at a little stone that
proved to be the stub end of hidden
rock quarry. The noise that came out
Of Botkin sounded like a hospital that
has Just run out of anaestheticS. He
sat down on the mountain without the
dignity that becomes a man in public
life and he groaned and spoke in
strange tongues while he looked at a
toe that was badly damaged.
After that Botkin rode. That mad
| taken all the love of nature out or his
soul. He spoke harshly of worldly
things and upbraided his associates
for things they had done and failed to
do. But Botkin was as game as
prospector in new gold camp. He
insisted that the party go by ane
eral years ago. He insisted that the
Kansas men see the cave that blows
air from a perpetual storage mouse.
There the Kansans sat down and
TO h11i16
place of the old one.
Rolled Down Mountain.
A little later the dogs found an
other wood chuck. He was chnS1ng
TO a young sapling that overhung a 81
foot precipice. Botl<in dismounted
He found a healthy four year old club.
Smash! Botkin smashed him square
ly on the head and the men from
Kansas heard the chuck scatter the
gravel as he rolled down the noun
tain.
That night Botkin was as compan-
ionable as bear cat without ITS
breakfast. He sat on the edge or ms
cot and bemoaned his fate' and told
the party what his great great grand
father would say if such an accident
befell him. The fact that Felix ana
Davenport had cooked a turkey TO
tempt a king, failed to arouse Botk1n;
He grumbled and sought to recall
someone in ancient history who had
been as luckless as he: Doc D1llaro
drilled hole in Botk1n toe ana Dol
kin cursed him. Botkin wanted three
trained nurses and a doctor with a
tumble of letters after his name to
wait on him.
That Sunday Dinner.
The next day billiard, Davenport,
Smith, Martin and all the men in the
mountain went to the school meeting.
At the camp plans were being made
for Sunday. That day was to go down
in history as the greatest social event
on the Buffalo. All day Saturday Fe-
lix cooked for that big Sunday dinner.
AS early as o'clock Sunday morn
ing men and women, afoot and on
horses and mules and in wagons, were
arriving at the camp. No one knows
Just where they all came from Race
suicide never took strong hold on
Marion county, Arkansas, ana there
was a thunder shower of youngsters
and babies in arms. At noon there
were 81 people registered for dinner.
This included nine babies in arms
seven of them billiards. grandchil-
dren-and citizens in state ranging TO
80 years.
Felix had not been the only Satur-
day cook Those women brought
hams, home made bread, pies. CAKES
and enough chicken to feed the Bull
garian army. On the menu that day
were two mountain goat, wild ma
tive hog goose 1S chickens, three
hams and more pies and cakes than
anyone could count. That party was
an evidence of confidence and esteem
by the visitors in honor of Botkin,
who knows every man and woman in
the district Botkin received a cake
shower-cakes with his name and mi
tails frescoed and hand-painted on the
top layer.
Had to Make Speeches.
Then Botkin 1imped over to a big
rock and made a speech. 1t was
largely his campaign speech of 1914,
with some new thought being consid-
cred for next year. Organ was also
given a chance. He will be a candi
date for state auditor next year So
he tried out the speech he expects to
make in 1915. Both men would run
ahead of their ticket in Arkansaw, If
applause is an evidence of real feel
ing-which Mr.. Bryan has declared is
not true.
That the contrast might be the
greater, Colonel Rain and the report
er were invited to talk Neither are
speakers. Neither will be candidates
for Office next year. But they pushed