The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-11-18
CHAPTER XIII.
THE CUP is FULL

Jabez Carr sat outside his cottage on
a warm spring afternoon a fortnight
after the trial Of Lie Midthorne. There
had been six funerals at the Seaman's
home during the pLs- two days. and
JabeZ was reflectt"S. Something Ger
tainly was wrong at headquarters. He
could not understand why the grim
reaper had been allowed such privi-
leges. Gross neglect on somebody's
part: that was quite clear. Six in two
DAYS! Why, said he to himself, 1t must
have been downright criminal care
lessness on the part of the COMPOUNDED
ships surgeon, letting able bodied.
healthy people die like that. Not one or
them was day over IS, he calculated
been no epidemic that he was aware OF
no cholera, no small poX, no any
thing that you could put your finger
On. Then, what the dickens did they
mean down there, letting people die be-
fore their time? There ought to be an
investigation, a very rigid one. said
Jabez firmly. Some to think OF 1t, Jack
Beason, bo's'n, was nigh onto so. but
he was as spry as rabbit the last
time he came up to the gate. What
business had he to be dying?
Somehow, without really giving a
thought to IL, the ancient safe keeper
sought out the only spot where the
sunshine struck brightly through the
tree tops, and there he placed his stool.
It occurred to him that the wRrm sun
was unusually grateful to his bones.
No doubt, It was the gloom OF those
six funerals that had got into his mar
row, but there was no getting around
the fact that the sunshine had most
pleasing effect.
The SUMS rays struck the corner of
the cottage where the rain barrel stood,
So il was there that he put his stool.
with rare inconsistency he leaned his
back against the damp slaves of the
barrel, and smoked his pipe in blissful
contempt of the rheumatism and other
ills that lay behind him. Sunshine! No
one ever came to grief by getting too
much sunshine; that is, If one didn't
oyerdo Il. The days seemed shorter
than they used to be anyway, thought
:Jabez. You could get up at sunrise,
attend to q few things here and there,
and the first thing you knew the sun
was setting. And the nights too
seemed shorter OF late. Better get what
little sunshine there was, said he.
But six In two days! Yes, sir, there
was something radically wrong some
where. He sat up suddenly, confronted
by an uncanny question: would there
be more funerals on the morrow?
The squirrels frisked about him un-
noticed. They sat up on their tails and
waited with admirable patience Tor nm
10 hurl sticks at them. They listened
for the mild epithets with which he
hectored them.
But he puffed on at his cold pipe. and
his thoughts were far away.
+ A strong voice called out a greeting
to him. He awoke from his Ions
reverie with a start. The sun mac
cleaned warm against the cottage wall
q dnzan pnrea to the left.
Four young people were standing be
fore him. He rubbed his eyes, blinkeC
and then shook the tobacco from MI
pipe. r,vu,,
coming to his feet.
He looked relieved. There won't bt
any today" he said. They never have
'em on Sundays" With which, the
thought of funerals passed away. His
face frightened. The jolly twinkle re-
turned into his eyes. A vast politeness
seized him.
"Cilad to see you, glad to see you" ht
exclaimed. "Eere Eric. and you, Jack
trundle out them rockers for the youns
ladies. Be spry about II. Scat! You
little diviIs!" This TO the joyous
sauirre'J. I'm uncommon pleased t
see you, Miss Joan. It's great honor:
He carefully wiped his hand on MS
trousers leg. and. extended u TO NEE
hers. He then shook hands with Mary
going farther. however. to pat the little
fingers with his free hand. feat whicf
compelled him to restore the pipe Il
his lips, where it wobbled uncertainty
deprived OF its usual support. Some
one has beer teilin' me OF the wedding:
that Is to be- For the life or me.
can't tell who It was"
.'Tt was i, Uncle Jabe," said Eric
coming up with one OF the chairs.
$50 IL was" said Jabez, vlsibiy re-
lieved. "rm gettin' 30 DANCED forget
ful. Well. Jack, how is Adam today?'
very comfortable said Payson. III
sends his love TO YOU"