The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-05-18
u AUTHOR OF TIL story OF SARAH THE
Ship OF DREAMS" ETcs eoeYmcnv oy nx czu7u7yoa


Abe, not even conscious that he had
betrayed a sacred confidence, sput-
tered and laughed with the rest.
Samuel had half mind to return
tomorrow, "jest to spite EN-" Let's
see, how many days Of this plagued
week were left? Six. Six whole
twenty-four hours away from Blossy
and his snug, warm, comfortable nest.
She wasn't used to keepin' house by
herself, neither Would she remem-
Der to wind the clock ON Thursday,
and feed the canary, and water the
abutilon and begonias regular?
Grimly Samuel took up offense No.
8. Abraham had further told the men
that he had been brought over here
for hardening process; but he was
willing to bet that If Samuel could
keep up with him, he could keep UP
with Samuel.
Then followed offense on offense.
one-time field of action by an old
ladies' darling? No!
When Abe sat for half-hour In the
lookout, up in the freezing, cold Gu
pola, and did duty lest to be smart"
Samuel sat there on top of his own
feet, too.
When Abe helped drag out the ap-
paratus cart over the heavy sands for
the drill, Samuel helped, TOO. And
how tugging at that rope brought back
his lumbago!
When Abe rode in the breaches
buoy, Samuel insisted on playing the
sole survivor of a shipwreck, too, and
went climbing stifly and lumberingly
up the practise mast.
Abraham refused to take nap after
dinner; SO did Samuel Abe went
down to the outdoor carpenter shop in
the grove and planed board just for
the love of exertion Samuel planed
two boards and drove nail.
We've got two schoolboys with
US" said the keeper and the crew.
EFF I'd a-knowed that yew had more
lives n my Maltese cat" Samuel was
muttering over Abe by this time,
I'd"
Count, count went Captain Darby's
fingers. He heard the keeper rafting
papers in the office just across the
threshold, heard him say he was about
to turn in, and guessed Samuel had
better do likewise; but Samuel kept
on counting.
Count, count, went the arraigning
fingers. Gradually he grew drowsy,
but still he went over and over poor
Abe's offenses, counting on until of a
sudden he realized that he was no
longer numbering the sins of his COM
panion; he was measuring in minutes
the time he must spend away from
Blossy and Twin Coves, and the be-
gonias and the canary and the cat
What would Blossy say if she could
feel the temperature of the room in
which he was supposed to sleep?
What would Blossy say if she knew
how his back ached? Whatever would
Blossy do to Abe Rose If she could sus-
pect how he had tuckered out her "old
man."
He's a regular hoss," brooded Sam
uel. ooh, my feet!" grabbing at his
right boot. 'T'll bet yer all l got it's
them air chilblains. That's what" he
added, unconsciously speaking aloud
Abes lids slowly lifted He rubbed
his eyes and yawned He turned his
head on his hard, blue gingham-cov-
cred pillow, and stared sleepily at the
other
"Yew been noddin', Samr? Amt
gittin' sleepy already, are yer?" He
glanced at the clock. why, it's only
half-past nine. Say, what's the matter
with me an yew goin' west ter meet
No. s? Leetle breath O. fresh air'll
make us sleep splendid"
He started up from the couch, but
dropped back, too heavy with weari-
ness to carry off his bravado. Samuel,
however, not noticing the discrepancy
between speech and action. was al
ready at the door leading upstairs.
'Yew don't drag me out O. this sta
ton ternight, Abe Rose Yew're a
regular boss; that's what yew be- A
regular boss! A reg'lar-a reg'lar-'
He flung open the door and went
trudging as fast as his smarting feet
could carry him up the steep and mar
row steps, wherein the passing of
other feet for many years had worn
little hollows on either side.
Abraham 1imped from the couch to
the door himself, and called after him:
''Sam1, don't yew want tew sleep
by the fire? Yew seem a leetle softer
than I be. Let me come upstairs"
There was no answer beyond the
vicious slamming of Samuel's boots
upon the floor ooye
Abe raised his voice again, and now
came in answer a roar of wrath from
the cot next to Samuel's.
go to bed!" shouted No. 6, burly,
red-headed Irishman. go to bed wild
We! TIL young folks do be nadin'
little schiape!"