Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-05-28


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 reg'lar?
Grimly Samuel took up offense No.
3. Abraham had further told the men
that he had been brought over here
for a hardening process; but he was
willing to bet that II Samuel could
keep up with him. he could keep up
with Samuel.
Then followed offense on offense.
Was Samuel to be outdone on his own
one-time field Of action by xn 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 breeches-
buoy, Samuel insisted on playing the
sole survivor Of 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
u.s." said the keeper and the crew.
"Ef 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 q
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 II 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 II she could sus-
pect how he had tuckered out her "old
man?"
Hes a regular hoss," brooded Sam.
uel. "Oh. my feet!" grabbing at his
right boot. "I'll bet yer all got it's
them air chilblains. That's what" he
added, unconsciously speaking aloud
Abe's 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'. SamI? 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. 8? 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 OF 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 q
regular boss; that's what yew be. A
regular boss! A reg'lar-a reglar-'
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 limped from the couch to
the door himself. and called after him
"Saml, don't yew want tew sleeI
by the fire? Yew seem a leetle softer
than be. Let me come upstairs"
There was no answer beyond the
vicious slamming of Samuel's boots
upon the floor above.
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, a burly
red-headed Irishman. go to bed wild
ye! TIL young folks do be nadin' 9
little schlape!"