Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-24

TO them, the great rambling barn
black OF the parsonage was a most de-
Hightful place 1t had big COW shed
ION one side and horse stalls on the
other, with a Heavenly" haymow
@over all, and with "chutes" for the
adescent Of hay-and twins! In one
hcorner was high dark crib for corn,
with an open window looking down
into the horse stalls adjoining. When
The crib was newly filled the twins
could Chamber painfully up on the
eorn, struggle backward through the
! narrow window, and holding to the
Wedge OF 1t with their hands, drop
down into the nearest stall. To be
sure they were likely to fall-more
|Etlkely than not-and their hands were
and their heads blue
bumped most Of the time. But splin-
Il tors and bumps did not interfere with
their pursuit of pleasure.
n Now the twins had Secret Society
of which they were the founders,
the oh1cers and the membership body.
Nats name was Skull and Crossbones.
Why that name was chosen perhaps
& even the twins themselves could not
sSexplain, but it sounded deep, dark
kand bloody-and SO was the society.
Lark furnished the brain power for
the organization but her sister was an
Enthusiastic and energetic second.
MCarol's club name was Lady Gwen
Il dolyn, and Lark's was Sir Alfred
ordinarily, although sub
|sSject to frequent change. Sometimes
6he was Lord Dwelling, the villain
g5of the plot, and chased poor Gwendo-
Ign madly through corn crib, horse
stalls and haymow Again she was
the dark browed Indian silently stalk
ling his unconscious prey. Then she
was fierce lion lying in wait for the
damsel. The old barn
NBaw stirring times after the coming
ss0f the new parsonage family.
"Hark! Hark!" sounded a Kissing
whisper from the corn crib, and Con-
ME, eavesdropping outside the barn,
B shivered alphabetically.
What is It! Oh, what is it," walled
the unfortunate lady.
look! Look! Run for your life!"
Then while Connie clutched the
barn door in frenzy, there was a
Ssound Of, rafting corn as the twins
sscrambled upward, silence, a low
Sthud, and an unromantic "Ouch!" as
Carol bumped her head and STUN
bled.
'sAre you assaulted?" shouted the
bold Sir Alfred, and Connie heard
wild scuffle as he rescued his COM
\ panion from the clutches Of the old
halter on which she had stumbled
UP the haymow ladder they hurried
ssand then slid recklessly down the
hay chutes. Presently the barn door
was flung open, and the society"
knocked Connie flying backward, ran
madly around the barn few times
and scurried under the fence and into
the chicken coop.
A little later, Connie, assailed with
shots OF corn cobs, ran bitterly toward
the house. "Peaking" was strictly for
hidden when the twins we're engaged
In Skull and Crossbones activities.
And Comics soul burned with de-
! sire. She felt that this secret society
was threatening not only her happi-
ness, but also her health, for she
could not sleep for horrid dreams of
Skull and Crossbones at night, and
could not eat for envying the twins
their secret and mysterious joys.
Therefore, with unwonted humil-
fly, she applied for entrance. She
I had applied many times previously,
4 without effect. But this time she en-
/ forced her application with nickels
worth of red peppermint drops, bought
for the very purpose. The twins &C
cepted the drops gravely and told
4 Connie she must make formal appli7
cation Then they marched solemnly
of to the barn with the peppermint
drops. without offering Connie a share
( This hurt, but she did not long grieve
over 1t, she was so busy wondering
what on earth they meant by 'for-
NAL application Finally she applied
to Prudence and received assistance.
The afternoon mail brought to the