Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-09

felt very lonesome. Besides he missed
his father and mother G1eadfully; but
he knew that they could not possibly
have taken him with them on the long
trip they had planned for themselves,
so he made up his mind to be brave
boy and not fuss. He also made up
his mind to help grandmother and
1 grandfather all he possibly could to
show them that he appreciated all the
nice things they were doing for him.
The first day he was there it rained
, hard, so that he could not go far from
, the house. 1t was the second day that
grandmother asked him to go on an
errand for her. She wanted him 10 go
| over to the home of their nearest
neighbor, Mrs. Clarke. and get the
yeast-cake that Mrs. Clarke had prom
ised to get her in the village that after
noon
Norman said yes very cheerfully,
but he did not feel very cheerful in
side, for he knew that he had to pass
| Mr.. Dobbins's pasture, that was ruled
over by Duke, twC-year-old Holsteln
! bull. Mr.. Dobbins out in the barn the
day before had mentioned that DUKE
was gentle as a lamb but from the
chamber window Norman had seen
him paving up turf. and he had not
liked his looks one bit He was glad
that he was looking at him through
his grandfathers little old telescope,
and was not within reach of those
stubby horns.
But grandmother needed that yeast
cake, 30 he set out briskly, whistrng
like alike anything! But he stopped
whistling before he got very near MT.
Dobbins's pasture He saw no sign OF
Duke as he scuttled past on tlptoe !.
but there were many heavy clumps OF
bushes. where he might be hiding from
the mosquitoes.
1t was about o'clock Of late
August day when he started, so it was
still light when after twenty minutes
walk he reached Mrs. Clarke's: but
Mrs Clarke had run across to neigh
bor's on an errand, and Susie Clarke
had no idea where the yeast-cake was
so they hurried over to ask her mother.
They found no one at home but the
hired man. Mrs. Clarke and the lady
of the house had gone over to another
neighbor's, half mile away. BY the
time Norman and Susie had found Mrs
Clarke and located the yeast-cake II
was dark. The last of the sunset glow
had faded from the sky. How oarh
the fields and woods looked!
Norman ran. as soon as he was OUT
of sight of the Clarkes', but he slowed
I'D and walked very quietly as ne
came near the Eobbins pasture. he
did not mean to run any risk OF arous'
!, ing Duke, But suddenly he heard
dreadful roar--a hollow, jerky angry
sounding roar
"Duke,'' he gasped.
But the roar did not come from the
pasture. Worse than that. 1t came
from the other sic of the road. from
little shallow. Doggy pond. a thick
fringe of willows hid the pond from
sight.
Duke has jumped out of the pas.
ture and waded into the pond,
thought Norman.
The roar sounded again nearer and
angrier. Norman grew first hot then
cold. Then he started along.
81 won't be coward" he said 10
himself.
Suddenly there came loud splash.
He stopped.
"Duke's splashing about! He may
come out any minute!" he thought. IF
i try to pass that place he'll probably
rush right out at me! My, he roars as
if he was pretty mad"
Then the thought came to him that
he might run hack to the Clarkes' and
telephone for grandfather to come and
get him with old Charley and the
Buggy, but he put that thought out of
bis head.
grandfather is tired" he said to
himself. II won't make him all that
trouble. Here goes--the stillest ever
was.'
Slowly, softly, he crept past. Splash,
roar. came from the pond. But he
would not turn back Once fairly past,
how he ran. But he had slowed up,
or down, when he met grandfather
hurrying toward him Grandfather
turned and fell into step.
your grandmother got sort of wor-
ried, you we're gone so long. so she
sent me to come and meet YOU" he
said
That's too bad. grandfather. when
you're so tired said Norman; and
then he explained how he had to
hunt for the yeast-cake. "But grand
father" be went on, Duke is out.
wading in the little pond."
THAT'S queer" said grandfather;
'Dohbins takes him nights
%! didn't see him. explained Nor
man '.but 7 heard him splashing and
roaring orfull. / guess the mos
Guitoos made him mad"
well" said grandfather. "if Dukes
ont Dobhins ought to know. Let's go
back little piece and listen" So
they trudged back little way.
There" said Norman, hear him.
,1p from the pond came that surly
roar
Doesn't sound to me exactly like
Duke said grandfather. Lets
carry up grandmother's yeast-cake. so
see can be making her bread, and
then we'll go back along. to make sure
it's Duke before we telephone Dob
bins
So that is what they did. They
crept very cautiously along behind the
willows Listen" said Norman