Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
you won't do what the men have all

you won't 90 WnaC Cle men nave al
given out on
Still she was ready when she heard
whistle at the kitchen door a little
past eleven and she took without ques-
ton the pail of corn George B. asked
her to carry He had his long pole gay
with red streamers in his right hand,
and q yellow horse blanket under his
left arm. They scrambled down the
bank behind the barn, and then hid
themselves in the shelter of a mon
strous boulder little farther along the
shore. George B. laid his long pole
across the top of the rock rising above
their heads. and the wind caught the
bright rags and sent them flaming out
bravely toward the river.
I've read" he whispered. "how they
get wild ducks and geese this way
lure 'em in so they can shoot EN-"
He pulled off his cap and bent his
give your hand a warm" he said So
berry. Mrs. Winchester smiled and
tousled his hair with both hands. IT
he should get those gees"-She turned
her eyes to the river again.
More comfortable, amt you:'
George B. stuck his cap on the back or
his head again and peered round the
boulder
The geese were solemnly swimming
back and forth in the small place left
unfroZen, but presently one spied the
red banners. There was consultation.
An adventurous bird scrambled out on
the ice while the watchers behind the
boulder held their breath for an in
slant, then the goose catcher gr1pped
his companions arm as the geese adj
vanced, wheeled again, scolded and de-
bated, but one by one with all sorts OF
horrible goose noises clumsily got on
their feet and started shoreward,
threatening and protesting. but bent on
interrogating the red rags. AS they
came wonderingly on. sharp eyed
goose saw the corn George b. mad
flung far out on the ice. There was no
longer any question. The gray and the
white pushed and crowded and Jostied
until almost opposite the big rock, when
George B. darted out and throwing the
blanket over the astonished Timothy
made him a prisoner. The surrender
was not a peaceful one but muffled in
thick blanket poor Timothy's
weapons were Of no avail against
George BIS young muscles, and through
the king of the flock rode home it was
as captive.
over on the Buxton road a milk
wagon rumbled over the frozen ground,
but the village street was almost de-
serted The clamor of the geese as they
followed their leader in a long waver-
ing procession drew the women from
their dinner getting to the doors, and
Mrs. Winchester stopped to explain
proudly more than once before she
reached her own gate. A stray dog
| trotting along briskly dropped his tail
and ran across the fields, and two or
three little girls who had been dismiss
ed early from the primary school fled
| in terror down the bank of the fresh
river and hid behind the icehouse. but
| George p. pressed on across the bridge
up the hill, and into the old north road
where the M'keivers lived. with Tim
| otfly in his arms and the geese surging
| noisily behind.
The twelve o'clock whistle blew as
he turned, red and moist, into the yard
Miss M'keiver had watched the
| advance, and two minutes later every
goose was discussing a pan of hot
| Indian-meal dough, while Timothy
ruffled and dishevelicd, but loquacious
and arrogant as ever, Kissed and
! screamed with outstretched neck as the
gate of the pen was fastened on the
prodigals.
Miss M'keiyer retreated as far as
the doorstep, where she drew long
breath.
"If ever I had relief" she calculated
as she gave George b. four silver half
dollars. She said it didn't half pay him
and she cOulQ1l tell now oJliSdtSu tiiey
were to him, but she made no move to
GO
Matilda stood smiling at the south
window and as she waved her hand he
saw the little stones on ring she wore
sparkle in the sun. Her crutches under
her arms pushed her shoulders up in
an ugly way. but her cheeks We're pink
and little curls of brown hair lay loose
on her smooth white forhead.
IT'S an awful shame she's lame,
she's so handsome" George B. burst out
impetuously.
"Oh, were used to that" The elder
sister spoke cheerfully If rather indef-
initely, but still the boy fingered.
IF there's anything else-if you want
anything, I'll do it. don't mean for
pay. I'd like to- he stammered, and
! then he pulled his cap closer on his
head, thrust back his elbows, and trot-
! ted down the hill to gloat with grand.
mother over his riches and his victory.