Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-05-29
CHAPTER ii.
(Continued.)


1 heard Uncle Peabody drive
away. / watched him through the
open window. ! could hear Aunt
Deel washing the dishes in the
kitchen. ] got out of bed very slyly
and put on my Sunday clothes. l
went to the open window. The sun
had Just gone over the top of the
woods. / would have to hurry to
get to the Dunkelbergs' before
dark. / cropt out on the top OF the
shed and descended the ladder that
leaned against it. stood a mo-
ment listening. The dooryard was
covered with shadows and very
still. The dog must have gone with
Uncle Peabody. / ran through the
garden to the road and down 1t as
fast as my bare feet could carry me.
In that direction the nearest house
was almost a mile away. / remem-
Der | was out of breath, and the
light growing dim before l got to
it. | went on. 1t seemed to me that
| had gone nearly far enough to
reach my destination when | heard
a buggy coming behind me.
"Helloi" voice called.
L anu lOOhVh uP ct A(ao
Draper, in a single buggy, dressed
in his Sunday suit.
"Is it much further to where the
Dunkelbergs live?" 1 asked.
THE Dunkelbergs? Who be
they?"
1t seemed to me very strange
that he did not know the Dunkel-
bergs.
where Sally Dunkelberg lives"
That was a clincher. He laughed
and swore and said:
Cit in here, boy. I'll take We
there"
I got into the buggy, and he
struck his horse with the whip and
went galloping away in the dusk.
"I reckon you're tryin' to git
away from that old pup of ran
aunt" said he. 81 don't wonder. I
rather live with she bear"
have omitted and shall omit the
oaths and curses with which his
talk was favored.
I'm gittin' out o. this country
myself" said he. tits too pious
for me-"
By and by we passed Rovin' Kate.
I could just discern her ragged
form by the roadside and called to
her. He struck his horse and gave
me a rude shake and babe me shut
up.
It was dark and I felt very cold
and began to wish myself home in
bed
"Ain't we most to the Dunkel-
bergs'" 1 asked.
"No-not yet" he answered.
burst iEto tears and he hit me a
sounding whack in the face with
his hand.
mo more whimperin." he shout
ed. DO y9 hear me?"
He hurt me cruelty and I was ter
ribly frightened and covered my
face and smothered my cries and
was just little quaking lump of
misery.
He shook me roughly and showed
me down on the buggy floor and
said:
you lay there and keep still; do
you hear?"
YES" 1 sobbed.
I lie shaking with fear and fight
ing my sorrow and keeping as still
as l could with it, until, wearied by
the strain, | fell asleep.
What an angel of mercy is sleep!
Down falls her curtain and away
she leads us-deliveredi free!-I
into some magic country where are
the things we have lost-perhaps
even Joy and youth and strength
and old friendships.
What befell me that night while
I dreamed of playing with the
sweet-faced girl I have wondered
often. Some time in the night Dug
Draper had reached the village of
Canton and got rid of me- He hac
probably put me out at the water
trough. Kind hands had picked me
up and carried me TO a little YER
anda that fronted the door of a
law office. There 1 slept peacefully
and awoke suddenly. l remember |
that l felt cold. A kindly faced !
man stood leaning over me.
Hello, boy!" he baid. Where
did you come from? ?"
I was frightened and confused, |
but his gentle voice treasured me.