Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-02
CHAPTER XII.
A Party and-My Fourth Peril.

Ih " anu N IOHE III Etlh
"A dead fish can swim down
stream but only a live one can
swim up it," said Uncle Peabody rs
we rode toward the village togeth
err We had been talking of that
;rong current of evil which had
tried to carry us along with it. l
understood him perfectly.
II was a rainy Sunday. In the
middle of the afternoon Uncle Pea
body and l had set out in our spring
buggy with the family umbrella
a faded but sacred implement, al
ways carefully dried, after using,
and hung in the clothes PRESS. /
remainder that its folded skirt was
as big around as my coat sleeve
and that Uncle Peabody always
grasped it In the middle, with hand
about its waist, in a way of speak
ing, when he carried il after
shower. The rain came on again
and with such violence that we
were drenched to the skin in spite
of the umbrella. 1t was still rain
irg when we arrived at the familiar
door in Ashery Lane. Uncle Pea
body wouldn't stop.
water never scares a live fish"
he declared with a chuckle as he
turned around. "Good-by, Bart"
He hurried away. We pioneers
rarely stopped or even turned out
for the weather. Uncle Peabody
used TO say that the way 20 get sick
was to change your clothes every
time you got wet. It was growing
dusk and 1 felt sorry for him.
Come in," said the voice Of the
schoolmaster at the door. There's
good weather under the roof"
He saw my plight as I entered.
I'm like a shaggy dog that's
been in swimming" l said.
Upon my word, boy. we're in
luck" remarked the scnoolmaster.
Hooked up at him.
Michael Henry's clothes!-sure,
they're just the thing for you,"
will they go on me?" 1 asked,
for, being large of my age, l had
acquired an habitual snyness Of
things that were too small for me,
and things. too, had seemed to have
got the habit of being too small.
AS easily as Nick Tubbs goes on
a spree, and far more becoming, for
I do not think a spree ever looks
worse than when Tubbs is on Il.
Come with me"
followed him upstairs, wonder
ing how it had happened that Mich
aei Henry had clothes.
He took me into his room and
brought some handsome soft
clothes out of a press with shirt,
socks and boots to match.
There, my laddie buck" said he,
put them on"
These will soon dry on me-" 1
said.
Put them on-ye laggard! Mich
ael Henry told me to give them to
YOU. It's the birthday night O. lit
tie Ruth, my boy. There's big
cake with candles and chicken pie
and jellied cookies and all the like
o. that Put them on. A wet boy
at the feast would dampen the
whole proceedings"
| put them on and with a great
sense of relief and comfort They
We're an admirable fit-toO perfect
for an accident, although at the
time l thought only of their grand
eur as I stood surveying myself in
the looking glass. They were OF
blue cloth and l saw that they went
well with my blond hair and light
skin. / was putting on my collar
and necktie when Mr.. Hacket re-
turned.
"God bless We. boy" said he
There's not a bear in the town
ship whose coat and trousers are
better fit. Sure if We had on a
beaver hat ye'd look like a lawyer
or a statesman. Boy. How Ge'
lighted Michael Henry will be-
Come on now! The table is spread
and the feast is waiting. Mind We
give good clap when l come in
with the guest"
We went below and the table was
very grand with its great frosted
cake and its candles, in shiny brass
sticks. and its iellies and preserves
with the CLEAN of polished pewter
among them. Mrs. Hacket and all
the children, save Ruth, were wait
ing for us in the dining-room.
Now sit down here, all o. We,
with Michael Henry" said the
schoolmaster. 1.-The little lady will