Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-06
CHAPTER w.
(Continued.)

knew that these words were
compliments but their meaning was
not quite clear to me. The words,
however. Impressed and pleased me
deenIy and / recalled them olten
that night. / Immediately regretted
them, for l was hungry ana wanted
to get up and get some supper Dul
had to lie a while longer now SO
they would not know that my ears
had been open. Nothing more was
said and | lay and listened TO the
wind in the tree-tops and the crack
ling of the fire, and suddenly the
day ended.
/ felt the gentle hand Of Uncle
Peabody on my face and l heard
him speak my name very tenderly.
| opened my eyes. The sun was
shining. 1t was new day. BIZ
Seaver had begun to cook the
breakfast. 1 felt better and ran
down to thelanding and washed. MY
uncle's face had a serious look in
it. So had Mr.. Wright's. l was
happy but dimly conscious OF
change.
l remember how Bill beat the
venison steak, which he had
brought in his pack basket, with
the head of his ak, adding a strip or
bacon and a pinch Of salt, now ana
then, until the whole was a thick
mass of pulp which he broiled over
the hot Goals. / remember, too,
how delicious It was.
We ate and packed and got into
the boats and fished along down
the river. At Seaver's we hitched
up our team and headed homeward.
When we drove into the dooryard
Aunt Deel came and helped me out
of the buggy and kissed my cheek
and said she had been terrible lone
some" Mr.. Wright changed his
clothes and hurried away across
country with his share of the fish
on his way to Canton.
well, want to know!-ayes!
amt they beautiful! ayes!" Aunt
Deel exclaimed as Uncle Peabody
spread the trout in rows on the
wash-stand by the back door.
1--WE got to tell you something" l
said.
What is it?" she asked.
az heard him say naughty words"
What words?"
Il can't say 'em. They're |
wicked I'm-I'm afraid he's goin'
to be burnt up" l stammered.
Its so. l said en-" my uncle |
confessed.
Aunt Deel turned to me and said: |
Bart, you go right down to the |
barn and bring me a strap-ayes! |
you bring me strap - right |
away"
l walked slowly toward the barn.
For the moment, I was sorry that |
had told on my uncle. Scalding |
tears began to flow down my |
cheeks. | sat on the steps to the |
hay loft for moment to collect my |
thoughts.
Then I heard Aunt Deel call to |
me: Hurry up, Bart"
I rose and picked out the small |
est strap I could find and walked |
slowly back to the house. 1 said, |
in a trembling voice, as I ap-
preached them, Il don't think le
IT."
He'll have to be punished-just |
the same-ayes- will"
We went into the house together, |
shifting, but curious TO see what
was going to happen. Uncle Pea
body, by Encouragement, as l know
now. lay face downward on the
sofa, and Aunt Deel began to apply
the strap. 1t was more than I
could bear, and l threw myself be-
tween my beloved friend and the
strap and pleaded with loud cries
for his forgiveness.
Uncle Peabody walked out of lie
house without word and with 4
sterner look in his face than l had
ever seen there. I searched for
him as soon as my excitement mad
passed, but in vain. 1 went out
back of the COW barn and looked
away down across the stumpy flats.
Al that lonely afternoon 1 watched
for him. The sun fell warm bat
my day was dark. aunt Deel found
me- in tears sitting on the steps Of
the cheese house and got her In
dian book out of her trunk and.
after she had cautioned me TO be
very careful of it. let me sit down
with it by myself alone, and look