The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-26

we did and last a minute, because 1t
would smash against the trees. And
even II anybody knew where We were
they couldn't get to US. Even II the
strongest men in town tried to row
boat up stream from below the Tow
Head they couldn't get to US. because
they couldn't row among the trees IN
it. So cried.
shut up!" swatty yelled at me.
Amt it bad enough without you bel
lering-'
US 20 out into the river he sat on his
timber with his mouth open. and he
couldn't even holler-he was SO scared
and then he Just padded for shore
and jumped of his timber and ran. He
didn't know where he was running
he was just running away from there.
He was scared stiff. When he come to
he was half way home, and blubbering
and painting and then he sat down on
a horse block. and didn't know what
to do. He thought we were drowned.
sure. So he thought the best thing to
do would be to not say anything about
1t. He was afraid. First he thought
he would go home and act as II he had
been at school and Just stayed out
playing awhile and not do anything
else about it, and let folks find out
| anyway they could. and then he
thought that Mrs. Schwartz would miss
Swatty when 1t was time to fetch the
cow, and that she would come over to
his house to see II Swatty was there.
and he didn't know what else. So he
| thought he would go over to Swatty's
house first and sort OF keep Mrs.
Schwartz from doing anything like
| c. he TIC ha
| in his bare feet. or that he had ever
had shoes and stockings.
| When he got to Swatty's house Mrs.
Schwartz was on the front terrace. in
her calico dress and with a BIRCH
switch in her hand. looking for Swatty,
because Swatty knew what time the
COW ought to be fetched home. Bony
| went up to the steps.
DO you want me to fetch the COW,
Mrs. Schwartz he asked.
| What for should you fetch the cow
homer" said Mrs. Schwartz. as angry
as could be.
"I thought maybe swatty was late.
| and didn't want to keep you wait
Ing" he said.
| For why should you think he was
later" Mrs. Schwartz asked. She 81
ways talked in a funny way. because
she was German.
| II thought maybe he was playing
down at the river" said Bony. Lots
Of boys were playing down there to-
day"
sol" said Mrs Schwartz. "And re
sends you home to get his COW, yes?
He could get his own cows. I wait for
him" stat
So then Bony didn't know what to
say. He stood around. And after
awhile he said:
Maybe he won't come home to get
the cows"
What you mean?" asked Mrs.
Schwartz.
Maybe he's drowned" said Bony.
Maybe him and Henry went down to
the river and-and@'
| So then he began to cry. and the first
| thing anybody knew be had me and
| Swatty drowned and our bodies float
ing down to St Louis or New Orleans.
and Mrs. Schwartz wringing her hands
and hollering for Herb. So Herb come
out on the porch and Bony told him
me and Swatty had foated away on a
bridge timber and got drowned, and
Herb got Mr.. Schawrtz out OF the
house, and then he como over to my
house to tell my father. and my father
anu luOL0SIp anu Aus 0uo Oil Lie
lSchwartzes and a lot OF neighbors all
went running down to the levee. and
took the Bony Highlander with them
to show them where we had got
drowned from. So that was why Bony
didn't go home. and why Ae got licked
when he did get home.
BY tina. time it wasn't dark but Il
was getting dark. Me and Swatty JUS,
hung onto our trees and that was al
we could do. but all our folks and
most everybody in town got down te
tho levee. because Tim Mulligan at the
water-works pump house blew the
alarm whistle. The firemen all came
too, with their hose carts and ladder
trucks. but most Of the folks Just wen
around saying 1t was too bad. but tina
it was hopeless.
Well. that was what everybody
thought. My mother cried. and Mrs
Schwartz cried. and I guess most O
. the women cried, and the men looked
mighty sober and said what pity 1
was SO hopeless. but what could the!
do? Everybody was sober or crying,
guess. but Fan. and I guess she'd beer
So mad at Herb she Just couldn't b.
anything but mad. She was SO full o.
mad that 1t had to come out.
"Well!' she says. "and you call your.
self a man! Do you mean to stant
around here like bump on a log am
do nothing?" she says. I'm glad
found out in time what helpless ninn.
you are" or something like that Sh'
gave it to him good. tell you!
Very WELL" he says. like a maj
, ready to jump of the high school roof
, IF you say so, I'll take a skin and &
out upon the river"
''Skin, indeed" says Fan. "You't
, have a nice picnic with a skiff, wodldn'
you? Have some sense. Herber
, Schwartz. What good is that ferry
boat doing tied up here?"
Well. that was what they done. A
first Captain Hewitt didn't want t
take the ferry boat out. He said it wa
hopeless. and that she was an old rot
: ten hull. and that log would g.
through her like a needle. and She
sink. and she couldn't mako headwa.
r tYnafrearn 1afnRt ~r,ct, dond and