Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1919-10-02
TRUE BLUE
BY WARREN LEE BARTON.
Observation-Disclosures
Copyright. 1915. Western Newspaper Union.)

gold and dig back for home, hey?"
Everybody would laugh at US. No,
I'll be all right in a day or two and
we'll strike a fresh trail, see?"
Thus spoke Roger Small, rich mans
son of Chesterton, fifty miles distant, to
his fides Achates, Zeb Walls. They
were in an old barn and, lying on a
heap Of hay and covered to the chin
with ragged horse blanket, Roger,
with notified face. watched his chum
and nurse hustle about.
The latter had set up light house
keeping. He had small one-burner
Kerosene stove, a skillet and a few
other kitchen accessories, a package Of
cereal, a)bOttle of milk and an old tea
pot. This was constantly simmering
on the little oil burner and gave out
an aromatic steam.
you see, you've got the measles"
said Zeb, "and all you can do for 1t is
to lie still and keep warm, so l Dor
rOwed the blanket without asking, and
as to the warm drinks you've got to
have there's loads of pennyroyal in
the fields and that's the tea you're
getting. / found letter with a regu-
lar and a special delivery stamp on 1t
and cut them off and sold them for ten
cents and bought the cereal."
"Oh, Zeb The letter was intended for
some one"
Course ii was. It's addressed to a
woman and some one dropped it be-
fore it was mailed. I'll hunt her up
and deliver it,"
you're a true blue one, amt you?"
voiced Roger in grateful admiration.
Il try to be. You would run away
from home and. having none myself.
l was glad to join you. Now you're
sick, think I'd drop your
Just then there were sounds of jolly
juvenile voices outside. Half a dozen /
boys peered in curiOusly. Its the two
fellers we heard about running away /
from hOme," spoke their leader.
Keep out This is a hospital just
now" warned Zeb.
What do you mean?" was inquired.
Just what l say. Ny chums down
with the measles and I'm nursing
him." and Zeb went outside with the
group.
''Huh /" muttered one of them, Hes
lucky. Don't have to 80 to school.
Wish't had his sickness"
You do?" challenged Zeb, his eye
Look here, any of you
fellows anxious to catch the measles
20 you don't have to go to school can
De accommodated at ten cents per. All
you've got to do is to pay a dime, come
n and sit by my chum for an hour or
TWO and afore day or so you'll break
,ut most beautifully"
Zeb laughed at his own conceit, but
he boys went away thoughtful. At
loon two of them reappeared with an
FIR of mystery and twenty cents be-
ween them.
Say" observed one of them, sheep
silly, "well take twenty cents worth
f your measles between u.s."
That's business" said Zeb, and saw
hem seated beside his patient and pro-
eeded down town TO buy some delica-
les for his invalid chum.
However infection did not occur
nd the wOuld-be victims missed the
ppOrtunity of an anticipated vacation,
ut the story got out. Miss Ina Blair
learned of the incident
Il never heard of such cold-blOoded
iabolism !" she told an assistant.
This Zeb Walls must be a horrible
reich. shall see that he and his
lum leave town at snce."
She was pretty as picture and gen.
e as dove, but for day or two had
cen laboring under disappointment
i'd chagrin. Four days previous a
,rtain shy, but adoring young man
Id whispered to her at tennis party
at he intended sending her a very
lportant letter next day, and it had
It come.
Zeb, making a fresh infusion of pen
royal tea, was challenged from out
lie the barn by young lady waving
r parasol at him.
Come here, you young reprobatel"
e called. Are you the wretch who
S been trying to scatter an epidemic
disease through the town."
NOM" dissented Zeb, i've just
en- trying to keep my chum, Roger
iall, comfortable"
We'll, you must move on and leave
re, or I'll have the authorities after
j. am Miss Blair, the schoolteach-
and I must protect my charges"
oh, say" abruptly calculated Zeb,
We got something for you" and he
lied out the letter from which he
clipped the stamps. Miss Blair
lmined 1t with trembling fingers.
? read the Enclosure
You dear boyi" she cried. almost
yging him. "Tell me where you got
1 found it," explained Zeb. "Was
stealing, taking the stamps? Then
uess I'd steal for the best friend l
r had, Roger Small" Miss Blair
him on to tell all about his strange
nos tracing In his fidelity q fervOr