The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-01-30

what do We think has h%appened?"
he asked as he looked down upon US
with a majestic movement Of his hand.
"The son o. that old Bucktail. Ben
Grimshaw, has been arrested and
brought to jail for murder"
"FOr murder?" asked Mr.. and Mrs.
Hacket In one breath.
"FOr bloody murder, sir" the colonel
went On. ut was the shooting Of that
man In the town o. Ballybeen a few
weeks ago. Things have come to a
pretty pass In this country, / should
say. Talk about law and order; we
don't know what 1t means here and
why should we? The party in power
is avOwedly opposed to it-yes, sir. II
has fattened upon bribery and corrup.
ton. DO you think that the son o.
Ben Grimshaw will receive punish
ment even If he Is proved guilty? Not
az all. He will be protected-you mark
my words"
He bowed and left us. When the
door had closed behind him Mr.. Hacket
said:
"Another victim horned by the
Snapdragon! If a man were to be
slain by a bear back in the woods
Colonel Hand would look for guilt in
the opposition party. Michael Henry,
whatever the truth may be regarding
the poor boy In Jail, we are in no way
responsible. Away with sadness /!
What Is thatT"
Mr.. Hacket inclined his ear and then
added: michael Henry says that he
may be innocent and that we had bet
ter go and see If we can help him.
Now l hadn't thought o. that. Had
you, MaryT
NO." the girl answered.
"We must be letting Mike go ahead
of us always" said her father. "You
saw the crime, l believe" turning to
me.
/ told them all I'knew Of 1t.
upon my word, I like you, my
brave lad" said the schoolmaster. 81
heard of all this and decided that you
would Ire a help to Michael Henry and
a credltable student. Come, let us
go and pay u compliments to the
senator"
The schoolmaster and l went over
to Mr.. Wright's house-a white, frame
building which had often been pointed
out to me.
Mrs. Wright. a fine-looking lady who
met us at the door, said that the SEN
ator had gone over t. the mill with his
w~heelbarrow.
"We've plenty Of time and Wen wait
for him. said the schOolmaster.
81 see him !" said little John as he
and Ruth ran to the gate and down
the rough plank walk to meet him.
We saw him coming a little way
down tire street in his shirt-sleeves
win his barrow In front Of him. He
stopped and lifted little John In his
arms. and after a moment put him
down and embraced Ruth.
swell, I see We still love the tender
embrace o. the wheelbarrow," said Mr..
Hacket as we approached the senator.
"My embrace is the tenderer Of the
two" the latter laughed with a look
at his hands.
He recognized me and seized my
two hands and shook them as he said:
Upon my word, here Is my friend
Bart I vas not looking for you here"
He put his hand on my head, now
higher than his shoulder, and said
II was not looking for you here"
He asked about my aunt and uncle
and expressed joy at learning that !
was now under Mr.. Hacket.
81 shall be here for a number of
weeks" he said, "and I shall want to
see you often. Maybe Wen 60 hunt
ing some Saturday"
We babe him good morning and he
went on with his w~heelbarrow. which
was loaded, / remember, with stout
sacks Of meal and -four.
We went to the school at half past
eight. What a thrilling place 1t was
with its IS children and Its three
rooms. How noisy they were as they
waited in the schoolyard for the bell
to ring! l stood by the doorside look
Ing very foolish. I dare say, for ]
knew not what to do with myself. My
legs encased In the tow breeches felt
as If they were on fire. I saw that
most of the village boys wore bought
EN- clothes and fine boots. I looked
down at my W leather and was q
tower Of shame on a foundation of
creased cowhide. Sally Dunkelberg
came In with some other girls and pre-
tended not to see me. That was the
hardest blow I suffered.
Among the handsome, well-dressed
boys Of the village vas Henry Wills
the boy who had stolen my water
melon. / had never forgiven him for
that or for the killing of my little hen.
The bell rang and we marched into
the big room. while o fat girl with
crinkly hair played on a melodeon.
Henry and another bog tried to shove
me ont Of line and q big paper wad
struck the side Of my head a. we were
marching IN and after we were seated
cross-eyed. freckled gin In . red
dr6s5 made 1 fac6 ct me.
! II waa o6 f6s whole. the unhappiso{
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