The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-04-25


live with them and every day would
play with Sally Dunkelberg. Uncle
Peabody was not half ~ nice to play
with as she was.
heard Uncle Peabody drive away.
I watched him through the open wiz
dow. I could hear Aunt Deel wash
ing the dishes in the kitchen. got
out Of beo very slyly and put on my
Sunday clothes. I went to the open
window. The sun had just gone over
the top Of the woods. I would have
to hurry to get to the Dunkelbergs'
before dark. I crept out on the top
Of the shed and descended the lad
der that leaned against It. I stood .
moment listening. The dooryard was
covered with shadows and very still.
The dog must have gone with Uncle
Peabody. I ran through the garden
to the road and down 1t as fast a.
my bare feet could carry me. In that
direction the nearest house was al
most a mile away. remember I
was out Of breath, and the light was
growing dim before got to 1t. I
went on. It seemed to me that
had gone nearly far enough to reach
my destination when heard q buggy
coming behind me.
"Hellow q voice called.
turned and looked up at Dug ORA
per. In a single buggy, dressed in his
Sunday suit.
"Is 1t much further to where the
Dunkelbergs liver asked.
'The Dunkelbergs1 Who be theyr
1t seemed to me very strange that
he didn't know the Dunkelbergs.
"Where Sally Dunkelberg lives"
That was a clincher. He laughed
and sw0re and said:
"Git In here. boy. TIL take ye
there"
got into the buggy. and he struck
his horse with the whip and went gal
looping away in the dusk.
By and by we passed Rovin' Kate.
I could Just discern her ragged form
by the roadside and called to her. he
struck his horse and gave me q rude
shake and bade me shut up.
1t was dark and felt very cold and
began to wish myself home in bed.
"Ain't we most to the Dunkel.
bergs'7" asked.
"No-not yet." he answered.
burst into tears and he shook me
roughly and showed me down ON the
buggy floor and said:
you lay there and keep still; do
you hearr
"Yes," I sobbed.
lay shaking with fear and 6ght'
ing my sorrow and keeping as still al
I could with 1t, until. wearied by the
strain. 1 fell asleep.
| What befell me that night while
dreamed Of playing with the sweet
faced girl have wondered often
Some time in the night Dug Draper
had reached the village Of Canton ant
got rid Of me. He had probably put
me out at the water trough. Kline
hands had picked me up and carried
me to a little veranda that fronted
the door Of law office. There
slept peacefully until daylight. wher
I felt q hand on my face and awoke
suddenly. I remember that fell
cold. A kindly faced man was lean
ing over me.
Hello, boyr" said he. "Where die
you come from?"
I was frightened and confused. but
his gentle voice reassured me.
"Uncle Peabody I called, as
arose and looked about me and be
gan to cry.
The man lifted me in his arms and
held me close to his breast and tried
to comfort me. I remember seeing
the Silent Woman pass while I wal
In his arms.
'Tell me what's your name," HI
urged.
"Barton Baynes," I said as soon al
I could speak.
"Wnere do you live1"
"In Lickstysplit."
"How did you get herer
"Dug Draper brought me. Do you
know where Sally Dunkelberg uves1'
"Is she the daughter Of Horace
Dunkelberg1"
"Mr. and Mrs. Horace Dunkelberg,'
I amended.
"Oh, yes. I know her. Sally is 9
friend Of mine. Wen get some break
fast and then well go and find her.
He carried me through the oper
door Of his ONCE and set me down
at his desk. The cold air of the
night had chilled me and was shiv.
ering.
"You sit there and I'll have a fire
going In . minute and get you warm
ed up"
He wrapped me in his coat and went
into the back room and built a fire
in q small stove and brought me in
and set me down beside It. He made
some porridge In kettle while sal
holding my little hands over the stove
to warm them, and q sense Of com