The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-02-06


heard my uncle coming with the
horses. 1 concluded that 1 would
stay where 1 was, but the dog came
and shifted and barked at the hole
through which 1 had crawIed as if
saying, Here he isp' My position
was untenable. 1 came out. Shep
began trying to clean my clothes with
his tongue. Uncle Peabody stood
near with the horses. He looked at
me. He stuck his finger into the
honey on my coat and smelt it.
"Well, by" he stopped and came
closer and asked.
whats happened?"
'Bee stung me-" 1 answered.
"Where did We find so much honey
that We could go swimmin' in it?' he
asked.
heard the door of the house open
suddenly and the voice of Aunt Deel.
Peabody; Peabody, come here
quick" she called
Uncle Peabody ran to the house, but
stayed out with the dog.
Through the open door 1 heard Aunt
Deel saying: Il can't STAN it any
longer and wOn't-not another day
ayes, I can't STAN it. That boy is a
regular pest"
They came out on the veranda IN
Gle Peabody said nothing, but 1 could
see that he couldn't stand it either.
My brain was working fast.
Come here, SIR" Uncle Peabody
called.
knew it was serious, for he had
never called me 'sir" before. I went
slowly to the steps.
my Lord! '' Aunt Deel exclaimed.
Look at that lip and the honey all
over him-ayes! I tell ye-I can't
STAN it."
Say, boy. is there anything Oh this
place that We amt tipped over?" Uncle
Peabody asked in a sorrowful tone.
Wouldn't We like to tip the house
over?"
was near breaking down in this
answer:
81 went into the but'ry and that
pan jumped on to me-"
Didn't you taste the honey?"
NO." I drew in my breath and
shook my head.
Liar, tool" said Aunt DeeI. 81
CAN sum an won Z.
Uncle Peabody was sorely tried, but
he was keeping down his anger. His
voice trembled as he said:
boy, guess you'll have to
Uncle Peabody stopped He had
been driven to the last ditch, but he
had not stepped over it. However, 1
knew what he had started to say and
sat Gown on the steps in great de-
lection. Shep followed working at
my coat with his tongue.
I think the sight of me must have
touched the heart of Aunt Deel.
Peabody Baynes, we mustn't be
cruel" said she in a softer tone, and
then she brought a rag and began TO
assist Shep in the process of clean
ing my coat. Good land! He's got to
stay here-ayes he amt got no
other place to go to-"
BAT if you can't stan it," said IN
Gle Peabody.
I've got to stan it-ayes II can't
STAN it, but I've got to-ayesI So
have you"
Aunt Deel put me to bed although
it was only five o'clock. AS lay
looking up at the shingles q singular
resolution came to me. It was born
Of my longing for the companionship
OF my kind and of my resentment. I
would go and live with the DunkeI-
bergs. I would go the way they had
gone and find them. 1 knew it was
ten miles away, but of course every
body knew where the Dunkelbergs
lived and any one would show me.
I would run and get there before
| dark and tell them that 1 wanted to
live with them and every day 1 would
play with Sally Dunkelberg. Uncle
Peabody was not half as nice to play
with as she was.
I heard Uncle Peabody drive AWAY.
I watched him through the open win
dow. I could hear Aunt DeeI wash
ing the dishes in the kitchen. I got
out of bed very sIyIy and put on my
Sunday clothes. I went to the open
window. The sun had just gone over
the top Of the woods. 1 would have
to hurry to get to the Dunkelbergs'
before dark. 1 crept out ON the top
Of the shed and descended the lad
der that leaned against It. I stood a
moment listening. The dooryard was
covered with shadows and very still.
The dog must have gone with Uncle
Peabody. ran through the garden
to the road and down it as fast as
my bare feet could carry me. In that
direction the nearest house was al
most a mile away. 1 remember ]
was out Of breath, and the light was
growing dim before I got to it. ]
went on. 1t seemed to me that ]
; had gone nearly far enough to reach