The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-06-05
My
MiSadVenture
j. ;.5
91l<D
BY. otillia Frances Pfsihes

:, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Copyright. 1913. by Western Newspaper Union)
"Where's that boy7 Is. he ever
around when he's wanted? Tell you
with all my worries it's about time he
. buckled down to doing something use
full"
! Don't scold, Uncle, dear. Martin
IL a good boy, thinks the world Of both
eof US, and, II he Is little forgetful
and needless at times, he makes up
for it when you remind him of it in
a gentle, reasoning way. This especial
afternoon he begged of from his reg
!: ular chores to 60 hunting for those
two burglars who robbed the bank
night before last"
Expected to catch them and get
that 5000 reward, suppose" mock
ed old John Wadhams. "Oh, yes that
unlucky wight ever strike such for
tune! It's not the way Of this unfor-
tunate family. We've had nothing but
loss and mishap since mother died.
With the money / owe and can't pay,
and that boy wasting his time, I'm
fretted to death half the time!"
! 1--WE got all the kindling in," said
Ora Dale. "and I agreed with Martin
to do the milking, so everything will
be- attended just the same as If he
were here. gave him the afternoon"
Afternoon and evening, too, it looks,
for it's getting dark"
"Oh, Martin will be along soon,"
sQQthed Ora. HE and his chums are
IN excited about those robbers and
they have gone of with wooden guns,
boy-like, to capture them, as they
hope and plan" Old John Wadhams
went off mumblingly reiterating his
complaints. Ora sighed a trife, then
drove away the cloud that lowered by
humming pretty little air about
birds, and sunshine, and flowers. She
had her cross to bear as we'll as Uncle
John, but it came from sharing his
troubles, real and imaginary. Ora was
his niece and a homeless orphan when,
after the death of Aunt Mary she was
sent for by Uncle John to take up
her home with himself and his mother
: less boy. She became the angel of the
house, blessing to the old man, if
he only knew It, for, she helped him
carry his burdens and her diligence
and economy lightened the expenses
and brought comfort and contentment,
the latter to young Martin, at least,
who otherwise was inclined to "go out
Into the world and seek his fortune
on, his. own hook" as he expressed it,
although not yet twelve years of age.
:, Martin fairly idolized Ora and fully
appreciated her numberless sacrifices
In behalf Of his father and himself
He knew, as. all Cleveden knew, that
Ora was giving up the dream and
glory of her life through her loyal I'M
selfish devotion to her uncle. Ernest
Throop, in love with her, had told
her 80 and he was a sutton to be
proud of--manly, Industrious and hon
orable. Ora loved him in return, but
she had told him clearly that she
could not leave her uncle while he was
crushed under a burden Of debt and
while Martin was too young to shift
for himself. Duty was the watchword
Of her life, and nobly she lived up to
. its teachings. All Cleveden was astir
at; the moment over the bank robbery.
Two men had broken into the institu-
ton and had made off with small
fortune. The Waterman had winged"
one Of them in their flight, he declared,
for he had seen the fugitive lift one
hand TO his breast as he ran. A sec
ond shot had caused the other burglar
to waver and limp and blood stains
had been traced for some distance
down the river shore.
Meantime Martin, the well intention
ed but thoughtless, had fingered with
mis- companions clear into dusk. Then
In game of hide and seek he had
;crept into one Of the numerous earthen
water pipes lining the river bluff,
ready to be used In new reservoir
a1Stsu sdopted b. the town. Thers