American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-01-10
CHAPTER I--continued.

GhVAFN1 A1yHGbA ~ tt k'A'a '" N''fN
hood. He Rugged me close and begged
me to tell him what was the mat
ter.
'"That Wills boy stole my melon"
1 said. and the words came slow with
sobs.
"Oh. no. he didn't" said Uncle Pea
body.
Eyes he did. I saw a piece o. the
rim.
'nWell by" said Uncle Peabody,
stopping, as usuel, at the edge OF the
p~recipicc.
tiles a snake" / added.
"And you At and he scratched you
up that wnyT'
II scratched him. too"
"Don't you say n word nbout 1t to
Aunt Deel. Don't ever speak O. that
miserable melon ag'ln to anybody.
You scoot around to the barn, an
I'll be there In a minute and fix We
up"
Ha went by the road with the ten
and / ran around to the lane and up
to tho stable. Uncle Peabody met
me there In a moment and brought a
pail OF water and washed my face
80 that l felt and looked more respect
able.
The worst was over for TINT day,
but the Baynes-W Wills feud had begun.
II led TO many a fight In the school
yard and on the way home. We were
80 evenly matched that our quarrel
went oE for n long time and gathered
intensity as II continued,
One June day Uncle Peabody and
I, from down in the fields, saw q
fine carriage drive in at our gate. He
stopped and looked intentiy.
Jerusalem ~four-corners II he ex'
claimed. "1t's MFR. and Mrs. Horace
Dnnkelberg."
My heart beat fast Mt thought OF
the legendary Dunkelbergs. Uncle
looked me over from top TO toe
~"IIcavensl" he exclaimed. go dowr
to the brook and wash the mud OF
yer feet an legs"
I ren for the brook and before
had returned 20 my uncle / heard the
horn blow.
"The Dunkelbergs 1.-The Dunkei'
bergsl Come quickr' 1t seemed t
say.
Mr.. Dunkelberg was a.big, broad
s%houldered. solemn-looklng man. Some
how his face reminded me Of n lion'i
which / had seen la oIe OF my pic
ture books. He hnd u thick, long. out
standing mustache and side whiskers
and dccp-set eyes and heavy eyebrows
He stood for half q moment looking
Gown at me from a great height witt
his right hand In his pocket. l heart
n little Jingle of coins down whers
his hand was. II excited my curios
ity. He took a step toward me ant
reiterated. I feared, n little, thll
blg. liun-like man. Ny fears left I'M
suddenly when he spoke In a smal
sQuenky voice that reminded me o
the chlrping of n bird.
'Iittle' boy. come here aud l vii
make you n present" said he.
II reminded me OF my dlsappolni
tent when uncle tried 60 shoot hi
gun at a squirrel and only the Gu
cracked.
| went to him and he laid n sllve
piece In the palm Of my hand. Aun
Deel began to hurry about getting din
ner ready while Uncle Peabody ant
I sat down on the porch with GU
guests, among whom was a pretty
hlue-eyed girl OF about my own ag,
with long, goiden-brown hair tina
hung In curls.
''Sally. this Is Barton Baynes-can'
you shake hands with hlmY" said Mrs
ltunkeIbelg.
with a smile the girl came and OF
fred me her hand and made a funn.
bow and said that she was glad (
rec me. l took her hand awkward
aud made 40 reply. l had never see
many girls and had no very high oplr
lon OF them.
AS we sat there / heard the me
taking about the great Silas Wrigh.
Nsho had Just returned to his HON
~ Canton. He had net entered m
consciousness NJ III then.
While | sat II stening l felt q twea
Or my hair, and looking around | sa'
siisa nnnkeihess sse. standing benin
nse with a saucy smile on her face.
wont you come and play viii
rie7n she asked.
t0ok her out in the garden
show her where my watermelon ha
Lain. AT the moment l couldn't thin
OF anything else TO show her. AS y
walked along / observed that her fe'
were In dainty shiny button-saoe
Srd1elhy I began to be ashamed
nv Geet that were Drowned by q
nunliehk and scratched by the brier
Ths nbscnt watermelon didn't seem
Interest hef.
L6Fs play house II the grove" sa