The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-05-06
AN INVOLUN.
TARY BATH
BY ALDEN CHAPMAN

an expert 81 the coopemge art.
what fori Tim afrnidf" came n
voice from anywhere. nowh here. certain.
y not cmanniing from any person In
view.
We'll. Dan Milton has just gone
down the road and he's got stick
With him. Now. Walt. you follow my
advice and sneak home. Get into the
house n quick as YOU can. and maybe
he'll forget to hunt you W. and all
about your breaking that jug to-day
mot him." scoffcd the same nlys.
ierious Voice. aud then it~ owner pro-
iruded head. and then pair ~ thin.
ragged shoulders into view from the
depths uf barrel standing n, one end
~ the old cooper's work bench. SAY.
] can't stand u no longer. being half
starved and damned for nothing and
treated like dog I'm going 10 run
away FROM home. ann"
Don't you do H. son" counselcd
Robert Bryce. seriously. "It never
pays. Stay and fght II out. You're
nothing but homeless orphan hoy
bufrcted about NJ everybody's viii. but
such have come 10 the top a. great
good men In my knowing"
"why don't YOU get me away from
han Milton and make Q cooper u mef
suggested Walt earnestly. "if I am
noh"dy's boy. YOU can get me. can't
youf You like me. and so does Miss
Rosy. and 50 does Ned Townsend. and
III die for any one. or all three ~ you
together. II IL had TO be-"
What has Ned Townsend 20, 10 do
NTH ~" demanded the odd cooger.
pricklng w his ears.
"lie-sh. well. he's Roxy's fellow. az
hopes Ia be-. and wants 90 be-. Don't
YOU Ike him. Mr.. Rrycef
Like him well enough" growled out
the old cooIsr. but he's poor as We
are, and I'm not going TO let Roxy Join
her life with fellow who can't give
her better than she's got. Now, you
run home. Its your chance"
But Il was not Waits chance. lie
crawled from the barrel aud made a
dash across lots only 90 run squarely
across the Path Of big. wicked faced
Dan Milton. who had doubled ON his
tracks II seemed
FIJI! You come here" yelled Dan
I've a rod In pickle for you"
Walt uttered weak. terrified wall.
Then he formed n sudden resolution.
His little limbs Increased vivid action
II was getting on towards dusk. \
clear stretch spread out before him
Beyond that was rising ground and
struggling timber. further on yet the
wilderness ~ derricks and tanks mark.
Ing the oil fields active and experiment
tai There were thousand places
where he could hide.
Dan Milton pursued. kept up half a
mile chase. then halted. iratc and
to shake his club menacing-
~ az the refugee. Vim dove into
swnmpy stretch % brush. rock and tim
her and was lost In it, depths. There
was splash cry. less 81 pain than
disgust. Past some sheltering wines
Walt plunged. To land up 90 the neck
into small. hut deep pool. Ills fee,
bottom. hut heavy. sticky
substance overcoated him completely
7; was with difficulty that Walt waded
dlcnment. Even then he staggered as
he walked. The substance adhcring 90
him seemed heavy n lead. The oily
odor emanatlng from II was more nau-
seous than pungent
"Ani now I'm In FIX" ne dolefuily
"rve spoiled my clothes
and I'll b. about skinned alive II !
went home this way. Oh 81 -; raT
aud fast away from Alton for me-" and
Walt turned his face away from the
town. feeling that II would never do
10 return. Half a mile laboriousiy GOV
cred. Walt halted. and his longing
glance was fixed on light In "A little
clean cabin he knew we'll
n shouldn't wonder II Ned Town.
send would house me illl get these
clothes scrnpei up and rested a hit.
unused Walt. and hopefully trudgs'i
over 10 the shack where his friend
lived. Ned was foreman of n we'll.
haring crew. lie smiled n pleasant
welcome n Walt crossed the thresh.
old Of his humble domicile. Then he
stared at him almost In stupefaction.
Thea he came closer and shifted. and
then ran his hand across the gllstenlng
stun that coated Walt A. II he were
mailed knight and examined II closely.
Meantime Walt siumblinely told his
story. There was n vivid token Of IN.
ferest IN his auditors eyes.
SAY. lad" he spoke, and there was n
trace 81 keen excitement In his tones,
'.can you head me TO whes you fell
Into that pool II ollT'
Il sure can" ass.nte1 Walt and did
And then. more reused up than ever
Ned took him back 10 the cabin. A
better meal and more comfortable
couch Walt had never enjoyed. and
seeing his young giiest comfortably set.
tied. Ned Townsend scurricd from ths
house. and far Into the night was en-.
crossed IN examining the oil and pool
and seeking cut and negotiating with
me owners ~ the property around n
securing options upon Il for a mere
son9