The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-11-21

AOoA Ai4AACo VII ab do0hAI bAalCQ Ia
Bronson ch~allengingly.
81 thought" said Newton, that I'd
get a lot Of raisin bait ready for the
pocket-gophers In the lower meadow.
They'll be throwing up their mounds
by the first Of April
mot them" said Mr.. Bronson, some
what Modified, mot before May.
Where'd you get the raisin idee?"
I'VE learned 1t In school," answered
Newton. Jim had me study a bulletin
on the control and eradication Of
photographers. You use raisins with
%strychnine in 'em-and It tells how.
Some fool notion, I s'pose." said
Mr.. Bronson, rising. But go ahead
IL you're careful about handlin' the
strychnine.''
Newton spent the time from twelve
thirty to half after two In watching
the clock; and twenty minutes to
three found him In the woodshed, pen
knife in hand, a small vial Of strych-
nine crystal before him, a saucer of
raisins at his right hand, and another
exactly like 1t, partially filled with
gopher bait-raisins into which a min
ute crystal of strychnine had been in
serted on the point of the knife.
At three-thirty Newton went into
the house and lay down on the horse
hail sofa, saying to his mother that he
felt kind O. funny and thought he'd lie
down a while. At three-forty he
heard his fathers voice in the kitchen
and knew that his sire was preparing
to start for the scene of battle.
A groan issued from NeytGE's lips
IA grnesome groan. But his fathers
voice from the kitchen door betrayed
no agitation. He was scolding the
horses as they stood tied TO the hitch
ing-post, in tones that showed no
knowledge of his sons distressed
means.
What's the matter?"
1t was Newton's little sister who
asked the question. Even though re
garded as a pure matter of make
believe. such sounds were terrible.
"Oh, sister, sister!' howled Newton,
run and tell 'en that brothers dy-
ingi"
Fanny disappeared in a manner
which expressed her balanced feelings
she felt that her brother was max
ing believe, but for all that, something
awful was the matter. So she went
rather slowly to the kitchen door, and
casually remarked that Newton was
dying on the sofa in the sitting-room.
You little fraud 7" said her father.
"Why, Fanny ,' said her mother
and ran into the sitting-room-whence
in a moment, with a cry that was al
most a scream, she summoned her hus-
band, who responded at the top of his
speed.
Newton was g%roaning and in con-
WILSON'S. Horrible grimaces contorted
his face, his jaws were set, his arms
and legs drawn up, and his muscles
tense.
whats the matter?" His fathers
voice was stern as well as full of anx-
iety. whats the matter, boy7"
"Oh" cried Newton. "Oh! Oh |!
Oh.n
"Newtie, Newtie !" cried his mother,
where are you in pain? Tell mother,
Newtie !"
oh" groaned Newtie, relaxing, 81
feel AWFUL
What you been eating?" interro-
gated his father.
Nothing" replied Newton.
Il saw you eatin' dinner" said his
father.
Again Newton was convulsed by
strong spasms, and again his groans
filled the hearts of his parents with
terror.
That's all I've eaten" said he when
his spasms had passed, except a few
ralsins. I was putting ~strychnine in
EN-
"Oh, heavens!" cried his mother.
Hes poisoned! Drive for the doctor,
Ezra! Drivel"
Mr.. Bronson forgot all about the
election-forgot everything save anti
dotes and speed. He leaped toward
the door. AS he passed out, he shout
ed. "Give him an emeticl !" He tore
the hitching straps from the posts.
jumped into the buggy, gave the spir-
tied horses their heads, and fled toward
town. Just at the town limits. he met
the doctor in Sheriff pil!y's automc
bile, the sheriff himself at the steer
ing wheel. Mr.. Bronson signaled
them to stop, ignoring the fact that
they were making similar signs to him.
"We're just starting for your place."
said the doctor. "You5 wife got me
on the phone"
THANK God!" replied Bronson.
Don't fool any time away on me
Driver"
sect in here, Ez," said the sheriff.
doc knows how to drive, and I'll come
on with your team. Txey need a slow
drive to cool 'em off,"
why didn't you phone me?" asked
the doctor.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Silenced.
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