Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-12-13
The Brown Mouse

slews at the sight OF a flock of duck
four miles of as usualf" stated Mr.
bronson chanengingly.
Il thought" said Newton. that II
get a lot of raisln bait ready for the
photographers In the lower meadow
They'll be throwing up their mounds
by the FIRST of April"
"Not Them" said Mr.. Bronson. some
what Modified. mot before, May
Where'd you get the raisin ideeg"
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
s~trychnine In 'em-and II tells how"
Some fool notion. I s'pose." said
Mr.. Bronson. rising. But go ahead
If you're careful about handlIn' the
s%trychnIne."
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 IL, partially filled with
gopher bait-raisins into which n min
ute crystal OF strychnine had been In
serted ON the point OF the knife.
AT th~ree-thirty Newton went into
the house and lay down on the horse
hair sofa, saying to his mother that he
felt Kim o. funny and thought he'd lie
down a while. AT three-for1y 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 Newton's lips
a gruesome groan. But his fathers
voice from the kitchen door betrayed
no agitation He was scoidlng the
horses as they stood tied to the hitch
ing-post, In tones that showed no
knowledge of his sons distressed
mouns.
Whats the matterY'
II 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 7" howled Newton,
run and tell 'em that brothers dy-
ing"
Fanny disappeared In a names
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 ts 'he kitchen door, and
casually remarked that Newton was
dying on the sofa in the sittlng-room.
You little fraud !" said her father.
"Why, Fannyl' said her mother
and ran into the sittlng-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 grooming and In con
vulslons. Horrible grlmaces contorted
his face, his jaws were set, his arms
and legs drawn up, and his muscles
tense.
whats the matterf" His father 3
voice was stern as well as full OF anx-
iety. whats the matter. boy7"
"ohi" cried Newton. "Ohk OH
ORR
+. "Newtie. Neville !" crled his mother, |
where are you In paln7 Tell mother,
Neville
"oh," groaned Newue. relaxing, II
feel awful"
"What. you been eatngi" interro-
gated his father.
Nothing" replied Newton.
Il saw you entIn' dinner" said his
Again Newton was ~convulsed by
spasms, and again his groans
filled the hearts OF bis parents with
That's all I've eaten.h said he when
bis spasms had passed, except a few
l was putting strychnine In
EN-.
"Oh, heavensi" cried his mother.
poisoned Drive for the doctor,
Ezra Drivei"
Mr.. Bronson forgot all about the
siection-forgot everything save anti.
and speed. lie leaped toward
he door. AS he passed out, he shout
ID, "Give him an emetIci" He tore
he hitchIng straps from the posts.
Jumped into the buggy. gave the spIr-
ted horses their heads. and fed toward
own. just at the town limits, he met
he doctor In Sheriff Dilly's automo-
,iIe. the sheriff himself at the steer
ng wheel. Mr.. Bronson signaled
hem to stop. ignoring the fact that
hey were making similar signs to him.
Were just starting for your place."
aid the doctor. "Your wife got me
the phone"
THANK Codi" replied Bronson.
Don't fool any time away on me.
Get In here. Ez." said the sheriff.
Doc knows how TO drive. and I'll rome
u with your team. They need a slow
rive to cool 'em Off"
why didn't you phone met" asked
doctor.
CTo BE coNTTNUED)
silenccd.\
A newIy-married couple were enter