Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-10-07


brown eyes. His face
was round and rudy under Its sum-
mer tan. His lips were full and
strong-an aggressive, jolly boy, with
q quick temper and generous heart.
He and Lydia had been friends since
kindergarten days.
'T'm going to stay in the Willows
all day." said Lydia. ''Don't go too
fast, Kent"
"Dit-up! Dit-up. horsy!" screamed
little Patience.
The path, after a few moments,
shifted to the lake shore. The water
there Tapped quietly on a sandy beach,
deep shaded by willows. Kent dis
mounted.
discharge your cargo!" he cried.
Don't be so bossy," said Lydia.
"This is my party"
Cali right, then won't play with
you"
"Nobody asked you to, smarty.
was going to give you my deviled egg
for lunch"
"Gosh," said Kent, ibid you bring
your lunch1 Say, guess I'll go
home and get mother to give me some
But let's pay pirates, first"
Gall right! I choose to be chief
first" agreed Lydia.
"And I'm the cannibal and baby's
the stolen princess" said Kent.
The three children plunged into the
game which is the common property
Of childhood. For time, bloody cap
lures, savage orgies, escape, pursuit,
looting of great ships and burial of
treasure, transformed the quiet shore
to q theater Of high crime. At last,
as the August noon waxed high, and
the hostage princess fell fast asleep
In her perambulator cave, the canni
bal, who had shifted to captured duke.
bowed before the pirate.
"Sir," he said In deep voice, 81
have bethought myself Of still further
treasure which. If you will allow me
to. go after in my trusty boat, l will
get and bring to you-if you will al
low me to say farewell at that time
to my wife and babes"
"Hap returned the pirate. "How
do 1 know you'll come back?'
The duke folded his arms. "You
have my word OF honor which never
has, and never will, be broken"
"Go, duke, but return ere shutdown"
The pirate made a magnificent ges-
ture toward the bicycle, Sand say.
Kent, bring plenty to fill yourself up,
for I'm awful hungry and I'll need all
we've got"
She was giving little Patience her
bread and milk, when Kent returned
with a paper bag.
INA was cross at me for Fostering
her, but managed to get some sand
wiches and doughnuts. Come on, let's
begin. Gee, there's squaw!"
Coming toward the three children
seated in the sand by the perambu-
lator was g, thin bent old woman, lean
ing on stick.
"Dirty old beggar," said Kent, be-
ginning to devour his sandwiches. &
isn't she awful !" exclaimed Lydia.
Begging Indians were no novelty to
Lake City children, but this one was
so old and thin that Lydia was hor-
rified. Toothless, her black hair
streaked with gray, her calico dress
unspeakably dirty, her hands like
/, birds claws clasping her stick, the
squaw stopped in front of the chill
dren.
"Eat!' she said, pointing to her
mouth. while her sunken black eyes
were fixed on Kent's sandwiches.
Little Patience looked up and be-
gan to whimper with fear.
"Get out, you old rip!" said Kent.
"Eatl EatF' insisted the squaw, a
certain ferocity In her manner.
ibid you walk clear in from the
reservation" asked Lydia.
The squaw nodded, and held out her
scrawny hand for the children's In
spection. mo eats, all time no eats !
You give eats-poor old woman"
"Oh, Kent, she's half starved
Let's give her some Of our lunch, "
exclaimed Lydia.
"Not on your life" returned Kent.
"Dirty. lazy lot! Why don't they
work Z"
eff we'd go halves, we'd have
enough" insisted Lydia.
"You told me you'd only enough
for yourself Get out of here, you old
she-devil."
The squaw did not so much as
glance at Kent. Her eyes were fast
ened on Lydia, with the look OF q
hungry, expectant dog. Lydia ran her
fingers through her damp curls. and
sighed. Then she gave little Patience
her share Of the bread and butter and
a cooky. She laid the precious dey-
lied egg In Its twist of paper on top
of the remainder Of the bread and
cookies and handed them to the In
dian.