Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-05-20
SYNOPSIS
wNU Service
Copyright By Robert Stead

CRATER x.-rrank ana Jean enter
well VEL understood aaa rss that John and Mar:
Spool drives thirty miles to the nearest
town to make arrangements for q dou-
BILE wedding,
We explained that we were tracking
Spool in case he became lost, but
avoided any reference to the ultimatum
that had sent US after him. Declining
the invitation Of Burke and his wife
to stay and eat, we pushed on.
About half way to Andy Smiths we
met Spool coming back. Andy had not
seen the joke when 1t was first pre-
sented, and in his analysis of it had
revealed 1t to Spool as soon as he
recognized 1t himself. This was for
tunate for Spool, as otherwise he
would doubtless have been sent to Ole
Hansen's In continuation of his quest
AS Spool came up to US his face
twisted In broad grin.
"Did you get left-hand wrench
we asked.
"No, but l found out what cogita-
ton nut is. This is It," and he tapped
his head with his knuckles, "only it
doesn't cogitate very WELL"
The three of us linked arms, Spool
in the middle. and trudged back
toward Burke's-
mighty decent of you to come after
me-" said Spool at length.
"Yes wasn't it?" we agreed.
Lucy Burke would take no refusal
this time, so Spool and Jack and !
stayed for dinner. had feeling that
this was bad generalship, and that we
should be hurrying home. where Jean
was doubtless waiting with growing
concern l managed to mention my
forebodings to Jack.
Don't you believe It." he whispered
back. when woman reads you the
riot act 60 out and have riot. Moth
ing makes her so unhappy as to sus-
pect that her husband Is having a
good time when she thinks he should
be doing penance."
After dinner Burke, with the loneli-
ness Of a homesteader to whom the
visit of neighbor Is something Of an
event, detained us as long as possible.
on one pretext or another. and finally,
when we insisted upon going, hitched
ND the mules and drove US back to
Fourteen.
It was dark by this time and the
lamps were lighted. l noticed that
lamps were Bet so that their yellow
wedges of light thrust out into the
darkness from each Of our windows.
Jean was at the door with the sound
Of our sleigh bells, and as / passed
close by her scrutinized her face for
some hopeful sign. It was a blank
wall.
We made Spool and Burke stay for
supper, and no one had more fun over
the days events than had Spool. Jean
kept her indignation well bridled, and
we were happy party, outwardly, at
any rate. Spool and Burke made 1t
up that they would drive to Jake's
late that night, when he would be
sure to be In bed, and stuff his stove
pipe with q sack as slight exchange
Of compliments. During the evening
Jeans eyes avoided mine but had an
uncomfortable feeling that three Of us
were on precipice which afforded
room for only two, and that was the
third.
AS the evening wore on Spool In
sisted that Jean get out the banjo. ]
could see that she was In no mood for
music, but she played her part well,
and as their voices Joined In "Old
Black Joe" and SILVER Threads Among
the Gold" l could, not help wondering
If she were as unhappy as was.
After they had sung for while
Spool took the banjo from Jean and
swept HIS lean, long hand with quick.
delicate master strokes across Its
strings. Under his spell our little
homestead shack faded out In the blur
of Spoofs tobacco smoke, and pres
emily saw q little boy and girl sitting
on the bank Of river, digging their
toes in the warm sand and watching
the spray of misty diamonds from the
waterwheel across the stream.
"Spooky old machine, a banjo
isn't itT heard Spool say at
length. and Of a sudden ! was back
on Fourteen, and In the midst Of q
world which had its share Of troubles.
"Has an uncanny way Of ripping up
the past; tombstones, skeletons, ev-
erything." Then. to an improvised &C
compartment, he began reciting Kip.
ling's poem to the banjo.
at was this poem" he explained
in the midst of his recital, "that
caused me to bring banjo to Cana.
da. Otherwise should probably have
shipped piano, to the enrichment
Of the transportation people and my
own further financial undoing. must
drop r. Z. line Of appreciation"
"Still, the piano case would have
come handy" Jack suggested. "Yor
might have put your house in 1t II
bad Weather"