Evening star., 1927-09-19
THE EVENING STORY

ing up a box from the road. At that
distance he could not know that 1t was
the identical one he was searching for.
Warm, tired and painting, he walked
through the woods, trundling his bfcy-
Gle, until he came upon the girls and
found to his relief that they had not
yet spread their lunch.
They were surprised to see him, but
greeted him cordially and started to
set out the refreshments. He explained
his errand to the shuddering group,
and the contents of the fatal box.
The boys came shouting back, full
of their story about the tramp. 1t
seemed that while the girls were gath
ering flowers for the table, a tramp
had sneaked up and stolen some Of the
boxes. The boys had followed him and
had seen him open one of the boxes
and begin to eat. They had descended
upon him, whooping and yelling to
scare him, and had chased him as far
as the railroad track.
AS the search for the snake had
been fruitless among the lunch boxes,
they concluded that the tramp must
have taken it and clambered down the
bank to investigate.
Reaching the place and finding the
box gone. the professor remembered
seeing the farmer pick up a package
and drive away.
If he wanted that snake he must
ride back to town in hurry, before
some one who didn't appreciate snakes
should kill it.
OF course. the professor did not
Know the farmer, but had noticed that
the horses were poorly matched, one
being large and white and the other
small and dark.
On with the chasei
Through the dust and heat--up one
street ana down another. around cor
ners and in empty lots, behind big
buildings-until finally, with the aid of
the local policeman whom he had en-
listed In the cause, he found the team
In the livery stable. The wagon stood
outside, with the farmer beside it.
Pardon me for troubling you,"
painted the tired professor. but have
you seen my snake? I mean-you
picked up a box back near the woods,
didn't you? Well, there was a snake
in it--and he told his story.
The farmer, at first incredulous.
then amused, laughed. Here 1t is"
reaching under the wagon seat. mo,
by jimmy! This box has pair of
shoes in 1t that I intended taking to
the shoemaker! I've taken the wrong
The excited trio hurried to the shoe
makers. Have you mended my shoes
yet?' shouted the farmer.
You know haven't. 7 told you I
was unusually busy today"
s good thing you are busy!
There's a big snake in that box"'
"Aw. quit your kiddin'."
here"
It's true. Where is the box?"
isn't 1t there on the table? Where
did you leave 1t. polmar?"
Il left it right here. Has any one
been In since / was?"
mo. Yes, there was, too! Harry
Hamilton! And as drunk as a lord.
He'll think he's got 'em sure when he
opens that box. I was too busy to wait
on him, and he just took the box and
left"
Where does he live? We must get
to him before he opens 1t. The fright
might be too much for him in his con-
dition."
The four men almost ran to the
rooming house where Hamilton lived
They found him sitting in a rocker
in the act Of untying the box on his
knees.
Don't open it"' shouted the police.
''I felt something moving in there"
murmured Hamilton.
"Of course you did," cried the pro-
fessor, "it's a snake"'
But the warning came too late--the
box fell open and onto the knees Of
the startled inebriate rolled a big,
black thermos bottle and half dozen
doughnuts.
Where's my snake?" demanded the
professor.
"You can search me. professor"
mumbled Hamilton as he rolled over
onto the couch for nap.
Sure enough, where was the poor
reptile that had caused all the trou-
BILE? Why, curled up in the box under
the canvas in the wagon where the
professor had so carefully left it in the
morning.
All day he had been chasing the
lunch his mother had prepared and he
had forgotten to eat.
THE END.
tCopyright. 1929