Evening star., 1927-09-19

~ 4E1AANA ulOtuCIt bAiO lOue
- legged Prof. Banker, taking OFF
his glasses and polishing them.
i "that / will get up early and
60 to the woods for some
snakes. I want them for my classes.
and this hot weather should be ideal
for getting them"
Every well. Charley" answered his
| gentle little mother, land I will get
up, too, and get your breakfast"
mo, won't allow that I can eat
any time"
THAT is just the trouble-you will
forget all about your breakfast. Yes,
you will I know you-don't you often
go to bed with your glasses on, and
| didn't you actually dress one day with
out removing your pajamas? Very
well, them" as he still protested. II
will put a. box lunch in the wagon
tonight. II you will promise me to
eat 1t on your way to the woods"
So. like a dutiful son, he promised
and went to bed. When the faithful
alarm clock changed in the early morn.
ing the professor dressed quietly, slip.
ped out, hitched up the old horse and
drove to the woods.
BY the middle Of the morning he
was tired. 1t had been good hunting
for snakes and his cages were full.
His beautiful specimens were stored
carefully in the wagon and he was
preparing to unite his horse when he
saw an enormus black snake glid-
ing under the ferns. 1t would never
do to miss that one!
ooh, what a beauty"' he cried "Do
wait a minute, can't you? Don't you
know I have been looking for one Of
your family all the morning? Where
Is there a cage? A box? Anything
ah-that empty box! Not an ideal
cage. but it will serve II I keep you
cool-there-I have your
The professors long legs had COW
cred the ground rapidly while he
talked, and the snake was overtaken
and secured, coiled in the box, and
the box tied up in less time than 1t
takes to tell 1t. The box was slowed
under the wagon seat and covered with
a piece Of canvas to keep it cool.
Arriving home, his captor put the
box under the side porch in a cool
spot until he could get proper cage;
then he went into the house to change
his clothes. He came out OF the front
door with his arms full Of books and
forgot his most precious find.
Besides his usual forgetfulness there
was a reason why snakes should be
a minor consideration for the moment.
Just as he stepped from the house the
professor caught sight Of his pretty
neighbor. Miss Connell. on her way to
the university. He called her and
asked her to ride with him.
"You don't mind riding on this high
seat, do you? And you are not afraid
Of the snakes in the cages back there.
are you? Fine! Up you go-I have SO
much to tell you. One thing. you are
so different from other girls. Did you
know that" as they drove off.
It was not until some time later that
he thought Of his prize under he side
porch and hurried home to attend to
it.
The box was not there.
Mother" he asked in a peculiar
tone, did you see anything OF box
I put under the side porch"
Eyes, dear. here 1t is on the kitchen
table. I thought you must have for
gotten It,"
"You didn't open 1T"
Certainly not, dear. You know
never open your things"
"It's a good thing you have no
curiosity, for this had a snake in II"
He lifted the lid tiny bit.
The box was full Of lunch!
she cried. "Your sister Jane has taken
that snake to the picnic instead OF her
lunch! The boxes were similar and
were here on the table together"
II will ride to the woods and warn
them before they have chance to
open the boxes. They would be terri
bly, frightened, and besides don't
want to lose that beauty"
Hoping to make better time, the pro-
fessor hastily mounting his old bicycle
and started after the picnickers. his
coat tails flying and his long legs
going up and down like the piston
rods of an engine.
I believe I intimated before that 1t
was a hot day.
When Prof. Banker reached the high
hill overlooking the picnic grounds he
was glad to dismount in the shade and
fan himself with his hat. Looking
eagerly for the young folk, he could
see far below him the boys chasing a
tramp and a farmer in the act OF pick