The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-07-08

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bered.
Shad and Colonel Blake sat down at
the table. Proudly Bumpy stood at its
head between them and carved the
turkey. What fragrance and flavor
were in the tender flesh Of the bird
and the mashed potatoes! The coffee
was joy.
They spent delightful hour at the
table. The turkey eaten, Bumpy
brought on a pumpkin pie.
"It's SURPRISE" he said. Il made
1t yesterday while Shad was away. A
wedge o. that will finish the job"
'sThat will require another cup Of
coffee" said the colonel. He ate his
pie and added: "You could do a good
business In our town as caterer. I'll
give you twenty dollars to come and
cook our Christmas dinner for us"
my clothes amt fit fer goin' out in
comp'ny."
"I've got that all fixed" the colonel
went on. "You and Bony are to go
down to Ashfield and get a complete
outfit at my expense. You shall have
a credit of fifty dollars at the store.
See that you spend all of 1t. Don't
scrimp."
"It's LIBERAL" said Bumpy.
With smiling face he began to pick
up the dishes. The colonel lighted his
cigar. When the dishes were washed
and put away the old man excused
himself as usual and went out to cut
wood.
The lawyer began his story.
"Shad. we have been sitting at table
with the most remarkable character I
have known. have been over to
Burlington to see old Colonel Grimes
Of whom one day Bumpy spoke, per-
haps inadvertently. The colonel re-
ports that William Brown was the
best and bravest soldier in his regi-
ment; that he had told Lincoln Of
Browns heroic fighting at Gettysburg
and that the President had said that
he would be glad to see the young SOL
der at the White House. Grimes told
me that Bumpy refused to go for fear
that he would miss battle.
"The first thing Of Importance that
have to communicate to you is this:
Bumpy is not the liar that he is sup
posed to be in these parts. He has
probably been telling the truth. It is
fact that man who has the habit Of
drinking too much ruins his credit
among the people who know him. He
was getting no pension. Therefore
many assumed that his tales Of heroic
adventure were made out of whole
cloth. The world we live in is rather
harsh and uncharitable."
II guess that Bony and have been
little like that ourselves" Shad an
swered with twinge of remorse.
at was natural that you should fall
in with the popular opinion. The
thing 1 sought most in my trip to
Burlington was the private history Of
this singular man. Grimes told me
where he was born and where he mar
ried the woman whose portrait is on
the wall yonder. She came of a good
family. went to the little town In
the mountains. l got the information
wanted. They lived there for years
after they were married. Brown had
a sawmill. One child was born to
them after their MARRIAGE girl with
dark eyes and hair. She would be
about twenty-One years old now. The
mother died when the child was eleven.
1t seemed to break the mans heart.
He took to drinking and became
nuisance to his family. He left the
girl with relatives and came west to
Ashfield with this remarkable bird
which had been his wife's pet. He
went to work in big sawmill. The
girl was bit headstrong. Three years
ago she ran away. Word came to
them in a week or so that she was
with her father. Now there you are.
1t is altogether likely that the unfor-
tunate girl who worked in the store at
South Bolton Is his daughter"
"Why doesn't Bumpy claim herr"
Shad asked.
"She is handsome and rather proud,
I take it," the colonel went on. 'He
was a drunkard and more or less de-
spised. She was ashamed Of him. My
theory is that they had a quarrel and
agreed to live apart. / think that she
was engaged to some one of means and
apparent responsibility, In whose iden-
tity we, as the states officers, are
deeply interested. Was 1t Royce, and
if so why has he not married her? We
shall know soon. The inevitable con-
sequences are closing in on the GRIM
inal. l hope to see the young woman
tomorrow"
''Don't try to DO it-not yet" Shad
urged. II have good reason for asking
you to wait"
The colonel sat smoking In mo-
ment CT silence.
II think that l understand you," he
said. II know Of no reason why we
should be in hurry"
"Did you get any help from Algyre?"
Shad asked.
'None as yet. The detectives have
taken him to Chicago. With my help
they captured John O'Brien, Jr.,i his
confederate. at Brockville. They have