Show I I The Brown roman Mouse V ouse CHAPTER XII XIII XIII I Continued 11 11 Miss Woodruff replied the pro fessor earn earnestly he has something that Ic looks t toward warl truth and something something some some- thing we c need Just How liow far he lie will go ju just t what he lle will amount amount to It is impossible to Sn say But nut something must be done for the rural schools schools some some thing along the lines he is trying to I f folly He is a struggling soul and lIe he is worth helping You wont won't make ak any mistake e If It Y you you U Unu nu make nue e the most of Mr IrwIn jim Jim s slipped l ped o out ooh t of ot a n side door door and fled He Be started home on on foot as ns he had come A mile or so out he was as overtaken n by the colonel driving briskly along with room in his buggy for Jim Climb in In Jim said he lie Dan and Dol Dolly didn't like to to see you walk The re looking fine ne said Jim TI There ere Is n a good deal to s say whenever when when- ever two horse lovers ers get together But when Jim had alighted at his own door the colonel spoke of what hat had been in his mind all the time I L saw Bonner and Haakon and Ez doing some somo caucusing today said heThey lieThey he lie They e expect to to elect Bonner to the board again Oh I suppose so replied Jim Well VeIl what shall we do about It iU asked the colonel Jim was silent Here was a n matter on which he really had no Ideas except except ex ex- the broad and general one that I eX-I truth Is mighty and shall prevail but prevail but that the speed of or orIts its forward march Is problematical I I think said the co colonel onel that Its It's up to us to 10 see that the people have a chance to decide Its It's really Bonner against Jim Irwin What you need is a man to take that office away way from Bonner Well Im I'm free to say I dont don't know that any anyone one can but Im I'm willing to i try I think that In about u a week I Ishall Ishall shall pass the w word rd around that rd Td rd like to serve mY my country ou ry o on n the school board Jims JIm's face lighted up and up-and and then darkened t Even Eyen then they'd they'd be two to one Colonel Colone Maybe replied the colonel and maybe not That would have to be figured on A cracked log splits easy Anyhow t how Jim went on the use I shant shan't be disturbed this year year- year and after that that what's what's the use Why Jim said the colonel you sou you arent aren't getting short of br breath h. h are re you I thought y you m. m good for or e the mile te and d you arent aren't turning out quarter a-quarter horse hors are you I dont don't know what all nil It ItIs Is you want to do but I dont don't believe you you can d do it in nine months can you 7 Not In nine years l I replied Jim Well Yell then lets let's plan for ten years said the colonel I aint going to become become be be- come a reformer at my time of life asa as asa asa a temporary job Will you stick if if we can swing the thing for you I will m said Jim In In a manner of a 11 I person taking the y vows Ws In some solemn solemn sol sol- sol sol- Initiation All right said ald the colonel Well Wel keep quiet and see how many maIlY votes we can muster up at qt the election How Bow mah many can you speak for Jim gave himself for n a few minutes to thought It was was a new thing to him this matter of m mustering votes votes votes- and a thing which he had always looked upon as rather reprehensible The citizen should go forth with no coercion n no persuasion no suggest suggestion on and vote his sentiments How flow many can you round up persisted the colonel I think said Jim that I can an speak for form myself self and Old Man Simms 1 The colonel laughed Fine politician I he repeated Fine Ine politician 1 I Well Yell Jim you round up yourself and Old Man Simms and Ill I'll see what I can do Ill I'll Ill I'll see what hat I can cando cando do dol 1 CHAPTER XIV XIVA A Minor Casts Half a Vote March came in like neither a lion nor a lamb Iamb but was scarcely a n week old ild before the wild ducks had begun to score the sk sky above Bronson's slew lookIng for open water and badly badly- harvested cornfields Wild geese too hon honked ed from on high as if In wonder th that t these great prairies on which their forefathers had been wont fearlessly to alight had been ch changed Into a disgusting disgusting disgusting dis dis- gusting expanse of farms Colonel Woodruffs Woodruff's hired man Pete stopped Newton Bronson and Raymond SImms as they tramped across the colonels colonel's pasture gun in hand tr trying Ing to make themselves believe that the ther shooting was good This aint no country to hunt In In said he Did either of ot you fellows real shooting duck-shooting ever er have any The mountings sam salu Raymond Ramond air poor places for ducks Not big enough water suggested Fete Pete Some wood ducks I suppose Along the creeks and rivers yes nothing to seh said Raymond Rarmond but depend on Ive never been nowhere said saw Minnesota Minnesota- Newton except once to shooting the and and and-and and that wasn't In season Newton would have have- A year ago boasted of ot having bummed his wa way to Faribault Ills IUs l hesitant speech was wasa a proof of the embarrassment his hits ue tic v respectability sometimes inflicted upon him himI for the market market mar mar- shoot ducles I I used to ket Icet at Spirit Lake said Pete I know lenow as well as I know Fred Gilbert ilbert Just you ou But that's all nil over ovel now flow ow Youve You've to get decent fur now got to go so where th bera r the farmers n mers wont won't drive By HERBERT ERBERT QUICK Copyright by The Merrill Bobba Company you off oft that it costs nine dollars to send a n postcard home I think well we'll have fine shooting on the slew in a few days said Newton Humph I scoffed Pete I give you m my word If I hadn't promised the colonel Id I'd stay with ith him another year Id I'd take a n side-door side Pullman for tor the Sand Hills of Nebraska or the Devils Devil's lake luke countr country tomorrow tomorrow-It If I had a un gun If It it wasn't for tor a pasel of ot things that keep me h eh said Raymond Id Til like to go too The colonel said Pete needs me He lie needs needs' me In the election tomorrow What's the e matter of your ol of man Newt What for does docs be he vote for that Bonner and throw down an old neighbor neighbor neighbor neigh neigh- bor I cant can't do anything with him exclaimed exclaimed exclaimed ex ex- claimed Newton irritably Hes lIes all tangled up with Peterson and Bonner Well said Pete if hed he'd just stay at home it would help some If It he lie votes for Bonner it'll be Just about a stand off He lie never misses a vote 1 said Newton despairingly Cant you ou cripple him some way asked Pete jocularly Darned funny when a bo boy o 0 your our age cant can't control his fathers father's vote So long 1 I I 1 wish I could vote 1 grumbled Newton I wish I could t I We know a lot more about the school and Jim Irwin bein a good teacher than dad does does and and we e can cant can't t vote Why cant can't folks vote when they are Interested Inan in inan inan an election and know about the issues Issues Is Is sues Its It's tyranny that you ou and I cant can't vote I reckon said sald Raymond the conservative conservative con con- that the time old people that fixed It best Rats I sneered Newton the Iconoclast Wh Why Calista knows more about the election of school director tor than dad knows That dont don't seem reasonable protested protested protested pro pro- tested n Raymond I In fa favor faor of ot Mr reckon or Jim Irwin InvIn Well dads dad's prejudiced against him himer er er no no he either He likes Jim Hes He's Just pr prejudiced against giving Ing up up his old notions No he neither I neither r I I guess he he's hes only r II I Heavens Hes He's Poisoned prejudiced against seeming to give up some old notions he seemed to ha have e once 1 And the kids in scho school l would be prejudiced right an anyhow how Pa Paw w sa says s 's hell he'll be on hand prompt said Raymond But he had to be right much Paws Paw's proud proud- and he cant can't read Sometimes I think the more people read the less sense they've got said Newton I wish I could fie tie dad up I II II I wish I could get and make him go for tor the doctor I IThe The boys crossed the ridge to the wooded valley In which nestled the Simms cabin They found Mrs SImms greatly exercised In her mind because young oung McGeehee had been found playIng playIng playing play- play Ing with some blue vitriol used byna by na Raymond mond hi in his school work on the treatment of at seed teed potatoes for scab His hands was all blue with it said she Do you reckon Mr Newton Newton Newton New New- ton ton that It'll him Did he swallow any of ot it hr asked Newton Nah Nall said McGeehee scornfully Newton reassured Mrs Simms and pensive Jim Irwins Irwin's methods methods methods' methods methods' meth meth- much in had already accomplished preparing Newton and Raymond for for citizenship He had shown them the fact that voting really has some relation relation re ra- re- re lation to life uee At present however the new wine In the old bottles was WIlS causing Newton to forget his filial dut duty and nd his respect for his father He wished he could lock him up Inthe inthe In Inthe the barn burn so he couldn't go to the school election He De wished he could become becom HI or Ill or poisoned with blue father vitriol or something somethIng-so so his would be obliged to go for a doctor He wished wen wished well why couldn't he get getsick getsick sick e Newton Newton mended his pace and Hooked cloaked happier happler Ill fix him l said he to himself What times time's the election Ez asked Mrs 1 Bronson at breakfast Im Tm oln goin at four o'clock said Ezra And nd I dont don't want to h hear ar nn any anymore anymore more from any one one looking looking at nt Newton New New- ton ton about about the election Its It's none of the business of the women oraen an boys Newton took this reproof In an unexpectedly unexpectedly unexpectedly un un- un- un expectedly submissive spirit In fact he exhibited his very best side to the family tamn that morning like one going on oni ona i a t. t long Journey or about to be married off or engaged In some deep dark plot I spose youre you're off ort the slews at tb the sight of ot a flock fiock of ot ducks four miles off as usual stated Mr Bronson challengingly 4 I thought said Newton that Id I'd get a n lot of raisin bait ready for the pocket gophers In the lower m meadow adow They'll be throwing up their mounds by the first of April Not them said Mr Bronson somewhat somewhat somewhat some some- what mollified not before MayWhere May Where'd Where h yop get the raisin idee We Ve learned it In school answered Newton Jim had me study st n a bulletin l lon on the control and eradication of pocket gophers You use use raisins with strychnine In em and ern and it tells how Some fool notion I 1 spose said mid Mr 11 Bronson rising But go ahead If youre you're careful about handlin the strychnine Newton spent the time from twelve twelve- thirty to half haIt after two In watching the tho clock and twenty minutes minutes' to three found him In the woodshed penknife penknife penknife pen pen- knife In hand a small vial of strychnine strychnine strychnine nine crystal before him a saucer of ot raisins at his right hand and another another exactly like it partially filled with gopher bait raIsins bait raisins into which a minute minute minute min min- ute crystal of strychnine had been Inserted Inserted inserted In In- on the point of ot the knife At three thirty Newton went into the house and lay down on the hor horsehair horsehair horse horse- e- e hair hall sofa saying to his mother that he felt kind Ind o 0 funny and thought hed he'd lie down a while At three forty he heard his fathers father's voice olce In the kitchen and knew that his sire was was preparing to start for the scene of ot battle A groan Issued from Newtons Newton's lips lipsa a gruesome groan gronn But his fathers father's voice from the kitchen door betrayed no agitation lIe He was scolding the horses as they stood tied to the hitch hitch- post ing-post In tones that showed no v kno knowledge ledge ge of ot his sons son's distressed moans the matter It was Newtons Newton's little sister who wh asked the qu question Even though regarded regarded regarded re re- as a apure pure matter of make- make believe such sounds were terrible Oh sister sister 1 howled bowled Newton run and tell em that brothers brother's dyIng dying dy dy- ing 1 Fanny disappeared in a manner anneI which expressed her balanced feelings she she felt that her brother was makIng making making mak mak- ing bell believe eYe but for or orall all that something awful was the matter So she went r rather slowly to the kitchen door and nd casually remarked that Newton was dying on th the sofa In Il the s sitting sitting You little fraud I said her father r. r Wh Why Fanny I said sald her mother mothe and ran Into the whence room sitting room whence in a moment with a cry that was al ll almost almost al- al most mosta a scream she summoned her husband hus hus' band who responded at the top of his speed Newton was wash wasl groaning and in convulsions con can Horrible grimaces contorted his face his Jaws ere were vere set set his arms and legs drawn up uP and his muscles es tense the matter His fathers father's voice was stern s a as well as full of anxiety the matter boy Oh cried crIed Newton Oh I Oh I IOhl Ohl Oh Newtie Newtie I cried his er mother where here are you In pain Tell mother Newtie I Oh groaned NewtIe relaxing I feel awful I What you ou been eating i Interrogated interrogated interrogated gated his father Nothing replied Newton I saw satin sa you ou eaten dinner said his father Again Newton was convulsed by strong spasms and again his groans filled the hearts of his parents with terror all Ive I've eaten said he when his spasms had passed except a a few raisins I 1 was putting strychnine In em em Oh heavens 1 cried his mother Hes poisoned 1 Drive for the doctor Ezra 1 Drive I Mr Mrs Bronson forgot forgo all aU about the election forgot election n forgot everything save antidotes antidotes antidotes anti anti- dotes and speed He Be leaped toward the door As he lie passed out he shouted shout shout- ed ed Give him an nn emetic I He tore the hitching straps from the posts jumped Into the buggy gave the spirIted spirited spir- spir horses their heads and fled fied toward town Just at the town limits he be met the doctor In Sheriff Dillys Dilly's automobile automobile automo automo- bile the sheriff sherler himself at the steering steering steering steer steer- ing ing wheel Mr Bronson signaled them to stop ignoring the tile fact that they were making similar signs signs' to him Were Just starting for your jour our place said sam the d doctor Your wife got me meon me meon meon on the phone Thank God I replied Bronson Dont fool any time away on me Drive I Get In here Ez Es said the sheriff Doc Doe knows how to drive and Ill I'll come on with your team They need neetI a n s 's slow ow drive to cool em off oft Why didn't you phone me me 1 asked the doctor g TO BE CONTINUED |