Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1912 — Page 2

MISS MINERVA and WILLIAM GREEN HILL

By FRANCES BOYD CALHOUN

CHAPTER XlV.—Continued. - Jimmy seeing no hope of eluding Sarah Jane’s vigilance, resorted to strategy and deceit “ Taln’t no fun setting out here,” he called to her, “so Pm going in the house and take a nap." She wilingly consented, as she was through with her ironing and thought to snatch a lew winks of sleep herself. The little boy slipped quietly through the house, noiselessly across the back yard and into his father’s big garden, which was-, separated from that of his neighbor Ly a high board fence. He quickly climbed the fence, flew across Miss Minerva’s tomato patch and tiptoed up her back steps to the back porch, his little bare feet giving no sign of his presence. Hearing curious noises coming from the bath room, where Billy was bumping the chair up and down in his efforts to release his mouth, he made for that spot, promptly unlocked the door and walked in. Billy by scuffling and tugging had freed his mouth from the towel that bound it at that moment “Hush!” he whispered as Jimmy opened the door, "you’ll -get eat up alive if you don’t look out” His tone was so mysterious and thrilling and he looked so scared tied to the chair that the younger boy’s blood almost froze in his veins. ©“What you doing all tied up so?” he asked, in low, frightened tones. “Mr. Algernon Jones done it I spec* he’s a robber an’ is jes’ a-rob-g|erin* right now,” answered Billy. "’'Til untie you,” said his chum. "Naw; you better not,” said Billy bravely. “He might git away. You leave me jes’ like he fixed me so’s you can try to ketch him. I hear him tn the dinin’ room now. You leave me right here an* step over to yo’ house an’ phone to some mens to come and git him quick. Shet the do’ ag’in an' don’t make no noise. Fly, now! ” And, Jimmy did fly. He again took the garden route and in -a minute was at the telephone with the receiver to his ear. “Hello! Is that you, Miss Central? This is me,” he howled into the transmitter. “Gimme Miss Minerva’s beau. I don’t know his number, but he's got a office over my papa’s bank.” His father being out of town, the little boy shrewdly decided that Miss Minerva’s beau was the next best man to help capture the robber. “Miss Minerva what lives by me,” be shrieked. Fortunately Central recognized his

childish yoice and was willing to humor him, ao as she too knew Miss Minerva’s beau the connection was quickly made. “Hello! is that you, major? This is me. If you don’t want Mr. Algernon Jones to be robbering everything Miss Minerva’s got you getter get a move on and come right this minute. Ton got to hustle and bring ’bout a million pistols and guns and swords and tomahawks and all the mans you can find and dogs. He’s the fiercest robber ever was, and he’s already done tie Billy to the bath room chair and done eat up ’bout a million cold biscuits, I spec’. All of us is 'bout 1 to be slewed. Goodby.” The plump, round gentleman at the other end of the wire heard this amazing message in the utmost confusion | and consternation. He frantically rang the telephone again and again but could get no answer from the Garner's home so he put on his hat and walked the short distance to Miss Minerva's house. Jimmy Was waiting to receive him at the front gate, having again eluded ftarah vigilance. A ‘‘Bush!" he whispered mysteriously, "he's in the dining room. Ain’t you bringed nobody else? Get your Distol and come on.” - . Mr. Algernon Jones, feeling safe and secure for the next hour and having partaken of a light lunch, was In thsi act of transferring some silver

(Copyright, by Reilly & Britton Co.)

Landed Upon the Nose of a Plump Gentleman.

spoons from the sideboard to his pockets when a noise at the dining room door caused him to look in that direction. With an oath he sprang forward, and landed his fist upon the nose of a plump gentleman standing there, bringing a stream of blood and sending him sprawling to the floor. Mr. Jones overturned a big-eyed little boy who was in his way, and walking rapidly in the direction of the railroad, the erstwhile plumber was seen no more. Jimmy quickly recovered himself and sprang to his feet Seeing the blood streaming down the white shirt front of Miss. Minerva’s unconsclpus beau, he gathered his wits together and took the thread of events again into his own little hands. He flung himself over the fence careless of Sarah Jane this time, mounted a chair and once more rang the telephone. I “Hello! Is that you, Miss Central? This is me some more. Gimme Dr. Sanford’s office please.” “Hello*! Is that you, doctor? This is me. Mr. Algernon Jones done kilt Miss Minerva’s beau. He’s on her back porch bloody all over. He’s ’bout the deadest man they Is. You’d better come toreckly you can and bring the hearse, and a coffin and a clean shirt and a tombstone. He’s wounded me but I ain’t dead yet. Goodby.” Dr. Sanford received Jimmy’s crazy message in astonishment. He, too, rang the telephone again and again,’ hut could hear nothing more, so he walked down to Miss Minerva’s house and. rang the door bell. Jimmy opened the door and led the way to the back porch, where the Injured man, who had just recovered consciousness, was sitting limply In a chair. “What does all this mean? Are you hurt?” asked the doctor as he examined Mr. Jones’ victim. “No, 1 1 think I’m all right now,” was the reply; “but that scoundrel certainly gave me a severe blow.” Billy, shut up In the bath room and listening to ail the noises and confusoin, had been scared nearly out of his senses. He had kept still as a mouse till now, when thinking he heard friendly voices he yelled out: “Open the do’ an’ untie me.” “We done forgot Billy,” said the little rescuer, as he ran to the bath room door and opened It He was followed by the doctor, who -cut the cords that bound the prisoner. “Now, William,” commanded Dr. Sanford, as they grouped themselves around the stout, plump gentleman in the chair, “begin at the beginning and let us get at the bottom of this.” “Mr. Algernon Jones he come to the gate," explained the little boy, “an’ he say he'goin’ to fix the water pipe an’

he say he’s a plumber. He’s a Very ’greeable man, but I don’t want Aunt Minerva to marry him, now. I was plump tickled at him an’ I tuck him to the bath room an’ fust thing I knowed he grabbed bolter me an shuck me like what you see a cat do a mouse, an’ he say—” “And he'd more’n a million whiskers,’’ Interrupted Jimmy, who thought Billy was receiving too much attention, “and he —” “One at a time,” said the doctor. “Proceed, William.” “An’ he say he’ll bust my brains outer my head if I holler, an’ I ain’t agoin’ to holler neither, an* he tie me to a chair an’ tie my mouth up an* lock the do’— “And I corned over,” said , Jimmy, eagerly, “and I run home and I see Mr. Algernon Jones is a robber an’ I ’phoned to Miss Minerva’s beau, and if he’d brunged what I telled Mm, he wouldn’t never got cracked in the face like Mr. Algernon Jones done crack him, and Billy got to all time let robbers in the house so they can knock mans and little boys down.” “While, you stand talking here the scoundrel will get away,” said the injured man. “That's so,” agreed Dr. Sanford, “so HI go and find the sheriff.” Sarah Jane’s huge form loomed up in .the back ball doorway, and she grabbed Jimmy by the arm. . “Yaas,” she "you gwine take

yon a nap is ynh, yuh ’celtful caterpillar. Come on home dis minute.” "Demme go, Sarah Jane,” protested the llttle boy trying to jerk away from her, “I got to stay here and pertec’ Billy and Miss Minerva’s beau, ’cause they’s a robber might come back and tie ’em up and make ’em bleed If I ain’t here.” - “Did Mr. Algernon Jones make all that blood ?” asked the awe-stricken little boy gazing in admiration at the victim of Mr. Jones’ energy. ’’You sho’ is a hero to stan* up an* let him knock you down like he done.” “Yes,” cried Jimmy, as the black woman dragged him kicking and struggling through the hall, “are’s- all heroes, but I bet I’m the heroest hero they is, and I bet Miss Minerva’s going to be mad 'bout you all spilling all that blood on her nice clean floor.” “Lemme see yo’ big toe what was shot off by all them Yankees and Injuns what you killed in the war,” said Billy to Miss Minerva’s beau. The major smiled at the little boy; a man-to-man smile, full of good comradeship, humor and understanding.

Billy’s little -leart’went out.;to him at once. “I can’t take off my shoes at present,” said the veteran. “Well, I must be going; I feel all right now.” Billy looked at him with -big, solemn eyes. “You couldn’t never go ’thout yo’ pants, could you?” he asked, “’cause Aunt Minerva jest nachelly despises pants.” ■ . * ' The man eyed him quizzically. “Well, no; I don’t think I could,” he replied: “I don’t think I’d look any better in a Mother Hubbard or a kimono.” The little boy sighed. "Which you think is the flttenest name,” asked he, “Billy or William?" “Billy, Billy," enthusiastically came the reply. “J like mens,” said William Green Hill. “I sho‘ wisht’ you could come and live right here with me and Aunt Minerva.'”~—*-- : — “I wish so, too,” said the major.

CHAPTER XV. Billy, the Credulous. After the advent and disappearance of the exciting Mr. Jones, Miss Minerva, much to Billy's joy, had a telephone put in the house. He sat in the hall the day it was put in waiting for it to ring. Jimmy, coming up on the front porch and through the half-open door and seeing him sitting there, rang the door bell just for a joke, ready to burst into a laugh when the other little boy turned around and saw who it was. Billy, however, in his eagerness mistook the ring for the telephone bell and joyfully climbed up on the chair, which he had stationed in readiness. He took down the receiver. as he had seen Jimmy do in his home, and, without once seeing that little boy standing a few feet from him, he yelled at the top of his lungs: “Hello! Who is that?” “This Is Marie Yarbrough,” replied Jimmy from the doorway, instantly recognizing Billy's mistake. Marie Yarbrough was a little girl much admired by the two boys, as she had a pony and a cart of her very own. However, she lived In a different part of the town and attended another Sun-

“You Got to Say It,” Insisted the Victor.

day school, so they had no speaking acquaintance with her. “1 jus’ wanted to talk to you,” went on the counterfeit Marie, stifling a laugh and trying to talk like a girt “I think you’re ’bout the sweetest little boy there Is and I want you to come to my party.” . ’ “I sho’ will," screamed the gratified Billy, “if Aunt Minerva’ll lemma. What makes you talk so much like JimmjK ’ .

The Major Smiled at the Little Boy. a Man-to-Man Smile.

"Who?—that little old Jimmy Garner? I hope I don’t talk like that chicken 7 he’s ’bout the measliest boy that is and I like you ’nother sight better’n him. You’re a plumb jimdandy, Billy," came from the doorway. “So’s you " howled back the delighted and flattered Billy. Jimmy thought he would pop wide open in his efforts to keep from laughing. ' "How’d you like to be my sweetheart?” he asked. T’s already promised to marry Miss Cecilia when I puts on long pants, but if we ever gpts a ’vorce I’d ’nother sight ruther have you *n anybody. You can be my lady frien’, anyhow.” was the loud reply. "I’m coming for you to go riding In my little pony and cart,” said a giggling Jimmy. “All right, I’s going to ask Aunt Minerva to lemme go. Can’t we take Jimmy, too?” This was too much for the little boy. He had held himself in as long as possible. He burst into a peal of

laughter so merry and so loud that Billy, turning quickly, almost fell out of the chair. “What you doin’, a-listening to me talk to Marie Yarbrough th’oo the telephone?” he questioned angrily. “Marie you pig’s foot," was the inelegant response. “That was just me a-talklng to you all the time. You all time think you talking to little girls and all times ’t ain’t nobody but me." A light dawned on the Innocent one. He promptly hung up the receiver and got down out of the chair. Before Jimmy was fully aware of his intention, Billy had thrown him to the floor and was giving him a good pommeling. "Say you got ’Rough?” he growled from his position astride of the other boy. ' “I got 'nough, Billy,” repeated Jimmy. "Say you sorry you done it.” -!‘I say I sorry 1 done It," abjectly ■ repeated the younger child'. “Get up. Billy, 'fore you bust my stommick open.” “Say you ain’t never a-gdin’ to tell nobody, cross yo’ heart,” was the next command. ? "I say I ain’t never going to tell nobody, cross, my heart. Get up, Billy, Tore you makes .me mad, and ain’t no telling what I’ll do to you if I get mad.” .' . • “Say you’s a low-down Jezebel skunk.” ‘.T ain’t going to say I’ni nothing of the kind,” spiritedly replied the under dog. “You all time wanting somebody to call thelrselfs somepin. You’re 8 low-down Isabella skunk yourself.” “You got to say it,” insisted the victor, renewing hostilities. “I’ll say Em a Isabella, ’cause Isabella discovered America, and's In the Bible,” replied the tormented one; “Miss Cecilia 'splalned it to me.” Billy accepted his compromise and Jimmy’s flattened stomach, relieved of its burden, puffed out to its ustial roundness as that little boy rose to his Teet, saying: “Sam Lamb would ’a’ died a-laugh-Ing, Billy, if he’d seen you telephoning.” "He’d better never hear tell of It,” was the threatening rejoinder.

CHAPTER XVI. The Humble Petition. Billy, sitting in an old buggy in front of the livery stable, had just engaged in a long and Interesting conversation with Sam Lamb. He was getting out of the vehicle when the sharp wire around the broken rod caught in the back of his trousers and tore'a great hole. He felt a tingling pain and looked over his shoulder to investigate. Not being satisfied with the result, he turned his back to the negro and anxiously inquired: “Is my breeches tore, Sam?” “Dey am dat,” was the reply, “dey am busted fm Dan ter Beersheba.” "What I goin’ to do hout ft?* asked the little boy. “Aunt Minerva sho’ will be mad. These here’s bran-spankin’ new trousers what I ain’t never wore tell today. Ain’t you got a needle an’ thread so’s you can fix 'em, Sam?” , “Nary er needle,” said Sam Lamb. “Is my union suit tore, too?* asked Billy again turning his back for inspection. a, *.• “ Hta friend made a close examine-

"Yo’ unions is Injured plum scanerlous,” was his discouraging decision, "and hit ’pears ter me dat yo* hide done suffer, too; you’s got er turrible scratch.” '■ s> The child sighed. The Injury to the flesh was of small Importance—he could hide that from his aunt—but the rent in his trousers was a serious matter. "I wish I could get ’em mended Tore I goes home," he said wistfully. - “I tell you what do,” suggested Sam, "I ’low Miss CdciUa’ll holp yeh; jest go by her house an’ she'll darn 'em up fer yeh.” Billy hesitated. "Well, you see, Sam, me an’ Miss Cecilia’s engaged an’ Ws flxin’ to marry jes’ ’s soon’s I put on long pants, an* I ’shame* to ask her. An’ I don’t believe young ’omans patches the breeches of young mans what they’s goin’ to marry nohow. Do you?; Aunt Minerva ain’ never patched nobreeches for the major. And then,” with a modest blush, "my unions is tore, too, an’ I ain’t got. on nothin’ else to hide my skin.” Again he turned his back to his friend and, his clouded little face looking over his shoulder, he asked: “Do my meat show, Sam?” “She am visible ter the naked eye/’ and Sam Lamb laughed loudly at his own wit “I don’t believe God pays me much attention nohow,” said the little boy dolefully; “ev’y day I gets put to bed ’cause sumpin’s all time If he’d had a eye on me like he oughter they wouldn’t a been no snaggin'. Aunt Minerva’s goin’ to be mad th’oo an’-th’oo.” “May be my ol’ ’oman can fix ’em, so’s dey won’t be so turrible bad,” suggested the negro, “ ’taln’t fer, so you jes’ run down ter my cabin an’ tell Sukey I say fix dem breeches.” The child needed no second bidding —he fairly flew. Sam’s wife was cooking, but she cheerfully stopped her work to help the little boy. She sewed up the union suit and put a bright blue patch on his brown linen breeches. Billy felt a little more cheerful though he still dreaded confessing to his aunt, and he loitered along the way till it was nearly dark. Supper was ready when he got home and he walked into the dining room with his customary ease and grace. But he took his seat uneasily, and he was so quiet during the meal and ate that his aunt asked him if he was sick. He was planning in his mind how to break the news of ‘ the day’s disaster to her. “You pre improving, William,” she remarked presently, “you haven’t got into any mischief today. You have been a mighty good little boy now for two days.” Billy flushed at the compliment and shifted uneasily in his seat. That patch seemed to burn him. - “If God’d jest do his part,” tie said darkly, “I wouldn’t never git In no meanness." After supper Miss Minerva washed the dishes In the kitchen sink and Billy carried them back to-the diningroom. His aunt caught him several times prancing sideways in the most

idiotic manner. He was makings a valiant effort to keep from exposing his rear elevation to her; once he had to walk backward. “William,” she said, sharply, “you will break my plates. What is the matter with you tonight?” A little later they were sitting quietly In Miss Minerva’s room. She was reading “The Christian at Home,” and he was absently looking at a picture book. “Sam Lamb’s wife Sukey sho* is a beautiful patcher,” he remarked, feeling his way. She made no answering comment, and the discouraged little boy was silent for a few minutes. He had worn Aunt Cindy's many-colored patches too often to be ashamed of this one for himself, but he felt that he would like to draw his aunt out and find how she stood on the subject of patches. “Aunt Minerva,” he presently asked, “what sorter patches'd you rather wear on yo* pants, blue patches or brown?” "On my what?” she -asked, looking at him severely over her paper. .. \ “I mean if you’re me,” he hastily explained. “Don’t you think blue patches is the mos’ nat’ral lookin’?” “What are you driving at, William?” sheasked; but without waiting for his answer she went on with her read-

“Nary er Needle,” Said Sam Lamb.

his little mln “busy, then*he begud Minorra ” I She peered at him over her glasse* a second, then dropped her eyes to thtf paper where an interesting article on; Foreign Missions held her attention. 1 “Aunt Minerva, I snagged—Aunt Minerva, I snagged my—my skin toj day,” ’ * j “Let me see the place,” she said, absently; her eyes glued to a paragraph! describing a cannibal feast I “I’s a-settin’ on it right now,” he replied. Another long silence ensued. Billy resolved to settle the matter. I “I’s gettin’ sleepy,” he yawnedJ "Aunt Minerva, I want to say my prayers and go to bed.” j .She laid her paper down and he dropped to his knees by her side. He usually sprawled all over her lap during his lengthy devotions, but tonight he clasped his little hands and reared back like a rabbit on its haunches. After he had rapidly repeated the Lord’s Prayer, which he had recently learned, and had invoked blessings on all his new friends and never-to-be-forgotten old ones, he concluded wlthjr “An’, O Lord,, you dime kep’ me f’om meddlin’ with Aunt Minerva’s hose any mo’, an’ you done kep’ m 0 f’om gittin’ any mo’ Easter eggs, an*| playin’ any mo’ Injun, an’ you done kep’ me fm lettln’ Mr. Algernon Jones come ag’in, an’ now, O Lord, please don’t lemme worry the very ’zistence* outer Aunt Minerva any mo’ ’n you can help, like she said I done this mornin’, an’ please, If thy will be done,* don’t lemme tear the next new breeches what she’ll gimme like I done ruint these here what I got on.” CHAPTER XVII. A Green-Eyed Billy. "Have some candy?” said Miss Cecilia, offering a big box of bonbons to Billy, who was visiting her. . “Where’d you git ’em?” he asked, as he helped himself generously.. “Maurice sent them to me this morning.” Billy put all his candy back, into the box. "I don’t believe I want noner yo* * candy," he said, scowling darkly. "I ’reckon you likes him better ’n me anyhow, don’t you?” “I love you dearly,” she replied. The child stood in front of her and looked her squarely in The eye. His little form was drawn to its full, proud -height, his soft, fair cheeks were flush? ed, his big, beautiful gray eyes looked somber and sad. “Is you in love with that redheaded Maurice Richmond, an’ jes’ Befoolin' o’ me?” he asked with dignity. . A bright flush dyed crimson the young lady’s pretty face. She put her arm around the childish, graceful figure and drew the little boy to the sofa beside her. "Now, honey, you mustn’t be silly,’* she said, gently, "you are my own, dear, little sweetheart." "An’ I reckon he’s yo’ own, dear, big sweetheart,” said the jealous Billy. “Well, all I got to say is thls-here: it

he's a-goin* to come to see you ev*y day then I ain’t never cornin’ no mo*. He’s been a-carryin* on his foolishness ’bout ’s long as I can stand IL You got to choose ’tween us right this minute; he comes down here mos* ev*y day, he’s tuck you drivln’ more’n fifty hunderd times, an* he’s give you all the candy you can stuff.” “He is not the only one who comes to see me,” she said smiling down at him. “Jimmy comes often and Len Hamner and Will Reid. Don't you want them to come?” “Don’t nobody pay no ’tention Jimmy,” he replied contemptuously;, “he ain’t nothin' but a baby, an* them other mens can come if you wants ’em' to; but,” said Billy, with a lover’s unerring intuition, **l ain’t a-goin* tor stand for that long-legged, sorrel-top-Maurice Richmond a-trottin’ his great big carkiss down here ev’y minute. 1 wish Aunt Minerva’d let me put ott long pants tomorrer so’s we could git married.” He caught sight at a new; ring sparkling on her finger. I “Who give .you that ring?” he asked sharply. \ • /j. : “A little bird brought it to me,” she said, trying to speak gayly and blushing again. ’ “A big red-headed peckerwood,” said Billy savagely.