Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-06-17
Coin Somewhere.

oHCc Soydgcu uunureQ miles on q
steamboat, and had brother who had
made the overland trip to California.
She had been to cuttings, funerals
and circus or two, and she knew
woman whose sister thought nothing of
setting out on railroad journey where
she had to wait fifteen minutes at a
junction and change cars at depot.
So | found them-a cosy-looking old
couple, sitting up very straight in their
seat and trying to act like old railroad
travellers. A shadow of anxiety sudden
ly crossed her face, she became uneasy,
and directly she said:
Philetus, act'lly bleeve we've went
and taken the wrong trainp'
" 1t can't be, nohow," he replied, SEEM
ing a little startled. Didn't | ask the
conductor, and didn't he say we was
right"
"Yaas, he did, but look out of the
been lynn to us!'
The old man looked out of the window
at the fitting fences, the galloping tele-
If expecting to catch sight of some old
landmark, and forgetting for moment
that he was thousand miles from
home.
q guess we're all right, Mary" he
said as he drew in his head.
ASK somebody-ask that man therew
she whispered.
"This is the train for Chicago, hain't
its" inquired the old man of the passen-
ger in the next seat behind.
"This is the train" replied the man.
There, didn't say so?n chuckled the
old gent.
1T may bet may be-" she replied,
obviously, "but if we are carried wrong
it won't be my fault. say that we are
wrong, and when we've been led to some
pirates cave and butchered for our
money yen wish you had needed my
words"
He looked out of the window again,
opened his mouth as If to make some in
quiry of boy sitting on the fence, and
then leaned back in his seat and sighed
heavily. She shut her teeth together, as
if saying that she could stand it if he
could, and the train sped along for sew
eral miles. He finally said:
Looks like rain over thar in the
west. hope the boys hev got them oats
in"
That makes me think of that umbrel-
ler," she exclaimed, diving her hands
among the parcels at their feet.
She hunted around for two or three
minutes. growing red in the face, and
then Strengthened up and hoarsely whis-
pered:
ITS gone"
W-what?" he gasped.
"That umbrellcrw
"Nom
"Gone, hide and HART" she went on !;
Z" that sky-blue umbreller which | have
had ever since Martha diedw
lie searched around, but ii was not To
be found.
"Waal, that's queer" he unused, as he
Strengthened up.
"Queerl Not bit. Tve talked to We
and talked to We, but 1t does no good.
We come from a needless family, and ye'd
forget to put on yer boots 4 / didn't tell
ye to-"
None o the Harrisons was ever in
the poor-house" he replied IN cutting
tone.
Philetus-Philetu III. Harrison !" she
continued, laying her hand on his arm,
don't we dare twit me Of that againl
I've lived with ye nigh on to forty years,
and waited on ye when ye had biles and
the toothache and the colo, and when ye
fell and broke yer leg but don't push me
10 the WALL"
He looked out of the window, feeling
that she had the advantage of him, and
she wiped her eyes, settled her glasses
on her nose, and used up the next fifteen
minutes in thinking of the past. Feeling
thirsty she reached down among the
bundles, searched around, and her face
was as pale as death as she Strengthened
back and whispered:
lind that's gone, tool"
"What nowl" he asked.
"That bottle with the cold tea In itl'
ats been stolei" he exclaimed, look,
ing around the Car as II expecting to sec
some one with the bottle To their lips.
"Fust the umbreller--then the bottle"
she gasped.
~ couldn't have left il, could II"
Don't ask mel that bottle has been
in our family twenty years-evcr since
mother died, and now it's gOnel Land
only knows what I'll do for camfire
bottle when We git home-if we ever
do"
an buy one"
" Yes, know yc are always ready to
buy and If it wasn't for me to restrain
ye the money'd fly like feathers in the
wind"
WAL, didn't have to mortgage my
farm" he replied, giving her knowing
look
Twitting aginl II isn't enough that
ye've lost good umbreller and cam
fire bottle, but ye must twit me o. this
and that"
Her nose grew red, and tears came TO
her eyes, but as he was looking out Of
the window she said nolhing further.
Ten or fifteen minutes passed and, grow
ing restless, he called out TO man across
the aisle:
Whats the silc around here?"
"Philetus-PhileIu Ii. Harrison stop
yer Doise" she whispered, poking him
with her elbow.
81 just asked question" he replied,
resuming his old position.
"Whatd yer brother Joab tell We the
last thing afore we left hum" she
asked. Didn't he say somebody'd
swindle we on the string game, the con.
fidencc game, or some other game
Didn't he warn we agin rascals!"
81 hain't seen no rascals."
"Of course ye hewitt, cause yer blindl
I know that that man is yillun, and If
they don't arrest him for murder afore
we leave this train III miss my guess! !
can read human natur' like book"