Dodge City times., 1884-04-17
MR.. CRANES BAD LUCK.

NIX. CRANES BAD LUX.
"Here's one O. them pretty-lookin'
post-keards Ms Ransom writes to her
folks up the creek"
LET me see, pa" said Miss So
phronia Crane, seizing it with great in
terest, for the post-otfice had been but
lately removed to Mr.. Cranes tavern,
and postal-cards written by Others were
new and highly appreciated source of
information to the young lady.
''fou hain't allowed by the law to
read them keards. Phrony." said her
father, gravely, rs she settled hers Ii to
study over the dainty handwriting.
IL guess the law'll be none the w'ser.
'Hoopin' cough-can't 20 to the mount
ings Ia, pa. do look a-here!"
''What?" MIR. Crane put on his
spectacles.
"rl read it. Dear Aunties-Hoop-
ing-cough next door. In a dreadful
fright about the children, AMI can't get
into our summer quarters for three
weeks. Think of trying to get in at
Cranes" -
whats that?" said Mr.. Crane.
"At Crane'S!' Yes. It's, sure as YOU
live! 'and we want you to come down
there, too, and spend the time with us.
Now don't disappoint us. We shall try
to get there by next Wednesday or
Thursday. and shall expect TO find YOU
Laws!'
Which exclamation did not occur on
Mrs. Ransom's card, but at the end of
Miss Sophronia's reading of it.
nj 7 :ps% T.
Crane. MA, do come here and see
what's up"
"Yes, come. All the Ransoms is
a-comin' here to stay --le'me see-yes,
three weeks or so. And the two old
Miss Percy's, too"'
''Bless my heart! A pretty takin'
we'll be in where to put 'em all! We
can't do it. rs see, joshua
Cant do it!'' repeated Mr.. Crane, in
greet contempt. ''D'you s'pose we're
a-goin' to miss such a chance? Let's
see: the Jedge and Mis- Ransom, that's
two; and the two gals that's CROWN
up, they must be big enough by this
time, ef they've growed well sence they
was here that three days last summer,
to coun' as growed folks, that's four;
m the four little boys. they'll only
count for two. and there's the nurse.
I don't see, for my part" continued
Mr.. Crane, pettishly, ''why folks don't
pay just the same for nurses; I'm sure
they eat as much as anybody. And
then the two old ladies; why, declare!
it II be clean hundred dollars profit,
for the most they goes for is milk and
eggs and berries, and things that hardly
counts to us; but of course they'll ex-
pect to be charged all the same.''
''It'll take a lot of scurryin' round to
get things ready" said Sophronia.
'And there's lots of things'd ought
to be got" said Mrs. Crane II tell
YOU, Joshua, we ought to fix things up
a bit, seein' there's. such lot of folks
a-comin'."
Cant help that" said Mr.. Crane,
setting his lips together when folks
comes without givin' notice, of course
they must take things as they find
'em."
But, pa" said Sophronia, .if we
get things fixed up neat and nice, other
folks might come"
That's sou said Mr.. Crane.
There's lots of summer visitors a'com-
in into this part OF the country now.
No reason why we shouldn't nave 'em
all summer, n make our share off EN-"
WED ought to get new carpet for
the best parlor," said Mrs. Crane,
''and some tn ngs in the bedrooms"
And l must have a new dress"
said Sophronia. ''Little enough time,
but l can make it in two or three after.
Moons"
"fll be ascfuI tight pushin' to git
things ready" said Mrs. Crane, who
put ON her spectacles and was consult
ing the card. This is Monday. and
they're comm Wednesday or Thurs
day."
II believe I'll get the spring-wagon
painted up" said Mr.. Crane. THEY'VE |
great folks to hire when they want q
ride. n | always charge 'em livery
prices. What you dom, Phrony?"
There's the mail boy" she an.
swered. twitching the card out of her |
mothers hand. as the bov who carried /
the mail over the country cross-route
was seen approaching. Il must put
this in for the Mss Percys."
"Ain't you got no sense?" said Mr..
Crane. slipping the card into drawer. /
"Don't t You see that when the Ransons |
comes and finds their folks amt here |
they'll want to see 'em right of, and
they'll hire me to hitch up and 90 right
over after 'em, and I'll charge four dol
lars and half for the trip? Wen only
keep the keard few days, you know
"M ell, pa. you do beat air. said his
dauphter adn,irinulv
"rd better be seein' about that paint
for want to be ready Jest to happen
down to the station. n I'll git the job
OF haulin EN- out here. 'Taint no
ways likely any other wagon'n be
handy. 80 | can make two trips with
'em all"
A wonderful confusion prevailed for
the next two days At the rundown, half
kept institution known Is Crane
Tavern"
The blessed spirit which leads men
and women to gather up their children
and hee from close rooms and crowded i
streets in search of the freshness and
sweetness of country sights and sounds,
had been moving some of them in the
direction of the Crane neighborhood.
While on . journey the previous year
10 their old relatives. who always spent
. long summer among the hills and val
leys, the conveyance of the Ransom
family had broken down. which circum-
stance had led to the necessity of their
seeking the hospitalities of the Crane
mansion. The beauty of tie surround
iags had 70 pleased them that they were |