Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-10-08
JOHN DAYBLOOM.
CHAPTER I.

very thickly settled region of Arkan-
saw. l took with me, as partner,
John Day bloom. | have never known
any one else of that name, and have
often thought that John took 1t up on
account of its sound. John was a
quiet sort of fellow, ordinarily, but at
times his system demanded physical
excitement. At certain periods John
had to be accommodated with fight.
These attacks of pugnacity came upon
him like spells of biliousness, and l
don't know but his eccentricities in
this way somewhat influenced me in
engaging him as partner, for, re-
port said that the Elkin boys who lived
near the farm which l had rented
were customers of peculiar toughness.
l could always get along pretty well
without fighting, and have been SO
careful OF the feelings of others-to
say nothing of my own feelings-that
l have often crossed the street, yea,
have often left town to avoid hurting
any one. John and set out In wagon.
We had not proceeded far when John
said:
'I'll tell you what's fact,
Tom Jackson, / don't feel comfort
able"
"What seems to be the mattcrP"
Zone of my spells is coming on
me-"
81 am sorry to hear that"
"And j am sorry to know it," he re-
joined, ''for we'll soon be in a
half civilized, uneducated community,
where man can't find accommo-
dations."
81 hope. John, that you can fight
of paroxysm until we git to the
farm, for. Judging from what I've
heard. the Elkin boys are likely to meet
us and demand some sort of an ex-
planatlon.
This remark cheered him, and taking
the lines from me, he whipped the
horses into brisk trot. Occasionally
during the day he would burst into a
song, or. whistling dolefully, would
seem TO have fallen into condition of
contcntment--a state of happiness
which comes of fond expectancy; but
ut night, when the brightness of our
fire died away and when the horses,
ceasing to MUNICH their food with that
sound SO dear to some men, became
quiet, John would become gloomy and
morose.
Just before we reached our destina-
ton John said:
Suppose those fellows are not there
to meet usp'
"Oh, they'll be there" 1 encourage
ingly replied.
II don't know" he rejoined,
sadly shaking his head. al have
met with so many disappointments
that | can never be sure of any
thing
When we came within sight of the
farmhouse. John stood up in the
wagon and anxiously scanned the sur
roundings.
tom"
"WellP"
81 don't believe those dovilish fell
lows have come"
Don't give up yet"
al cant help it. This life is hardly
worth living" he sadly remarked. "a
man never knows when his hopes are
going to be dashed to pieces.
We stopped and were unhitching
the horses when tall young fellow
suddenly made his appearance.
"How ale youp" said John, drop.
pins trare chain and eagerly scan.
ming the young fellow.
Ain SO mighty poart; how is II
with yonrselfP"
ooh I'm kicking pretty lively.
What our DameP"
"BIl. Elkin."
A louk Of supreme qualification
came over his face rs he replied:
"Can do anything for youa"
mo, not for me in particular, but
you mout do little something for my
brother Alb. Alb, ho amt been in good
health for some time, an the doctor
lowed that little brush O. some sor1
wos do him good. Do you want tc
see himp"
Yes, as ! am not very well myself
you may call him"
Bill Elkin, mounting a stump, pu
h hands on each side of his mouth
and called, "Ho. Abr
In a moment there came a reply:
"All rightp
"Feller down here wants to SCI
YOU"
"Comin'."
Alb may not have been In goot
health and his physician may hav'
advised course of rough medicine
hut there was certainly nothing abou
him that suggested tho invalid. Tall
brawny anil broad shouldcrcd, he wa
complete picture Of rugged strength
"Air you the fellor that wants meP'
he asked, turning to me.
As quickly as possible l assured hin
that / was not, and, in an incredibl,
short space of time, l assured MIN
that my respect for the Elkin famii.
waa unbounded and that I Woul(