The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-27
SETTLED THE BILL
An Old Fellow Who Learned to Ad-
miro a Circuit Rider

MY Irlenu. can you tell me OF 8
place where preacher can stay all
night without money and without
price?"
"Yas, in the woods"
"Of course. but can you not tell me
of some house?"
"Yes pointing). that one up on yon
hill"
"Will it cost me anything?"
Not cent.
"Who lives there?"
Nobody"
81 don't want to stay in vacant
house. Come, now, my good man, tell
me of a place.
"Wall, will. Go about two miles
down this road, then turn to the left,
The fust house you strike will be old
Sam Potter's. He'll take you in"
But will he charge anything?"
mot cent"
Treat me well, of course?"
Like er jedge-give you the best in
the house.
will he feed my horse?'
"He'll founder him, if you say so"
81 am thousand times obliged to
YOU
Say" the man called as the preach
er started off, hes sorter curis fell
ler, an if you ask him how much he
charges he'll git mad. Jest act like
you was at home, an it'll be all right
with him.
''Thank you, I'll do so.'
The preacher found old Potter to be
tall, gaunt man, with harsh voice
and grizzled beard. just before bed
time the minister aksed Mr.. Potter if
he would join him i'll prayer.
Not jest yit," Potter replied. "Jest
git down an pray when yer feel like
it. Don't wait on me, fur I've got to
feed the hogs afore so to bed.
After breakfast the next morning,
when the preachers horse had been
saddled, the reverend gentleman turn
| ed to Potter, and said;
"Whcn leave place I always feel
that | am forgetting something"
'.Wall, amt yer?''
mo, think not the preacher re-
piled as he began to tumble in his sad
dle-bags. mo, haven't forgotten
anything
I'm putty certain that you have.
You We forgot to pay me.
What! didn't know you charged
anything"
Yer know it now.''
'But, my dear sir, I am poor
preacher.
Never hearn you preach. but jedgin'
er po' preacher
Il mean that l haven't any money"
Not my fault.
THAT'S all very well, but can't pay
YOU.
Then I'll have to take it outen your
hide. y
Look here, my friend"
"Oh, I'm looking. Coin to keep
my eyes on you.
II say that man told me could
stay here without charge. ~
''Yas, but want the man."
Il really can't pay yol.n
''M hat. after eatin as much as you
have? Wy, parson. you can make a
table look the delicatest an punies, Nv
any man l ever seen. The very first
pass you made the hind leg of shoat
disappeared an then you made a mo-
tion at the last pound NV butter we had
an it want no longer fur this here
'arth."
II admit that | was hungry. but"
ooh, you needn' admit it fur | soon
diskivered that fack.'
''This is surely very awkward posi-
ton. l really do not know what to
do
Settle up. is the only advice I've
got to offer
But really cannot
''Then some NV your hide must come
off,"
81 wish you had more SOUL
''Yas, an L wush you had more
money"
You certainly would not commit an
act of violence merely for a few dimeso"
"Yas, bleve / would
.My friend, am on the way to feed
my flock and"
Il reckon you think mo- erbout feed
in yourself. Why. that dish NV cab.
bage turned pale every tirue you looked
at it. | ken stand er good deal but
when a vidults cyclone comes along it
breaks me up"
II am occupying terribly awkward
position"
Better squat, then"
"If you'll let me off I'll send you the
money!
No. I'm erfeerd that after you begin
to feed your flock you won't think Nv a
sinner like me.
''Well, l declare, 1 am in an awkward
position.
"Yas, so I've hearn."
'Is there no way by which we can
settle this AFFAIR.""
''Oh, yes, pay up"
'But tell you have no money"
''Yas, SO I've hearn."
'Well, as you have driven me to the
wall suppose 1 must fight you?"
That's my ticket. Skin Yourself"
1.-THE preacher took off his alapaca
coat folded it and put it on bench,
then. after deliberately rolling up his
shirt sleeves, he said:
Just step this way. please
MIR. Potter stepped that way and was
promptly knocked down. He got up
just in time to be knocked down again.
The next time he got up cautiously and
tried to seize the preacher but was
knocked fiat of his back.
"Hold on. parson," he said. getting
up. THE bills paid. Look here" hs
continued, brushing himself, you've
got to eat dinner with me before YOU 20.
At first didn't think you had much re-
ligion but now l know that you are
one of the elect. John, take the par
sons horse back to the stable, kahn t
afford to let you go, sir. Best man /
ever saw. 1t was old Bill Simons that
told you to come over here an he has
been dodgin' round all the mornin' to