The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1886-08-12
H L

VIII WHICH nc WAS u~nacqualntcu, STOP
ped a m2n in the road and asked:
my friend. can you tell me of a
place where a preacher can stay all
alght without money and without
,rice?"
O.Yas, in the woods"
rOf course. but can you not tell me
IF some house?"
Yes pointing). that n up on yon
will it cost me ~anythingP"
"Not a cent"
"Who lives therep"
Nobody"
81 don't want to stay in a vacant
house. Come, now, my good man, tell
ne of a place"
''Wall, l 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 a cent"
''Treat me well, of courseP"
Like er jedge-give you the best in
:he house,
"Will he feed my horse?"
Hell founder him, if you say So"
81 am a thousand times obliged to
7ou."
Say" the man called, as the preach
IT started of, '.he's q sorter curis fell
Ter, an if o ask him how much he
charges he'll git mad. jest act like
Fou was at home, an it'll be all right
with him.
THANK you, I'll do So"
The preacher found old Potter to be
a tall, gaunt man, with a harsh voice
and grizzled beard. just before bed
lime the minister aksed MI. Potter if
ne would join him in prayer.
mot jest yit," Potter replied. ''Jest
git down an pray when yer feel like
It. Don't wait on me, fur I've got to
iced the hogs afore L 60 to bed"
After breakfast the next morning,
when the preachers horse had been
saddled, the reverend gentleman turn
ed to Potter, and said:
when l leave a place I always feel
that | am forgetting something"
''Wall, amt yer?"
No, 1 think not" the preacher re-
piled as he began to tumble in his sad
dle-bags. 'tNo, 1 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, 1 am 8, poor
preacher"
Never hcarr you preach, but jedgin'
sr po' preacher"
81 nonon thot hounn't NV rnnpnu -
"Not my fault"
That's all very well, but L can't pay
sou."
Then I'll have to take it outen your
hide"
Look here, my friend"
'Oh, Pm looking. Coin to keep
my eyes on YOU.
Il say that a man told me I could
stay here without charge"
'Yas, but | want the man."
81 really can't pay you"
"What, after eatin' as much rs you
have? Wy, parson, you can make a
table look the delicatest an puniest NV
any man l ever seen. The very first
pass you made the hind leg of Il shoat
disappeared an then you made a mo-
ton at the last pound Nv butter we had
an it want no longer fur this here
'arth."
Il admit that 1 was hungry, but"
"Oh. you needn't admit it fur | soon
diskivered that fack."
This is surely q very awkward posi-
lion. l really do not know what to
do
Settle up. is the only advice I've
got to offer"
But l really cannot"
Then some Nv your hide must come
off
u wish you had more soul"
Vas, an 1 wush you had more
money!"
You certainly would not commit an
act of violence merely for afew dimes?'
"Yas, b'leve l would"
MY friend, l 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 time you looked
at it. l ken stand er good deal but
when a vidults cyclone comes along it
breaks me up"
Il am occupying a 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, go I've hearn."
SIS there no way by which we can
settle this AFFAIR.""
.'Oh, yes, pay up"
"But l tell you [ have no money"
'sYas. so I've hearn."
''Well, rs you have driven me to the
wall l suppose | must fight you?"
That's my ticket. Skin yourself"
1.-The preacher took off his alapaca
coat, folded it and put it on a bench,
then, after deliberately rolling up his
shirt sleeves. he said:
"Just step this way, please"
Mr.. Potter stepped that way and was
-ro,,,+ly LnootaH down He rof mn