The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-17

49, s'' foN soy HIS name WaSf
questioned jess. 1T sorto slipped me"
Paul, and her voice dwelt Low.
'hgiy upon the name--"Paul Emery
Tho shaggy heads wero solemnly
shaken. No one knew Paul E,nerr
Puzzled, taoy withdrew for another
consultation.
I'm afeard she'll mover see her bow.
II he halnt found mighty soon, said
Wonder if we couldn't sorto find
bun, anyhow, - said Cal. 'Mebbv She
couldn't tclln---
" IwUldnt make her no worse "
spoke jess, AN IL might
The others grasped the idea. Again
the bearded faces looked into the
wagon
Know him at first siohtin oues.
toned jess. Night have changed a
good deal
The sick woman babbled on a little
while of how she would know her boy
her Paul. Then she produced bat
tered tntype from beneath her pill
low.
mat Is Paul, my boy " she said,
eagerly--"Paull'
The picture dnnly revealed a slender
young fellow, honest faced and beard
less.
The shaggy heads were gravely
shaken.
The scar don't show much in the
picture. ' The sick woman piped
weakly The doctor said 1t would
always remain there And Bessie
sand she never wanted it to fade from
his check because II would always be
@ reminder Of how he had rsded his
lie TO save hers Bessie" -
The committee heard no more. They
had hastily withdrawn
III stay we're an wait fur Jerry, "
Cal Sentcr said after lew moments
conference was held Take my boss.
Wal. / reckon '---
The nest Of the committeeman were
g,lloping away, and he was alone be
sido the WAGON.
Looks like imposin' on the pore
woman he muttorcd But, il we
KANT find the night son we've got 70
do the next best thing He'll look
something like her Paul when the
boys hey got through with him
Sinks, the outcasi lay stretched
face downward in tho shade OF a few
scraggy persimlnon trees, near the head
of a little draw. two miles beyond
the spot where the committee had left
him There was more of despair ia
his face than any citizen of Prairie
City had ever seen there But when.
aroused by the hoof beats. nc found
himself again in the hands of the emi
grafton committee. the old and almost
expfes<ionless mask fell over his face
again
lie made no comment when ordered
ID pile on 10 Calls horse, and the
cav1lcado tool. the back track towards
Prlir., City. at O headlong speed But
once. Long jess. close at hand, heard
him mutter
Its all right. anyhow. Nobodyll
care,'
Cal Scutcr. squatting in the shade Of
the sick womaus wagon, saw the little
troop pass, q quarter Of a mile away,
and giumbled Blamed imposition on
her. bat it's the best we kin do.
Jerry was passed by the cavalcade,
ten minutes later, on his headlong way
back 10 the wagon with several pack
ages in his hands and pockets Il was
evident that he comprehended the sit
uation. for he said, addressing himself,
Looks like a great shame, but mebby
it's the best the boys kin do. D."
Sinks look Of stolidity changed to
one of mystihcaiion and astonishment
soon after Prairie City was reached.
lie was hurried into the barber shop
aud thrust into chair, and, in response
/ to a stern command from Long Jess, the
knight of the razor trimmed the out
casts hair and removed lis beard with
O CELEBRITY that threatened 10 rob him
Of his cuticle at the same time. While
this was going on several Of the com
mittecmen were rushing about 70 the
intense mysthcation Of the unofficial
citizens. who asked q hundred Ques-
tons and were shamelully snubbed
each time When The rushing re
suited ia the producing Of a nlsht sml
of clothes. into which Sinks was
hustled. he was IN a state OF open
mouthed wonder.
As ell hands were mounting, Sinks
heard Old Man Berry inform q neigh.
Dor In a mysterious but very loud
whisper that il was Lis belief that the
committee lad captured Sinks red
Iorded In some atrOcitv. and were ar
raving him decently that the outcasi
might make q presentable looking
corpse. The neighbor nodded q con
WINGED head, and Sinks, for want OF
more pleasant solution 10 the mystery
was forced TO accept the dueiui the
ory.
So great had been the change IL tho
outcasts appearance, resulting iror
his experience with the committee
and tho barber, that when the htLS;
f troop reached the wagon Cai pfoiessea
10 believe that they had added a ne"
ana improved head 10 Sinks aoquid'
lions.
The sick woman did not look so
| ghastly thanks to the kind offices Of
/ Cal and Jerry, VINO ual sulJluissS ~
some Of the brandy that the latter had
brought from Prairie City, and Lad
made q doubtful quality Of beef tea
over q little ire down IN the hollow;
! With awkward genileness they had
pushed back the gray hair and had
! placed fragrant h0wers all about nei
head
DO you think you viii find my boy
soonY her laint voice pipsd, IS Long
+ Jcss looked into the wagon.
Hell be yers right soon, gran
NAV he answered Il saw him jest
4 little bit ago. e.,
Her wrinl1led face lit up with such
look Of eladness, that for ali instant
I jess heart smote him at the thought
+ Of the deception they were about &c
practice upon the sick woman.
But It's for tho best, he muttered
as he turned away. It's a shame
but it's the best we kin do"
Every face in the circle that gain
cred about the outcast was hard anc
stern. In few pointed words LONG