Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-12-06
SLINKS, THE OUTCAST.
The Emigration Committees
Success .ful Substitute.

The enforced emigration" of Sinks
from Prairie City occurred because the
citizens had grown tired of having
him around. Sinks was a failure at
every thing but Sinking. His walk.
his raiment, his appearance and mini
mum of history. all conspired to his
degradation, and had not only robbed
him of respect and credit, but even of
an abiding place. He had skunk into
Prairie City. no person knew exactly
when: but when he skunk out of it.
every person in the settlement who
had arrived at the years of understand
ing was apprised of his going. Several
of the more enterprising citizens-the
self-appointed emigration committee
followed him.
In such cases. the undesirable man
is usually given twenty-four hours in
which to settle up his affairs and place
the county line between himself and
the unappreciative community. In the
case of Sinks, there were no affairs to
settle.
The line was ten miles away. and as
the committee had but little faith in
Sinks as pedestrian. a little process
sion of mounted men had left Prairie
City with Sinks, round-shouldered
and discouraged-looking, riding ahead.
When the line was reached, the dis
lance to BoOmOpolis was about a
mile less than that TO Prairie City. and
the committee reasoned that Sinks
niles jOurneying.
Wal, yere We air." said Long Jess
Masters. as they reached the lone
jack-oak just beyond the county bound
airy. Il reckon you know the penalty,
Slinks?'
Reckon do"
Perhaps a previous experience had
made him familiar with the unpleas-
ant penalty bestowed upon 'runout'
man found within the county confines
after the expiration of his time of
grace. When he lad dismounted,
Sinks strobe slouchingly away.
'.Wal. goodbye, Sinks" called
long jess.
Goodbye. boysw the outcast re-
turned. without turning his face to-
wards them.
He looked like blot on the face of
the fair prairie picture bright with a
profusion of wild flowers springing
from the soft. undulating carpet of
green. His hat dropped dejectedly,
his boots were run over and his gar
ments seemed undecided whether to
fall of or stay on. There was less
color in his face than usual. and the
ruddy scar on his cheek was more
marked by the contrast.
For little while the committee
watched him dragging his feet as if
they were almost too heavy for him.
Then. just as they turned to ride away.
they saw him stoop IS if plucking one
of the bright prairie flowers. Only
the blossoms heard him mutter:
Looks like the flowers that grew
by the door of the kitchen at -"
He slouched away faster than be-
fore. There was more color in his
face now, and the scar on his cheek
showed less plainly.
Flowers, and a runout man
pshawr' he muttered. with more en-
ergy than he had displayed for weeks.
The committee watched him q little
longer, but they were galloping to-
wards Prairie City when he half
turned and gazed after them with
look that was almost wistful.
None of the horsemen spoke for sew
eral minutes. Then Cal Senter. the
self-elected wit of the settlement, re-
marked. with predatory "war":
Good radiance to bad rubbish, as
told 'em wher the blind dog was
stold.''
The committee scarcely grianed. and
Lon. Jcss Masters did net appear to