, 1888-12-02
SLINKS, THE OUTCAST.

iANAANAlE lAAh EloNH hlNN Va AAhf AAk
him around. Sinks was a failure at
everything but Sinking. His walk,
his raiment, his appearance and mini
mum of history, all c%onspircd 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 II,
every person in tho settlement who
had arrived at the years of pnder-
standing was apprised of his going.
Several Of the more e~nterprising citr-
zens-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 af-
fairs TO settle.
The line was ton miles away, and as
the committee had but little faith in
sion of mounted men hnd left Prairie
City with Sinks, round ~shouldered
and discouraged looking, riding ahead.
When the line was reached, tho dis
lance to Boomopolis was about n mile
less than that TO Prairie City, and the
committee reasoned that Sinks would
keep on, and thus save Il clear miles
journeying.
wal, yere we ali" said Long Jess
Masters, as they reached the lone jack
oak just beyond the county boundary.
II reckon you know the penalty,
Slinks7"
Reckon l do"
Perhaps q previous experience had
made him familiar with the unpleas-
ant penalty bestowed upon a ''runout"
man found within tho county confines
after the expiration of his time Of
grace. When he had dismounted,
Sinks strobe slouchingly away.
wal, good-by, Sinks, called Long
Jess.
"Good-by, boys" the outcast re-
turned, without turning his face to-
wards them.
He looked like a 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 decidedly,
NNo bOpS hIIb Iun ONtT, ulu Ills RlI-
ments seem undecided whether to fall
of or stay on. There was less colorin
his face than usual, and the rudy scar
ON his check was moro marked by the
contrast.
For a 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 as if pluck
ing one OF the bright prairie flowers.
Only the blossoms heard him mutter,
Looks like the flowers that grew By
the door of the kitchen att
He slouched away faster than before.
There was more color in his face now,
and the C on his cheek showed less
plainly.
Flowers, and a run out man
pshawr' he muttered, with more
energy than he had displayed for
weeks.
The committee watched him O little
longer, but they were galloping toward
Prairie City when he half turned and
gazed after them with n look that was
almost wistful.
None of the horsemen spoke for
several minutes. Then Cal Senter, the
self elected wit of the settlement, re-
marked, with a PREDATORY "wal:"
Good radiance to bad rubbish, as l
told EN- when the blind dog was
stold.n
The committee scarcely grinned, and
Long jess Masters did not appear to
hear. This i%nattention upon the part
of the elongated citizen was all the
o depressing to the humorist be.
cause Jess was usually tho first and
loudest TO laugh at his efforts.
When a mans got TO go, wy, he's
got to-" Jess said, presently. 'An'
when he gifts SOS he sets around I'LL he
mighty nigh grows fast, an sneaks
around till everybody is tired o. seein'
him, an borrys his tobacco, an never
buys nuth'n', an pays no taxes, an
won't vote, an never does Il says
nuth'n' to help the boom along, an
lows it's nuth'n' to him whether the
railroad comes yero or goes to Boom
opols-w'Y, when a man gifts that fur
gone, l reckon hos got to 10, or
"Or be buried, interrupted Cal.
That's it," Jess went ON. Prairie
City h'ain't got no use fer that kind O.
people. But, somehow
Whats that over thar" inter
rupted another committeeman.
A covered wagon, drawn by a pair
of skinny horses, rounded the slope of
a slight ''rist" half a mile distant.
Must come middlin' fur by the way
the team crawls," said jess.
What air they doin' out we're, away
off from any roadf"
Changing their course, the commit
tee galloped towards the slow moving
vehicle. AS they neared it they made
a discovery. There seemed TO be no
driver, and the rcins were dragging.
The skinny team stopped MS the horse
man came up. Long jess lifted one Of
the tattcred curtains and looked into
the wagon.
"Oh, have you found my boyf' a
faint voice quayered, eagerly.
The other members of the commit
tee peered into the wagon. A woman.
with tangled white hair about her
wrinlsled face, that was wan and
ghastly, turned her delirium bright
ened eyes, full Of a pitiful, ~unreason-