Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-12-20
SLINKS, THE 0UTCAST.

i The enforced emigration" of Sinks
from Prairie City occurred because the
citizens had grown tired of having
him around Sinks was a failure at
everything 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 nnder-
standing was appraised Of his going.
Several OF the more enterprising citi-
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
tn, case of Sinks, there were no af-
fairs to settle. 5tH..f H5
Tho line was ten miles away, and as
the committee had but little faith in
Sinks as q pedestrian, 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 mile
less than that to Prairie City, and the
committee reasoned that Sinks would
keep on, and thus save clear miles
journeying, r
wal, yere we air, said Long Jess
Masters, as they reached the lone jack
oak just beyond the county boundary.
II reckon you know the penalty,
Shnks2"
Reckon | do"
Perhaps q 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 lie had dismounted,
Sinks strobe slouchingly away
WAL good-by, Sinks, " called Long
Jess.
"Good-by, boysl'' the outcast re-
turned, without turning his face to-
wards them.
He looked like q blot on the face of
tho fair prairie picture, bright with a
profusion of wild flowers springing
from the soft, undulating carpet of
green. His hat dropped deiectedly,
his boots were run over, and his gar
mentS seem undecided whether to fall
off or stay on There was less colorin
his face than usual, and the ruddy scar
on his check was more marked by the
contrast. " 70. ''.
For little while the committee
w@tchcd him, dragging his feet as if
they were almost too heavy for him.
Then, just Us they turned to ride
away, they saw him stoop as if pluck
ing one Of tho bright prairie flowers.
Only the blossoms heard him mutter:
Looks like the flowers that grew by
tho door Of the kitchen at
He slouched away faster than before.
There was moro color in his face now,
and the scar on his cheek showed less
plainly. ..5... t..... .s..... .... 49,.
Flowers, and run out men
pshaww hc muttcred with more
energy than he had displayed for
weeks
The committee watched him little
longer, but they were galloping toward
Prairie City when he half turned and
gaZcd after them with look that was
almost wistful. l.... .t...
None Of the horsemen spoke for
several minutes Then Cal Sentcr, the
self elected wit of the settlement, re-
Marked with predatory wal"
Good radiance to bad rubbish, as l
told EN- when the blind dog was
stold.
The committee scarcely grinnod, and
Long joss Masters did not appear to
hcar. This innttcntion upon the pert
Of the elongated citizen was al the
moro depressing to tho humorist be-
cause jess vas usually the first and
loudcst to laugh at his efforts.
"Whcn man'a got to go, wy, hos
got to-" Jess said, presently. An
when ho gifts SOS he sets around till he
aighty nigh grows fast, 2n' sncalls
arolnd till everybody is tired O scoin'
him, IN borryJ his tobacco, Gn' never
buys ruth'n', an, pays no taxes, an
wont vote, an never does nur says
nuth'n' to help the boom along, an
lows is nuth'n' to him whether tho
rcifroGl comes ycro or goes to Boom
opolis-T'T, whom q man gifts that fur
gone, | reckon he's got to go, or
"Or be buried interrupted Cal.
That's it," Jess went or. Prairie
City h'oiut got no Use fer that kind o
people. Bat, somchow'---
Whats that over thcrg" inter
rUptcl another committeeman.
A covered wagon, drawn by y p&ir
Of skinny horses, rounded the slope OF
Il slight "riao' half Il milo distant
Must come niIdlin' fur By the way
the team crawls," said jess.
What cir they dom out yc?e, away
off from any road"
Changing their course, the commit
tee gallop2tl towards the slow moving
vehicle. As they nearcd it they made
n discovery. There seemed to be no
driver end tho reins were dragging.
The skinny team stopped as the horse
man camo up. Long Jess lifted one of
the tattercd curtAins and looked into
the wagon.
"Oh, have you found my boyl" q
faint voice quavered eagerly.
Frlo ,,4bn, ,,,.,,,,l,ans Nf thn v,,y,,ff-