Wichita eagle., 1888-08-09
"MISSUS.'

shod agin the plowin' to-morrer."
Misses looked scornfuny over the wash
tub at the shifty, uneasy figure in the door
way.
''The mare! She's gone with only ons
shoe a good three months, an now she
must be shod agin the plowin'l But thets
only an excuse TO git with yer low cronies
In town, an ye mought as well take tibet as
anuther, fer ye will go, spite Of all tibet /
kin say. Yes" she snapped as an after
thought, you kin bring me yard Of eight
cent cotton-unbleached, mind. Now git out,
an spend the rest o. yer mornin' loafin'
roGnd"
Mrs Loud, or, as she was more generally
called by her husband and few scattered
neighbors, ''Missus," watched him drive
slowly off down the road behind the patient
mare without taking her arms from the suds.
Poor shiftless creeturT' she muttered;
''nuthin' but nuisance ennyway. Amt no
more use than a last years birds nest.
Whatever KUN TO marry him fer don't
seen
She wiped the suds off either arm with her
thumb and forefnger.
sam Loud" she called, opening the door
sharply, ''ef you amt back fer yer dinner
:,
'TharlH she exclaimed, after few mo-
ments Of steady rub rubbing up and down
over the board, the rhythmic motion keep
ing time TO son Jordan's Stormy Banks 1
Stand,n which was running through her
mind. THAT lazy mortal's clean forgot the
pail o. water told him to git half an hour
ago. IF he never KUN back 'twould be a
'tarnal marcyin
Sam did not turn his head as Missus
launched after him her parting threat, but
logged slowly on, musing to himself.
''Ef Missus 'ud only give feller a chance!
Sartin the mare needs shoein' bad; an
mans got to see how things is in town some
tines-though 1 can't never make her See it
that way, somehow.
"a yard o. eight cent cotton he repeated
aloud, to fix It more firmly in his unstable
memory. AN mebbe kin find some little
thing to sort o pac'fy her, eff so bet as how l
can't git the mare shod afore noon. An 1
decla11 fort, eff l didn't furgit tibet pail O
waterl1
J man, 4 stranger to Sam, was walking
along the road a litte way ahead. AT this
point be stopped and looked intently up and
down the broad, straight highway, stretch
ing In sight for miles either way.
Good day, my man." he said, as Sam
came up to him; ''can you give me a lift, as
we both seem to be going the same wayF
Reckon l kin, eff you amt tew hefty," re-
turned Sam, cheerfully, pulling up his horse,
''fur a spell, 5 fur * / 60"
The man, from his clothes and manner evil
IDENTIFY a gentleman, climbed TO a place beside
Sam and listened silently 10 that worthy's
garrulous conversation.
tibet little red buildin' on yer ler,
stranger he was just saying. twas whar
fust larned ter stick pins in the school
marsterhs cheer, an ter Here the man
broke in suddenly. Tell me, isn't that
wagon on the road mile or two backl7
Tibet speck way back by Tim Slocunses'
place! It's wagin, sure huff, but it's a good
FIVE nile away. Y gu kin see it so plain kase
thar's a hill thar
Isn't this branch road we are Just coming
30. the road to kingslowT the stranger
asked.
aspect it be-" drawled Sam, regarding him
with slow surprise.
my man." said his companion, hurriedly,
eff you will drive with all your might to
Kirgslow, III give you $50 If you get me
there intineH
Sam made no reply.
''If twenty isn't enough, III make 1t forty"
said the man, watching Sans face an1-
iously.
"Ch, faint the money" said Sam at last,
leisUreIy, though I'll allow It's some indeuse--
ment 10 man who's got a wife TO hum
'Tain't thet-it's why you're in sech 'rnazin'
hurry all Of a suddint No, stranger, don't
bleeve I kin stand the racket The hosss
only got one shoe on, an | promised miSsus
ter be hum for dinner
DO you see that speck back there on the
roadF' asked the rlnn, quietly. well, that
speck is buggy containing two constables.
They are after me for-never mind what.
Now, my man, if you get me TO Kingslow
docks in time to catch a boat waiting there
for ne, before those men catch US, I'll give
YOU $50. If notn-
The alternative was expressed BY q drawn
revolver, pointed threateningly at Sans
blanching face.
he turned the mares head into Kingslcw
road. The minutes and the miles sped by In
silence. the stranger watchful, with his fingers
closed on the revolver, Sam silently consider
ing his chances for escape from the fate hs
saw oaly too plainly hanging over him; that
of arrest and perhaps Imprisonment for help
ing 4 felon escape the outstretched arm Of
justice.
And what would Missus sayF' Sam
groaned
They were close upon kingslow when he
spoke.
''Look'ee hy2r, mister be said you've
gone about fur 'nuf with this ere hoss an /
wagin-" And he began TO draw in the nearly /
spent horse Thers was q short struggle,
then pistol report, a-.d Sam fell backward
into the body OF the wagon and lay motion
less
Slowly and gradually tie consciousness of
earthly things began TO reGurn TO Sans
derkened mind lie made en- effort to turn
over and look around him
Nv ka-whRr be II Re ousried, weakly.
YOU'RE Ewo weeks ont 1t sea, nv hearty.
and bound for q six months cruise to China,
Oh the tr!Ia1leSt craft that sails the blues
aid CHEEKY voice beside him
"A frierd o youra sAippsd you," eont;n-
Jed the voice, afterwards proving co belong
10 tie kind hearted second mate, lust after
youd hurt yourself fooIn' with your re-
solver. Ee sid he'd promised you to, cause
yoa lad a sick relation or something in
China. en- seeing your name was ca tho
books. an he tuI-nshin' plenty o money fer
yoG- nuss.n', We had 80 take you along as
we'd agreed. NOW so 60 sieep aU you'n De
vel before you know il"
sam had plenty of time TO think sut many
znot7y problems during the weary weeks
nat followed.
''Mebbe war a triae shiftin' sn' Uneasy
Ike fer sech woman as Missus,' be said
uddenly aloud one day. "'F ever git back,
I'm blamed I / don't start a new count thetn
please her. Bat won't the boys open their
,x-ac u-ha,, -ha.r L.,L /