Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-12-28
SLINKS, THE 0UTCAST.

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 il,
every person in the settlement who
had arrived at the years of nnder-
standing was apprised of his going.
Several Of the more enterpriSing citi-
nns-the self appointed emigration
committee-followed him.
In such cases, the undesirable nan
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 10 settle.
The line was ten miles away. and as
the committee had but little faith in
Sinks us a pedestrian, a little process
non Of mounted men had left Prairie
City with Sinks, round ~shouldered
and discouraged looking. riding ahead.
When the line was n; ched, the dis
lance TO Boomopolis WIS about a mile
less than thatSo Prairie City, and the
committee reasoned that Sinks would
keep on, and thus save a clear miles
journeying.
"Wal, yere we ail said Long Jess
Masters, as they reached the lone jack
oak just beyond tn county boundary.
81 reckon you know the penalty,
Sinks
Reckon | do"
Perhaps a previous experience had
made him familiar with the unpleas-
ant penalty bestowed upon a ''runout'
man found within the county confines
after the expiration of his time of
grace. When lie had diSmounted,
Sinks strobe slouchingly away.
oval. 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 dejectedly,
his boots were run over, and his gar
nents seem undecided whether to fall
off or " on. There was less colorin
his face than usual, and the rudy scar
ON his cheek was more marked by the
contrast.
For a little while the committee
watched him, dragging his feet as if
they we're almost too heavy for him.
Then, Just as they turned 10 ride
AWAY, they saw him stoop as if pluck
ing one of the bright prairie flowers.
Only the blossoms heard him muttcr:
LOOKS like the flowers that grew by
the door of the kitchen at
He slouched away faster than before.
There was more color in his face now,
and tho scar on his cheek showed less
plainly.
BLOWERS, and a run out man
pshaW,' he muttercd, with more
energy than he had displayed for
weeks.
Tho committee watched him a little
longer. hUtthcy wcru gallopiugtoWard
Prairie City when h. half turned and
gazed Gftcr them with u look that vas
almost wisiful.
None Of the horscmcn spoke for
several minutes. Then Cal Sentcr, the
self elected wit Of the settlement, re-
marked, with a predatory wal
Good radiance to bad rubbish, as |
told EN- when the blind dog was
stold."
The committee scarcely grinned, and
Long jess Masters did not appear TO
hear. This %inattention upon the part
of the elongated citizen was all the
more depressing 10 the humorist be-
nus jess was usually the first and
loudest 30 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 till 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 nur says
nuth'n' 10 help the boom along, IN
lows it's nuth'n' TO him whether the
railroad comes yere or goes TO Boom
opolis-w'y, when a man gifts that fur
gone, / reckon he's got TO 60, 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
r1ipted another committeeman.
A covered wagon, drawn by a pair
Of skinny horses, rounded the slope Of
a slight ''rise" half q milo distant.
Must come middlin' fur by the way
the team crawls," said jess.
What air they doin' out yere, away
Oh from any road7"
Changing their course, the commit
tee galloped towards the slow moving
vehicle. AS they neared il they made
discovery. There seemed % be no
driver, and the reins were dragging.
The skinny team stopped as the horse
man came up. Long jess lifted one OF
the tattered curtains and looked into
the wagon.
'Oh, have you found my boyT" O
faint voice quayered, eagerly.
The other members Of the commit
Zee peorcd into the wagon. A woman,
with tangled white hair about her
wrinkled face, that was wan and
rhnstly, turned her delirium bright
sned eyes, full Of q pihful, unreason-