Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-06-15
HUNTING UP AN HEIR.
BY RUTH CHESTERFIELD.

It was a cold evening. The clouds
which had been all day black and
threatening were now beginning to
send their snow fakes through the air,
and John Ratchet was hurrying home
to his supper at headlong pace. John
worked in Mr.. Armstrong; great iron
foundry-at low wages, it is true, but,
as John said, "a little is better than
nothing"
There had been q strike among the
foundry hands, but John took no part
in it; he kept steadily on at his work,
and tried to persuade others to do the
same.
"Times are hard" he said, @but
what's the use of making them worse?"
And that day when the strikers came
in body, led by Hans Schneider, and
attempted to stop the works, John
said, "There'n be bloodshed first.
And his former comrades, knowing
him for a resolute fellow, after some
parleying, concluded to depart, but
threatened to return another day with
arms in their hands.
"Very WE'LL" said John, well be
ready for you" They never came,
however.
But, as 1 was saying, John was hur
rying along home at the top of his
speed, looking neither to the right nor
to the left, so that he would not have
seen the old man leaning against a
lamp-post if he had not first run plump
against him, and nearly knocked him
over
"Halloo!-beg pardon! All right
now, grandfather" he exclaimed, as
with one strong arm he restored the
old man to his center of gravity.
"My stars thought you'd finished
me-" gasped the old man, embracing
the lamp-post.
Il came pretty near it, that's fact"
said John. "But seems to me you
shouldn't be out such night as this;
your folks ought to take better care of
you"
Il haven't any folks" said the old
man.
well, you'd better be at home any
way"
That's easy said; but I haven't any
home either"
Where are you bound then, grand
father? If your lodgings are near by
I'll help you there, for you appear to
be about used up"
$50 am; but I haven't a place to
lay my head unless you take pity on
me-"
John hesitated. A strange vagrant
wasn't lust the most desirable
guest, but he was evidently old
and feeble, and Johns kind heart
was touched, so he said: well, come
along with me. I'll give you nights
lodging, and tomorrow I'll see what
can be DONE"
The old man needed no second in
vitation, and in few minutes the two
reached Johns house. No sooner had
he opened the door than five chill
dren and dog rushed to greet him,
while his wife, an easy, roly-poly little
woman, exclaimed, why, John, what
makes you so late? Supper's been
really to go on the table these fifteen
minutes; the mullins won't be st to
eat"
I'll risk EN-" said John, laughing
"See here, Debby, I've brought some
company home to supper. 1 found
this old gentleman out in the storm,
and no better place to bring up at than
the lamp-post, SO 1 took him in tow,
and here he is"
Hes welcome, I'm sure" said
Debbv.
"Why, his teeth chatter with the
COLOR would if he had any, poor
man-and not bit of an overcoat. No
place to go, did You say? Why he'd
have frozen to death before morning"
ave, and starved too, said the man,
looking longingly toward the table.
"To be sure! How thoughtless of
me to stand here jabbering when dare
say you didn't have any dinner to
speak Of"
"rve had nothing to eat for two days,
ma'am."
mercy on us! And to think such
things should happen in Christian
land, John! Isn't it dreadful? Sit
right up to the table, Mr.-what did
you say his name was, John?"
"My name is Dill-Joshua Dill,
ma'am."
"There used to be Dills up in Pa
sumpsic. I wonder if he's one of emp
said Debby.
~Never mind that now" said John !;
@give the poor man his supper, and you
can get his family history afterward. >
"Those Dills were sort of relations of
mine. It would be funny if he was
one of 'em, wouldn't it?" persisted
Debby, as she heaped the old mans
plate with eatables, which he devoured,
unembarrassed by the curious and
eager gaze of the five children and the
Investigations of Ponto, who from the
first had regarded the stranger with
evident distrust.
For this Ponto probably had no bet
ter reason than that the man was poorly
clad; for the dog, as you know, is a
natural aristocrat, and will drive away
the man who approaches your door in
rags and slouched hat, while he suf-
fers the man in broadcloth anda stove
pipe to pass unchallenged. Is it that,
by some subtle instinct, he divines that