The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-30
OLD MEEK AVENGED.

At Meyers Cross Roads, Tenn, de-
serted shanty marks the spot where
there once fourished great commercial
emporium. This busy mart Of merchan-
disc was presided over by a wheeling
old fellow who was known as Meek Ben
der. His whole life seems to have been
continual round of apology. His fear
was not of drought, which might in
lure trade, or of an overflow of the
creek, which might wash his house
away, but that he might at some
thoughtless time wound the feelings of
his fellow man His name was John,
but his habit Of extreme care. his man
ner, which had been refined into gentle
ness and then softened into timidity,
brought to him the name of Meek. His
business was good, for there was no
other store in the community, yet he
was always hard pushed. The fact is he
was too timid and too much afraid of
giving offense to refuse credit. and when
credit had been given he was too gentle
to ask for the money which was due him.
Even people that were regarded as strict
ly honest were not slow in imposing on
old Meek.
The back room Of Meek's store was
the wet day gathering place for the
neighborhood. Contracts for the yea1
were drawn up there, and many an old
score had been settled in that dingy back
room. When the weather was cold and
when the fire burned low no one would
offer to go out and bring in wood from
the rick, short distance away, but
come strapping fellow would call old
Meek. no matter how busy he might be
Here. old boy, you will have to cslk
up this room to keep the fire from get
ting out if you don't mind"
Gentlemen" he would reply, in a
most apologize manner, "you must
really excuse me. You'll pardon me,
won't you? will do better in the fut-
ure"
One day 'Lige Parker came into the
store, and calling old Meek aside said:
Meek, I've got to have $25."
"'Lige," Meek answered, with embar-
''you know that if had it
you could get it,"
"What. haven't you got it?"
mot to save my life, 'Lige."
"Oh, come now, Meek. Who ever
hearn of you bein' out of money? The
rest of us mout be hard up, but you air
allus fixed. Let me have twenty-five"
"'Lige, lent the last cent had this
very mornin'."
Go and look in the drawer, Meek. l
reckon you'll find some sneakin' round in
thar"
81 took out the last cent, 'Lige."
"Wall, dang it, go an look when tell
you"
'Lige followed him to the money
drawer. The old man pulled the drawer
open and said, "Thar now, 'Lige, don't
you see thar amt none?"
Thar amt none, sho huff. Who did
you lend it to-"
81 don't like to say, 'Lige."
ooh, it's all right. What difference
can it make?"
"None, only don't like to be tellin'
who lend money to-"
"Come, tell me. won't say a word
about it."
Not a word, 'Lige"
mot a single word"
''Wall, I'll tell you, jest to 'commodate
you, but please don't mention it. Jim
Henly come to me this mornin' an
lowed that he must have twenty-five,
an let him have it. although I've got
bill that l must pay this week or shut
up the house"
Jim Henly, Ell? wy, he oughter
nave plenty money. He's got some colts |
hat he can sell any time fur a good |
price. Say, when he pays you back will |
you let me have the twenty-five"
''Of course, 'Lige, you know I'll lei |
you have it as soon as get it."
That afternoon 'Lige met jim Henly |
n the road. Hello, Jim, which way2" |
"Oh, sorter ridin' roun' for my health,
rs the Teller lowed when he was gittin'
outen the way Of the sheriff"
Didn't know but you was goin' over
% old Meek's."
''Wall, didn't know but l mout ride
'ver that way befo' the thing is done
with"
Coin to pay him that money, reck-
,n."
What money!" Jim asked in sur
prise.
1.-The twenty-five you borrowed from
him."
How the devil do you know Dor
owed any mony from him"
you won't say nothin' about it, will
-ou:"
mo. Go ahead"
"Wall, l was over to the store this
nornin', an the old man was sorter COM
,lainin' about bill he's got to pay or
hut up the house. Said he needed the
money he let you have"
"Ah, ha, the old fool is paradin' it
round that he let me have few dollars,
S he?'
Not particularly paradin' it, jim.
lie lows that he needs the money, an /
eckon he do. Don't say nothin' about
t, but if you can raise the money, wy
% an give it to him. Wall, so long"
1t was chilly evening. A number of
he "boys" sat in old Meek's back room
laying cards.
you've got me faded now" said Alf
Ioore, punching his cards. "Got me
own whar the ground is mighty rock.
Hello, Jim Henly, how air they comm?
,qust and take hand"
"Whar is old Meek" Henly asked.
"Gone out to git some wood. I b'lieye.n