Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-12
OLD MEEK AVENGED.

serted shanty marks the spot where
there once fourished great. commercial
emporium. This busy mart of merchan-
disc was presided over by 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 a drought, which might in
jure 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
some strapping fellow would call old
Meek, no matter how busy he might be
Here, old boy, you will have to calk
up this room to keep the fire from get
ting out if you don't mind"
Gentlemen" he would reply, in a
most apologetic manner, "you must
really excuse me. You'll pardon me-
won't you? Twill 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-
rassment, "you know that if I had it
you could get it,"
"What, haven't you got it?"
"'Not 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 l had this
very mornin'."
Go and look in the drawer, Meek.
reckon you'll find some sneakin' round in
thar
II 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 tor
II don't like to say, 'Lige."
"Oh, it's all right. What difference
can it maker"
"None, only don't like to be tellin'
who lend money to-"
"Come, tell me. won't say word
about it,"
mot word, 'Lige?"
Mot single word"
wall, I'll tell you, jestto 'commodate
you. but please don't mention it. Jim
Henly come to me this mornin' an
lowed that he must have twenty-five,
an l let him have it, although I've got a
bill that must pay this week or shut
up the house."
"Jim Henly, eh? Wy, he oughter
have plenty money. He's got some colts
that he can sell any time fur good
price. Say, when he pays you back will
you let me have the twenty-fve?"
'Of course, 'Lige, you know I'll let
you have it as soon as get it,"
That afternoon 'Lige met Jim Henly
in the road. Hello, Jim, which way?'
"Oh, sorter ridin' roun' for my health,
as the feller lowed when he was gittin'
outen the way of the sheriff"
Didn't know but you was goin' over
to old Meek's."
1'Wall, didn't know but 1 mout ride
over that way befo' the thing is done
with"
"Goin' to pay him that money, reck-
on
w udt uOucyf Jill dohCu III ouI-
prise.
1.-THE twenty-five you borrowed from
him"
"How the devil do you know bor-
rowed any mony from him"
"You won't say nothin' about it, will
your
mo. Go ahead"
wall, I was over to the store this
mornin', an the old man was sorter COM
plainin' about bill he's got to pay or
shut 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,
is he?"
ssNot particularly paradin' it, Jim.
He lows that he needs the money, an
reckon he do. Don't say nothin' about
it, but if you can raise the money, wy
go an give it to him. Wall, so long"
It was chilly evening. A number of
the "boys" sat in old Meeks back room
playing cards.
"You've got me faded now" said ALI
Moore. punching his cards. "Got me
down whar the ground is mighty rocky.
Hello, Jim Henly, how air they comini
Squat and take hand"
ssWhar is old Mesk?" Henly asked.
"Gone out to git some wood. l b'lieve. =
Meek came in and put back log on
the fire