The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-18
The daieha Daily gayle: nesdaY nloiuo fully g. 1899

L
from my position in the hired mans
big arms, and saw over his shoulder
with some discomfort, that Mr.. Bank
man was walking behind with the
farmer. But then I began to grow
sleepy again; and for what turned on.
to be several days INDUCED in very
curious adventures - at one time, C.
well as / can remember. even going to
the length of trying to catch kingfsh-
ers with Mr.. Bankman for bait, while
Flip kept Mr. Gardner and the hired man
from jumping into the creek.
When I did get out of the infrmary,
the first place 1 visited was the little
island in Painters swamp where Mr..
Banl1man's shanty Of sapiings and
brush and grapevines was built. lie
was not there; and my heart fell as
saw the fishing lines and hooks lying
| about. He had not been back since we
had left on that last fishing trip. While
! was eagerly hunting about for some
thing to show that 1 was wrong in this
| impression, in bounced Flip, looking
very hungry and ragged. at first he
made savage dive for ne. but recog-
nized 4 frie-,d before my trousers had
| suffered. and we had as jolly q meeting
| as could be expected under the depress-
| ing circumstances. As l was examin-
| ing some rents in Flip's hide that
| seemed to betoken Z recent experience
| with canine enemies. l noticed q strip
| Of old cloth tied to his collar. On in
vestigotion it showed q small piece torn
this legend scrawled out:
pleze tak keer of flip they won't let me keap
no dog hear wich it is in in jalc.
Taking care OF Flip was much easier
said than done, for ne insisted on max
ing at least three Journeys day be-
between the shanty in the swamp and
the village, four miles away.
AS for me, made up nay mind that it
would do no harn to make clean
breast of the thing to the colonel, and
see if could not enlist his sympathies
for Mr.. Bankmau. In l marched to
him at the first opportunity; and, if l
did not tell quite the whole truth,
came away with the half-con1forting
conviction that had at least told moth
ing but the truth. Some time after he
sent for me and said that Mr.. Banl-
mans case had come up at the county
town, and that the old man had only
been put in the poorhouse, where he
would be taken care of, with the I'M
derstanding that if he tried to leave he
should be put into Jail for thieving.
1t was half-holiday with us, and
at once decided to go to the poorhouse,
three miles away, to see the old fellow
and find out if he hatedit'so much after
all. With unaccustomed virtue, OBJ
tanned official permission to leave the
farm limits, and set out. Thinking
how glad he and Flip would be to see
each other, went by way of the
swamp. which the dog still made his
headquarters, intending to pick him up
on the way.
/ plunged through the cattIe-paths
that were the only possible way of pen
etrating the thicket surrounding the
old cabin, and walked brisl1ly up be-
hind it. What was my astonishment to
hear the well-lSnown wheezy voice of
Mr.. Bankman grooming in a sprightly
fashion the one monotonous song-that
tions of "Old Molly Har"-that he was
ever guilty of. Through the open door
l could see him stirring his stumps
about the little Enclosure, while Flip
watched every movement with q look of /
ineffable satisfaction. Fhp's warning
growl at the sound of my footsteps |
brought the music to a sudden stop,
and the next moment I stood before !
them.
'Hello.' 1 said.
"Hellom answered Mr.. Banl1man, and |
continued his vocal efforts and his live |
" parations-evidently for per- |
manent change of base, as fishing lines |
and Ratchet and 4 tin cup were being /
done up in compact bundle.
did you-er-come away?" I ask ed, /
at loss for a more euphemistic para
phrase.
"Nuthin' kerried me-" he replied, in
elaborate irony. I'm goin' ways
back up the crik-fer good" Then,
shortly: wish you was goin'."
This was positively the first spoken
intination Of any feeling of human
fellowship that l had ever heard from
his lips. The spirit of the concession
was too delicate to be butchered by an
answer, and ] silently helped him 20
rig up his bundle and then get ready a
bite of supper. The three Of US ate to-
gether. Dusk was creeping on as we
and Mr.. Bankman gathered
himself together for the tramp. AS we
walked out to the edge OF the swamp
he gave me some directions how TO find
where q steel trap was set that had
lent to him. The dogwood club with
the bundle tied to it was swung over
his shoulder. We wished each other
briefly good luck" and the old man
turned away and trudged of along the
shadow of a rail fence. Flip, seeing
that l was to be LEFT behind. came back
long enough to jump up AID lick my
hand and then trotted quietly at his
masters heel, knowing in some way
that there was a long walk ahead. 1t
was the last | ever saw Of ny friend
Mr.. Banknan.-Christian Union.