Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-04-02
are simply these here: How did You
hannen tn come here and

How did you happen to come here?''
the woman broke in, raising her eyes
from the book and mildly fixing them
upon the old man. And she appeared
to be making a study of him, his squint
eyes, his purple cheeks, bushy eye
brovs, fat nose: and she noticed that
the bosom of his cotton shirt was IN
buttoned at the top, revealing the
grayish hairs on his chest. But be-
fore you answer she added, still look
ing at him. taking, it seemed, an enjoy
able measurement OF his discontinue,
''let me ask you if you would mind but
toning your shirt"
81 CAD, miss" the old man pulled.
Hyou are somethin' of a Tartar, 1
reckon. I've lived here all my life and
have been mayor here for ten year and
have wore my shirt this way every
spell of hot weather, and you are the
first one to tell me TO button it: but
dinged-excuSe the expression, for it's
the strongest 1 use[I say dinged if /
don't do it Now, miss, the shirts but
toned, so GO ahead with your rat kill
in, as the Teller said"
81 have no rat killing to 60 on with.
merely asked you how you happened
to come hero"
eyes, but blast my hide-excuse me
for that expression, if you please, for it
is about the strongest use-you've got
no right to ask me that question"
well, then, you have no right to ask
me how happened TO come here"
miss, 1 tell you that I'm the mayor of
this here town, but we'll let that pass
Would you mind tellin' me your name?"
my fathers name was Lopp and in
remembrance of a great-aunt I was
called Polly"
"Ah, hah, reckon it was all right to
ricollect the old lady and all that sort
of thing. but from what I can gather
from the papers Lopp is sort of an
archist name, amt it?'
81 have never known an anarchist of
that name" the young woman answer
ed. smiling.
They may be, miss. but don't like
the name any too well, but we'll let
that pass, as the Teller said when he
seed the wild cat" He was silent long
enough to unbotton the top button of
his shirt and then he went on: I'VE
understand that you have leased the
paper here, and we'd like to know why,
for when d paper is leased there is
generally some sort of AK 70 be ground,
so / would just like to ask you what
sort Of AK You have brought with you?"
The woman threw down the book,
laughed at the old man, and, clasping
her hands back of her head, leaned
back. still laughing at him
miss, you are as much ticlzled as if
there was bug on you. Hah, don't
You think there's bug on you? have
generally commanded a good deal Of
respect among women folks and you
needn't laugh at me any more than you
can help, even if there's bug on you,
but what l want to get at and I'm go
ing to get at it mighty sudden is this
here: Before we can allow you to as
sociate with US we must know some
thin about you, and it is as little as
you can do to tell US what we want to
know"
You have asked me for my conf
dence," she said, looking at him with
demure mockery, 1.-The precious conf
dence of an unprotected woman. and
oh, how willingly would give it you
but for the fact that have not known
you long enough. Bat 1 confess that
you have invited my confidence by
seeking to unbosom yourself" She
looked at the old mans shirt and he
pulled aud buttoned it
Miss, I'll be slathered-now that is
really the strongest expression use
if you don't sorter git away with me.
But won't you tell me somethin' about
yourself?-
why, yes, will give you my ten
derest condolences"
'&Oh, now, here, don't chaw me.
am the mayor Of this town, tell you,
and if you are goin' to run paper
here you had better keep in with me
The city council takes ten copies and
could have them cut off at any time"
She raised her hands as If imploring
him not to cut them off, and he, looking
down at his shirt to see If 1t were but
toned, showed his yellow teeth. and
continued: Yes, you better keep in
with me- Man tried to run paper
here once without keepin' in with me,
and what do you reckon became of
him?"
Went to the legislature, 1 sup
pose"
''Hah! Who told you? Dinged if he
didn't go there, but he left his paper
dead as paddock
Il haven't anything to hide" she
said ''and don't mind telling you that.
having grown very tired of city life,
have come here to rest awhile but not