Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-05-16

was 1OOllSn OF me, DuC may nave
thought that he, being parson, would
not actually strike me. Anyhow, said
that if he wanted to know what he was
I could tell him. did tell him in four
words. I omit the words.
Never in my life have I had such
thrashing I got then. He hit only
with the open hand; if he had used his
fists he'd have killed me. There was no
getting away from him, and no giving
him anything back 1t was dirg-dong
all over my face and head until /
dropped in a heap, bleeding like pig,
and nearly sick. 1t finished me.
You're boss said. ''You can give
your orders. 1 only wanted to see."
He stood there smiling, as if he had
rather enjoyed himself.
''Pick up your boots" he said, land
put them on"
On entering the window I had my
| boots hanging round my neck by the
laces; they had fallen off when he first
knocked me over. While I was putting
| them on he turned back his cuffs and
| washed his hands at the sink. When he
had finished he pointed to the sink.
There you are he said. You can
| repair damages"
was bleedig from my nose, and from
| cut lip, but the cold water soon
| stopped that. When had finished he
asked me if was all right.
| pretty well,'' I said. "Tm bit
shal1y on the !egs-that's all. You
| gave me good doing"
''Take the candle, then, and go in front
| of me into the study. I expect you
know the way" Of course did. Show
me the outside of any house, and the
| inside is no puzzle to me.
l.
and the small Jenny, and followed me
into the study. He lit the lamp, gave me
| the knife back again, and locked the
revolver and the Jenny away in Il
| drawer.
'.And now" he said, won't you sit
DOWN." He spoke to me as if L We're a
| lady visitor. / sat down, and he, tal<ip 2
| a chair opposite me, began to fill little
old clay pipe.
81 really can't make this out" he said
| you're so small and clumsy. You've
got a nasty temper, but you're not very
| plucky. What on earth made you think
of trying to be a burglar?"
II don't know" I said. ''But there's
one thing I'd like to ask you, and no dis
respect. What made you think of being
a parson-a man of your build and
strength, and so handy with your fists =.
l L
| better"
| He didn't seem to take that as cheek
at all. For moment he didn't answer
and sat sucking his little clay. Then he
sighed and said: II have sometimes
thought so myself. But it is quite GER
tain that you might have done better
How did you come to this?"
'I had no bringing up, and read
penny trashy novels"
He tapped his foot impatiently on tbs
carpet. "Well, vell-go on"
"Then I was led away by bad com
panions and took to drink and gam
bling, and not knowing what it was to
have a mothers tender
He got up and interrupted me. ''Nov
drop all that he said. Il want facts
tell me the story of your life. How dii
you come to this?''
Partly from admiring the man, anG
partly from whin, did not tell him tbs
story, and told him the plain truth too
It was pretty strong, but left nothing
out, and he never stopped me. When
/ had finished he thanked me.
''Then," he said, coming of decen
: people, and with fair education and
good chance in life, you none the les
have been from your earliest boyhooi
: just about as bad as you are now-bat
| all through always bad
THAT is about the mark" I answered
| Then thought to myself that it would
: be one of two things either he would
. take me out and hand me over to the pc
lice, or else he would ask me to join hin
} in prayer. 1 expected the latter. HI
: did neither. He walked up and dow
the room, with his hands behind him
t saying to himself: "And preach ser
mons-sermons-s Suddenl,
: he smiled again in that queer way o
: his. you've kept me up very Late h
said, land in consequence I've becom
r uncommonly hungry. What do yol
! say? viii you come and help me to ge
us some supper? Very well, then, com
! quickly: I don't want to wake the res
L of the house"
r So 1 went with him into the kitchel
I and carried things from there into tn
L study. He laid the table-clean, whit
cloth, silver forks and everything of tn
! best. There was cold game pie, a rip
t Stilton, and bottle of burgundy.
4 never had a better supper in my life n
1 passed me everything wanted and file
my glass. For the life of me 1 couldn'
help grinning.
"Now them he said, whats amusin
g you?"
u 4 was only thinking, that's all. ]
seems queer way for person like yo
to treat a chap like me. 1 came here I
g crack this crib, you fairly get me, an
l, no word about the police-never
e word. First you give me thrashin
t and then you give me supper"