The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-03
HE WAS GLAD TO SEE HIM.
Abe Crofoot is Delighted to Meet Col.
Dawson.
BUT HIS ENTHUSIAST HEETS WITH

a Checkk Wnen the Colonel REFUSES ~
DO the Right Thing.
Colonel Dawson had been down to tn.
railroad depot to see about shipping
some mules to St. Louis and was on his
way back to the postofice when ABB
Crofoot suddenly appeared before him
and saluted:
upon my word, Kurne1 Dawson, but
I'm glad to see yo' this mawnin-pow-
erful glad Jess thinkin bout yo' not
two minits ago -
'Howdy, Abe?" replied the colonel
as he extended his hand
'I'm still alive, thank yo'. How's
nevis, kurnel?"
''Jess so SO, Abe. No great hutter in
the market. -
''And con, kurnel?''
"Co'n's a leetle sitter, jess leetle. -
81 reckoned nevis and con was all
right, but Didn't exactly know. Kur-
mel, I've knowed yo' a good many
vars.
eyes, Abe -
"And in all those Vars hev never
asked yo' to loan me any money"
ono"
eff had, yo'd hev accommodated
me, KNOWN that I'd hev kept my word.
Now, then, kurnel'-
''Scuse me, Abe interrupted the
colonel, ''but I'm powerful short this
mawnin-powerfu short. Reckon I
won't hev cent to carry home with
me-
"But yo'-yo' -
Couldn't do it, Abe; couldn't posi-
bly, do it,
"KurneI Dawson, - resumed Abe as he
drew himself up with great dignity,
''yo' would take my word as gentle
man, reckon?"
Eyes, reckon would
''Then that's all right. That was
what I was gittin at. If I wanted to
borrow any money of yo', which don't,
yo'd take my word, wouldn't yo'?''
''Oh, fur shore; fur shore, - replied
the colonel, evidently much relieved in
mind. Eyes, if yo' wanted to borrow
any money and I had any to lend, I
should hev confidence in yo'. Yo' hain't
lookin any too peart this mawnin, Abe.
Pike county hain't bin THROWN yo'
down agin, hope?"
Didn't 20 h ar what happened last
Tuesday night, kurnel?"
''No. not word. Was it mo- scan
dalizin?''
''Wuss's that, Kurnel Dawson. Pike
county rose agin me en- masse and tried
assassination. -
"ShooI Shoot Did ever Somebody
shot at yo', eh?'
"They attempted to assassinate my
reputashun, sah which was wuss than
shootin at my body from behind stone
wall. Yes, sab, tried to do me up fur
good and all, and they can't possibly see
how staid on top the ground. Yo'
know bout the Pike County Literary
club of co'se?''
eyes, reckon I've heard Of it,
81 sent my name in to be balloted on
fur membership, and they throwed me
down-throwed me with a crash. Out
of 40 members present SO blackballed
me-
''Shool I do declar' 20
tThat was spite work and jealousy,
Kurnel Dawson-jess spite work and
jealousy. But right on top O. that Majar
Rogers read a paper TO the meetin-a
paper which he reckoned would bury my
dead body ten feet below below the sile.
wasn't thar, of course, but heard tell
all about it. -
''Pitched right into yo', did he?' ask
ed the colonel
Couldn't be wuss. Kurne1 Dawson,
yo' run to con and nevis and hev a
box at the postoffice, but yo' hev heard
of Plotinus, reckon?'
''Seems like had. Reckon 1 heard Of
him in Arkansas. Used to raise power
of hawgs, didn't he?''
''Skassly, kurnel skassly. Plotinus
was bon in Egypt in the y ar 2O5 and
died in the var 27O. That was about
1000 vars befo' Columbus diskivered
America. He didn't run to hawgs, but
to philosophy, and was mighty smart
| chap. Kurnel Dawson, was bon in
the var 2o5?"
Reckon not, Abe. -
''Was BON in Egypt?" s2-'
Couldn't be-
did 1 hev any show agin man who
was bon over l, 600 'ars befo' vast"
''Not much, Abe"
''But yo' fol1er me, Kurne1 Dawson
20 foller me?' continued Abe as he
waved his arm in the air. "Majar Rog-
ers wouldn't allow these things, but
went on to say that sartin young man
in this town, meaning me, could hev
bin a second Plotinus if he'd had energy
and ambishun and applicashun. He
went further, kurnel, heap further.
He wanted to know why I didn't take
off my coat and go to work, why I
didn't pay back borrowed money, why
I didn't seek to climb up instead of
| hangin about saloons to git free drinks.
He jess raked me from top to bottom
and from right to left in way yo' new
i er did see, and the crowd applauded
! him and looked to see me drop dead or
skip the town. What dye think O. that,
| Iz17rl1e19s,