Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-09-11
The Truth at hone Star.
BY PAUL SHOUP

W. ua Mne Fa 5erry, w Eseh If = uG
named has never wasted time telling
the news, settled himself on his pine
needle couch, tipped his hat little fur
Their forward so that the sun but gilded
the tip of his nose, and delivered his in
trcductory remarks. When the light
had filtered its way into the under
standing, we knew that he was of more
than ordinary Importance and his
roughing it but the result of whim:
still, nothing but his truthful counte
nance kept US from sailing the tale
about the authorities tying down the
Atlantic coast to keep it from tipping
up when he came west of the Rockies.
Billy Edgerton yawned slightly and
Dire up his knees. He said he believed
1t was in poor taste to use titles either
before after a name, even if you did
have right to lean em up against both
ends, and that was why he was known
simply as Billy Edgerton. Incidental
Iy, he informed US that hundred thou
sand rubles wasn't such very large re-
ward for the Russian government to
offer for a political offender; but he
preferred to take no chances, and there
fore came up to Lone Star after he had
met and circumvented in San Francisco
the fourth detective of the imperial
bureau.
Then johnson, of Colusa, straight
ened himself up, as if he had just awak-
ened from sweet dream of peace. I've
an uncIe,' said he, who is worth $780,,
600, and I'm his only heir I'd think
great deal more of him, though, if it
wasn't for my aunt, who don't like
dim." Here he paused and blew few
rings from his old cob pipe, but the
6rf+ he
added. my aunt is worth 81 900, 900, ami
I'm her only heir also"
After that there was more silence, and
albeit we sprawled lazily in front OF the
cool1house. L felt that my autobiog-
raphy was becoming overdue. AS my
worldly effects would scarcely COM
fortably clothe n scarecrow, and moth
ing short of morocco binding would
make my personal history attractive, L
looked up at the stranger who through
it all had sat quietly on his detected
mule, hoping for a diversion.
"Howdy, gentlemen" he said, turn
ing large and solemn eyes upon us and
disclosing countenance of philosoph-
ical graviey. Each of acknowl-
edged the salutation by slightly shift
ing his position, and Jerry, whose
tongue is that of multitude. answered
~Howdy."
The newcomer removed his sombrero,
and his hair fell about his head like n
shock Of ove-ripe wheat. Then he gen
tly laid his fiddle case across the POM
mel of his saddle and asked: rs this
a purity good place to stop?"
1--WE stop here?" answered Jerry.
laconically.
Live tol-bly high?''
tsSiN thousand feet"
The late addition Strengthened up.
shook his threadbare coat and lifted
one cowhide boot, dust-whitened in the
crinkles, from the stirrup, and reaching
down. softly tapped the earth with it
to make sure he was on solid ground.
Then he cautiously dismounted.
Jerry, who is inclined to be critical.
regarded the mule with disfavor. His
owner. noting the glance, remarked:
Jeremiah amt the finest-lool>in' mule
in the world, but couldn't steal bet
ter 1 had a sight finer one in Tunis.
he added, deprecatingly-
I'm Tunisi" echoed johnson. where
have you been?"
'In Nashuay, n Tunis, n Cape Cod
n Lisbon some time back. That was