Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-11-27
TODD'S RETURN.

from his county who had been be-
guiled by the song of that siren in
California, and he had abandoned
everything, including wife and five
children, and had dared to go where
fortune called him.
Little Jim, who couldn't remember
his father at all, grew to the age of
eight, profoundly sure that the great
day would dawn. One time he played
''eat dinner with Deacon Pitchers
son and was told that he must ask
blessing.
Il don't know what to say" de-
INJURED little Jim.
''Why, just pray for what you want
the hardest" said the deacon's son
And little jim. folding his hands and
bending his towhead over the acorns
that served for cups and saucers, sim
ply said:
20 Lord. please send pap home
from Californy."
And then they went on with their
Barmecide dinner.
Saturday night the store at Green
Oaks held the customary crowd of
rural philosophers. There was no
yiIlage-only the store and black
smith shop. Many of the members of
that circle must have walked two
miles. But they always gathered in
shortly after the early October night
fall. And they sat around there tell
ing stories that were as old as the Zig
gag fences, but clothed with an artis-
tic telling which made them perenni-
I
had d key OF very hard cider in the
sized at tile rear, and the philosophers
drIited cut there one at Il time and
helped themselves, coming IN more
versatile ;Is-raconteurs or more ;;ppre-
ciate as auditors, till 8 o'clock.
Just at bhat hour wien iiiSsell, past
ali possibility OF more selling, had I'M
geao from. proprietor TO associate and
found i comfortable chair in tile
crowded coftcf, the heavy foot OF "a
man beat on tie wooden porch ana
stranger entered. lie gave them ::
greeting, ANA in Tie silence which tel
on Uue story telling announced LiIat
the evening was chilly. in the dress
ana appearance OF a farmer, i.e WAS
| pheasant spoken enough To win some
welcome, aud Charley Pelton moved
along on the empty shoe box and Of
fered INN Il seat. Peter Grune COM
p.eUed hIS story, and it reminded tie
stranger OF one, winch was essentially
new. They laughed generously, and
0aUe turner invited him into the
back room Tor ii cup OF hard cider. and
wnen lie came out he told another
: hi
Darrell AND scooped up a scale scoop
OF crackers, wnicn he passed around
with novel hospitality.
''Let's have some cove oysters with
these. said The stranger. and he toss
ed ii silver dollar ON the counter with
out rising from his place on the shoe
| uoX.
+ Such prodigal expenditure OF money,
such an unusual coin. such acquaint-
ance with rare delicacies OF food.
could argue nothing less than opu-
Hence. Each man opened his small
/ tin can with ready jack-knife and
seasoned the feast with Il pinch OF
salt, which BiSseil produced on IA
sheet of brown wrapping paper The
/ last cracker was issued with prodi-
gal hand, for the storekecper had
grown generous under the Inspiring
example OF the generous stranger, and
he gave the highest possible express
sion OF his surrender when. tie crack
ers being consumed be4ore the cove
oysters had vanished, ne opened box
of ginger snaps and set iu on the floor
in the very center OF the circle
The stranger had not as vet told
who he was, whence he had come. nor
whittier he WAS going-and his recep-
ton in spite OF that was additional
tribute to his tact when Gabe Tur-
ner mentioned California and the re-
gions representative in that far land
What do you hear from him?''
asked the stranger
! Rolling in wealth. said Gahe.
! s'Thar was a man went out there
from my neipbbOrllOO6 - remark ed