The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-04
Stories of an Inland State.

OtOIloS OF an lnidn0 SldIe.
Az he sIIulked alonx there "a tia Aarhness
how keeniy old John Wright felt the foll.
Of his life. What a fool he had been, b
| said to himself.
| While his eyes were mechanically p;ercin;
the darkness to keep the thief IN the roa,
before him in sight his mind was travelin.
back to his boy-hood. He remembered hi
kind mother. who innocent OF the conn.vsnl
forces Of the world had taught him the sim
pie naxims Of her heart-that honesty wa.
| the best policy. Little she knew as sh,
| taught his lisping lips that. that she wa
stacking him for lie. branding mis- mins
| With the mark of social ownership. dwarf
| ing MS capabilities of meeting and over
coming the controlling factors OF society.
And as the maxims he had learned In H.
| boyhood came foclzing to him. how he dit
Fate them. And they all spoke of on,
tning-honor and honesty. And believing
them he had followed the precept Blu
in his age. and with no increment from
| honest practices he had doubted
He had hoped for society. In some nomen
OF strange forgetfuliness to confess-to con
fess that honesty was bauble. a toy ts
besuile fools while the wise men robbed
but society knowing its lie had gone or
living it, fearful to speak the truth, fearsu
10 avow that honesty was a decoy to mis-
lead added geese.
There were precepts for prosperity. Ont
man said economy-and stole. Anofhe,
man said indust-y-and stole: smother mar
said auckland stole. And all said honesty
and etole
The current literature, which came TO him
in political pamphlets and his weekly pare,
rang with charges o. grasping monopoly
OF oficial corruption: of cut-th-oat loan:
fastened 70 crying necessity like leeches
all backed by The law the law that had a
technicalify for every offender rich enough
technicaIity for every man who, once in
court. proving his dishonesty anew, oscar ped
Its penalty for dishonesty by being fur;he-
dishonest
Was he wrong? He could say so and be
fool. The thieves had talked too much
Tor him to doubt it. About the name q
every successful man he knew, IN that
little life Of his. there hung . damning ru-
mora runor that ne had often seen ver1-
ned. The doctor did not live who would
tell an imaginative woman who believed
she was sick. that she was not. The law.
yer never lived who would tell q man
"i-O hSA hO CASS ludI u0 COulQ not win.
The merchant who gave short weight, or
hawked poor quality Of goods, he had
met on every hand. The whole world was
stealing. and he. poor man. with frensied
superstitiouS fear, still chung feebly to the
lie that honesty was the best policy.
the thief had confessed-confessed with lam
and fnrco he ;nl
man, young man, who tired of adding
lying to dishonesty, had averred that the
worlds game was dishonesty and that he
would have 1t out with her on that score.
This man wss a hero
He crept softly up to the figrre before
him and grasped It roughly
There was a little cry of surprise from
the thief and struggle to use his arm, but
the old farmer bound him tightly.
I am a friend" said John Wright ner-
vously. "A farmer in this neigbborhood
/ heard you and Wattles-everything I
too am tired of playing an honest game
with dishonest world. Do you believe
me? Say so and will release you"
Yes" cried the thief in tone of aston
ishment.
He turned and tried to discern the fea-
lures of his new friend.
Il will take your diamonds" said John
Wright And give you the checks. I
am shrewder than Peter Wattles. if I do
say IL myself. / am less liable to be sus-
pected for I have always been an honest
man."
He emphasized the word with sheer.
You followed me therer' asked Dick
Thomas, the thief.
YES"
Il thought So"
II expect to become your partner
so I see This is decidedly novel. Let
me study a bit I am not clear at all.
You see / never met you before, my dear
SIR
you doubt my honestly"
II most certainly do"
Old John Wr.eht's head dropped. Had
he not himself just confessed he was hence
forth dishonest"
II am honesty" John Wright said dog.
gedly. But i am tired Of being So"
THAT is what 1 fear"
The old farmers head was ringing in con.
fusion. Having surrendered his claim to
honesty he did not know how TO ask con-
fidence.
'You Will agree" Wright asked anxious
ly. concealing his embarrassment
Wait said Dick Thomas. Not 50
rapid. You may be an emissary OF the
police
Even the darkness could not shut out the
keenness with which the thief studied his
new acquaintance.
Think minute said John Wright ar
You are closely pressed
so closely pressed that you are willing to
half your booty to get rid of all
of n temporarily lest you lose all forever.
There is certainly some risk to be taken
BY me-a great deal-if I am to dispose Of
t. You are afraid now that will sell the
Jewels and not deposit the money"
To be frank, that is my precise fear,
ny dear sir. You have confessed yourself
hat your intentions from tfxs hour are dis
lonest''
Young man." said John Wright, you
Are too smart for me-"
II beg your pardon. II Is my fear you
VAL be too smart for me-"
Try me-
"Deuceily novel" unused Dick Thomas.
This is certainly a physiological taugle
You assure me OF, your dishonest motives
ma ask ne to trus; you Is dishonesty here
. wait:ng-maid TO csndore Or what? III
'~n you've got me. II q man Is frankly
dishonest is be honest?''
81 can offer no arguments"
And can find none. It's risk
And risk II your religion
You listened closely. Your name7'
John Wright
You live near here?' !
a haif-n;ie away"
Long