The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-06-03
ooh, you own a place there, then?"

mine. It descended to me from my
grandfather, Abram Nelson. He has
been dead 10 years. I have not seen the
place since. 1 was quite small boy
then. And now, as 1 have plenty of
leisure, the desire is natural to revisit
the scenes of boyhood days."
The agent listened to my words, and
was considerably amused to note the
interest they inspired-an interest, I
thought then, due wholly to country
fellows curiosity.
eff L have told you all you wish to
know about myself went on, will
you kindly tell me, as return favor,
where team can be procured to cart
me and my belongings over to my
place?'
The fellow grinned at me, as though
there had been something in my words
of an amusing nature; but finally he did
give me the desired information:
"Why, I guess maybe Jake Hunsicker
kin take you over. He's just gettin' in
the oats, but if you pay him, p'raps he'll
leave the oats be long enough to drive
to Nelsonville and back. Anyway, he
kin take you after supper, if you wanter
wait till then"
"And where does Mr.. Hunsicker live?"
asked.
The agent pointed to a clump of trees
on the summit of hill about a quarter
of a mile distant. "You kin see just
part of the roof through the trees. The
road runs uphill right past the house"
"How about these things while am
gone? Will they be safe? % I inquired.
'Oh, yes; no one'll take 'em. It'll be
all right he replied, indifferently, as
though he did not care whether my lug
gage would be secure or not. Then he
gave one more glance at me, grinned in
his dull way, sprang from the platform,
and went off down the road.
All the country for miles about Nell
sonville had been familiar to my boy
hood. But now, after an absence of IS
years, 1 could hardly recognize this part
of it.
The railroad had been built some five
years before, and that made, in itself,
a great change. The station was in a
green forests On the bounding hills were
all very beautiful.
But, as there were few houses, and
those in the distance, there was a
loneliness about the place which seemed
to find a counterpart in my life. For
1 was social Ishmael, an outcast, bur
dened with the suspicion of a crime of
which 1 was innocent. The fact that
nothing could be proved against me, in
the minds of most people, only indi-
Gated that I was such an adept in
roguery as to be able to cover up all
proof of my guilt.
1t was now a year that the cloud had
rested over my good name. The first
six months of this time had vainly at
tempted to live down the general sus-
picion. But found the houses of even
those 1 had considered true friends
closed against me, and so, heart-sore
and almost despairing, fed to Europe,
hoping to find partial forgetfulness, or
at least rest from cruel tongues. I'm
fortunately for my peace, Americans
read the newspapers, and had only to
mention my name to my countrymen
whom met during my trip abroad to
be asked if was the one whose name
was mentioned in connection with the
great bank robbery in Philadelphia.
soon tired of this and of being compelled
| to tell over and over again the circum-
stances of that affair, so resolved to go
back to my native land, avoid the city
where was so well and so unfavorably
known, and seek rest and peace amid
the scenes of my childhood. also de-
termined, after my arrival, to begin a
thorough investigation of the robbery
on my own hook. The reason 1 had
not done this before will be stated later
The solitude of Sidington, the lack
of a welcoming hand, the knowledge
that had outgrown all boyish esti-
mates and would therefore find the OLD
homestead no longer encompassed
about by the romantic interest which
a youngsters mind was able to conjure
up-all this did not tend to raise my de-
pressed spirits, and my heart was heavy
within me as I plodded up the long
dusty hill toward the home of Mr.. Hun
sicker.
i A delicious breeze was blowing at thu
| top of the hill. and paused momen
under the shade of the naples, to bar,
my perspiring brow to the cool in
fuence.
Then I slowly walked up the shad,
! path leading to the porch. keeping m,
hat in my hand. Ihoped Mr.. Hunsicke