The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-04-20
THE YELLOW FLAG.


AL otAot WuOoo udUltS dT6 CON
vivial, but who is willing to work if
no one calls on him, removed to a
suburban town last summer so that
he might finish lot of illustrators
which he had promised.
New York is all right" he said
to his friends, but | know TOO
many people here, and my friends
keep calling on me in my studio,
and this sadly interferes with MY
work. have selected Lonelyville
because my wife likes it and know
absolutely, mo one in the place.
have orders for years work, and
Isimply must do it on time. You
fellows may come out to see me on
Sundays, but not on weekdays"
Several weeks later some of lis
friends from New York went ont to
see the artist on Sunday and they
found him enthusiastic about the
place.
There is fine lot of fellows
here" he said, "and l have enjoyed
the town immensely. have joined
a yacht club, bowling club, whist
club and Saturday night smoker
club. Found several old friends out
here also"
but I thought that you came
here SO that you might do your
work without interruption" said
one Of his callers.
Well, yes, that was my reason,
and as soon as / have met all the
boys and each of them has made his
call on me / can settle down and
make up for lost time.
A month later the publishers for
whom this artist worked began to
complain that they had received no
illustrations from him. The artist
made promises and broke them.
Finally one of the publishers went
out to Lonelyville to investigate.
He found that the artist was out
yachting. He waited for him. and
then laid down the law to MIN.
This book must come out on
time, said the publisher, "and /
will give you just one month more
on which to finish your illustrations.
IL they are not done then, we will
get another man and never give you
any more work"
When the publisher went, the art
ist said to his wife: Now what am
going to do about thisl | can't pos
sibly tell my friends to stay away
for month. They wouldn't under
stand my purpose. The committee
from the yacht club is coming here
tomorrow afternoon, and on the fol
lowing day expect some of the
whist club men, and SO it goes. What
am to dof'
The artists wife was ingenious,
and she explained a little scheme of |
her own to her husband. When the |
committee from the yacht club call
ed the following day, they saw a big, |
yellow flag tying over the door. i
Underneath it was big placard on
which was printed: Keep off. Con-
tagious disease here" They did
Keep off, and soon all Lcnelyville
knew about it. The local health off,
,er went around to investigate, and
after short conversation with the
artists wife he went away with
broad smile on his face. When the
,ther inhabitants of Lonelyville
Questioned him about the case, he
ooked serious and said that he was
lot at liberty TO say what the dis
Ease was. but that no one was likely
o catch it unless he went into the
louse. During the next month that
lag waved and no one saw the art
st. The publisher got his illustra- !,
ions, and then the flag was hauled
lown, and the health officer an
lounced that it would be safe to call
N the artist. His friends in the town
anne around to see him and con-
'ratulate him on his recovery. He
idn't look like a man who had been
trough serious illnesa
What was the diseasein they ask
d.
"Loafng, " said the artist serious
:. He then explained that he had
the house not AGAINST