Hutchinson gazette., 1900-04-12

women were visible, In sprlngtime I
mudh0le, In summer dust heap, IL
winter frozen horror--this was thl
town OF POssum Walk.
John and his Uncle went over II
the blacksmith shop, "Wes" dug dowI
IN an old chest and unearthed II paiI
Of thiCk-set shears. These he sharp
sned up and then he took look Al
iJohn's shock Of hair. Then h'
reached out and cut swath right
of the back of Johns head in an aim
less sort of way, at the same tim'
remarkihg TO tho now interested
SrJwdi "Yes, siri IL stands TO rea
son, You take any settlement an(
she's got TO have time 10 grow"
Then he made reverse clip n
Johns crHnium md fetched away an
other goh Of hp,r
"lhpre's norlndn" he continued
"didnt 't tnke zen yours for her tC
pull 0ui or he dough of gruss ant
blue olpy2 DO you want to git youi
hair cut young rrllcr2 Then set there
md suNcr ~" spilled your toplno
n,rcn'iy this IL my blnchemithin' day
Norr uncle ortcr hc ashamed al him
SELF hrpg'r' Won IN Friday, Well
~ glt you shed n some or IL, reclt
on, on yoro own mother %on'tltnow
yc when git through with ye,
might telSe hot horseshoe mt
sw'ugc IL on II you'd rather he
went on. "A dog could bite IL OF
HmoOihnr'p | cnn cut II to-day. Ny
hand trrmhlcs like mlrn Of 90
The crowd OF country loungcrl
were enjoying the blacksmith bar
bcr's running comments hugely, They
looked on John Ns n peculiarly Nppro
pirate prey for "Wes," The boy got
mad. "You might lenve my left eai
" you don't want IL for a keepsake,
he said to "Wes' as the barber
swung his huge scissors mcnOcngly
"0h, younl like the hair cut when
git through said "Wes' encourag,
ingly. "lr | get away from you and
Possum Walk alive I'm satisfied re-
piled the boy, "Git the right shears
'Wes," cried one of the loungers
slapping the blacksmith on the back;
you kOin't skeer this here boy" The
blacksmith went to the chest again
and brought out Of IL long coml
and u puir OF small, shining shears
lie put towel around the boys neck
and began 10 work with care and
precision. John felt the touch of q
practiced hand, the dcitness OF the
man who knows his business. The
long and tangled brown curis fel
AWAY on all sides and the blacksmith
stepped back and surveyed his work
from time to time with II rcriticnl eye
The crowd maintained respectful
silence. "Wes" wns on his mcttle and
he worked with unusual care. There
was no glass, and yet John could fee
by the comb and the shears that Il
good job was being done,
When at last the finishing touches
had been taken Il ush was produced
from the chest and with water and
careful manipulation Johns hair wa,
reduced TO smoothness. A glass was
brought, and very good one, 70 the
boys surprise, and he looked in IL Ia
find that hair cut as good MS he had
ever been given was the result, Ills
respect, tinged with gratitude, to
"Wes," rose to par, He made the
honorable amend. 81 never got q
better hair cut in my life, II ms good,
he said to the siX-foot, 2OO-pound
pride of Possum Walk. "That's the
talk" said "Wes," IAN only 10 cents
at that" "I won't pay cent less
than quarter" said John. "Well,
two bits, then, young feller, II you in.
sist; a city price for n country hair
cut" John fshed out quarter
from his pocket and paid "Wes' and
then the blacksmith carefully laid
away the implements of one Of his
trades.