Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-05-31

HIS Was Polite to q. +. Huntington
Who Remembered Him In las
VIII.


Mt Sterlins. eitaated in the beautiful
blue grass res)sn of Kentucky, tina. cid
Pete Bradshaw lived. Pete is a char
acter; a Rip Van Wrinkle, sans the
sleeping poclivities of Washington
Irving's hero. The small boys of the
town love him; the men never pass him
without a CHEEKY greeting, and all the
pretty girls of the town give "Old Pe.e'
a nod and a smile as he awkward y
raises his hat and goes ganglng by,
saying: "How air y, Miss Besse?' or
Good mawnn', Miss Sue; hope | see y
we'll"
The N. N. G NJ. V. Railroad, OF
which the late Coils p. Huntington waa
president. nlkes quite an important
stop at NJ. : arling. In fact, for sew
eral years the resident spent much OF
his time there; for 1t seemed to be the
best point on the western end of the
road from which to control its mana ge-
ment and watch the service 1t was CIV
ing to shippers and passengers. 1t was
during one OF these visits that Pete
managed to insinuate himself into the
good graces of the great railroader. II
happened in this way: One November
morning, about fifteen years ago, Pete
was sitting in Lacy's saloon, watching
the door thirstily and hoping for the
appearance of some "angel" who would
Invite him to the bar. Pete had, as he
expressed it, "a muff in his mouth,
and had vainly tried to interest Lacy In
his hard luck story. Pete sat down by
the stove and gazed alternately out OF
the window at the pattering rain and
thence to the door, WHICH he regarded
with longing eyes. 1t opened at last
and Mr.. Bradshaw's son James. husky
young fellow of "a. came stalking
through. Old Pete's lips grew moist
with expectation.
"Mawnln', Jeems," he said, and there
was q doubtful quaver in his husky
voice. Hope l see y WE'LL"
James gazed at the forlorn figure
bumped over the stove, and answered
that he was all right. then turned to
Lacy and ordered drink of whisky
for which he paid with So bill.
Jimmy" said the old man, I'm a.
feelin' powerful bad this mawnin.
Couldn't y spare me bout fifty cents
fur day r two?'
mo, pap, | can't do it," was the re.
ply. 81 amt got but $4.95, and l go'
to pay that out jist as quick as git tc
John Henry~Long's.
But, though his son would not helT
him, Buck Sanders, who applied later
was a true friend, and drinks were pur'
chased-by Buck.
Fifteen minutes later the two men
separated. Pete, keyed up to the notch
Of 120 per cent, walked down to the
'otel, where he found everything in ar
uproar. Porter, bellboys, chamber
maids and other employees of the place
were running hither and thither, NOV
ing trunks, gathering clean linen
transporting quilts from one room tt
another and making as much noise .ant
confusion as it was possible to make
with the implements at hand. Pett
watched the preparations in silence fol
a while, and then, turning to the clerk
said, in loud voice:
well, by granny, Pillsbury, you fel.
lows seem to be mighty busy 'rount
heah this mawnin'. What's the mat
ter?"
"Sh'h'h!" said the clerk, laying hi
forefnger across his lips and frownins
at Pete till the wrinkles closed his rlgh'
eve. Don't tai kso loud. Mr.. Hunt
ington's here"
Pete received this news with all the
gravity of the occasion.
"Whur's e at?" he asked, in the
same soft whisper that Pillsbury ha6
used in vouchsafing the information.
'In Number Ten," came the reply;
"you orter see it, too; it's all fixed III
finer'n the bridal chamber" With these
words the clerk again bent to his work
leaving Mr.. Bradshaw to his owl
devices.
Meanwhile the great railroad magnatt
and financier had drawn table before
the window, in Room Number Ten, ant
his pen was flying over tablet OF
PAPER as fast as busy man can make
il go. A knock came upon his door
Mr.. Huntington, without lifting his pen
invited the knocker to enter, and, II
obedience to the summons, old Pete
stepped into the room.
''Mr. Hunten' on" he said, ignoring
the fact that the great magnate had no
so much as raised his eyes, 81 am heat
to bid we welkum t. ouah beautiful
city,"
Here he paused for an answer, bu
Mr.. Huntington made no reply. Pete
was not abashed; he had come for
purpose, and one rebuff was not going
to stop him.
well by granny" he said, after a
pause. and his voice expressed such in.
dignation that the great financier lifted
his eyes to see what was the matter;
"ef them fool porters amt left y head
without a fab, an it a-ralnin outside
like forty, too; nevah did see Sch
keerlessness; it's anuff to give y tn
newmony!"
With that he set to work and soon
had a cheerful fire blazing in the old
CRATE. Though the day was not cold
The cheSful crackle pleased Mr.. Hunt
ington. and he gave Pete a nod and a
smile of thanks. Embroidered at this
the old man began to set things tc
rights in the room. talking to himself in
his own fashion as he placed each ar
ticle in its proper place.
Its a-rainin' outside an it's more'n
likely he'll need this yere gum coat, ;"
he mumbled as he took Mr.. Hunting
toms macintosh and hung 1t carefully
upon a peg. "That thar valise," he
continued, "mought be put in the closet
an TIL trunk could be set whur 1t is
now and he suited the action to the
word. Mr.. Hunting had ceased writing