Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-05-30

and had vainly tried to interest Lacy II
his hard luck story. Pete sat down b!
the stove and gazed alternately out o.
the window at the pattering rain ant
thence to the door, which he regarded
with longing eyes. 1t opened at last
and Mr.. Bradshaws son James, husky
young fellow Of "a, came stalking
through. Old Pete's lips grew mols
with expectation.
"Mawnin', Jeems," he said, and thers
was doubtful quaver in his husky
voice. Hope I see y WE'LL"
James gazed at the forlorn figure
bumped over the stove, and answered
that he was all right, then turned Ia
Lacy and ordered drink Of whisky
for which he paid with IS BILL
Jimmy" said the old man, I'm a.
feelin powerful bad this mawnin'.
Couldn't y spare me bout fifty cent?
fur q day r two?"
mo, pap, cant do it." was the re,
ply. II amt got but $4.S5, and gol
to pay that out jst as quick as git u
John Henry Longs"
But, though his son would not hell
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 12O per cent, walked down to thu
hotel, where he found everything IN ar
uproar. Porter, bellboys, chamber
maids and other employees Of the plact
were running hither and thither, NOV
ing trunks, gathering clean linen
transporting quilts from one room tt
mother and making as much noise ant
confusion as it was possible to make
with the implements at hand. PETE
watched the preparations in silence fol
while, and then, turning to the clerk
said, In a loud voice:
well, by granny, Pillsbury, you Eel.
| 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 frowninl
at Pete till the wrinkles closed his rlghl
eye Don't tai kso loud Mr.. Hunt
ingtons here"
Pete received this news with all TIT
gravity Of the occasion.
"Whur's e at?" he asked In thu
same soft whisper that Pillsbury hat
used in vouchsaflng the information.
"In Number Ten," came the reply
you orter see 1t, too; it's all fxed W
finern the bridal chamber" With thest
words the clerk again bent to his work
leaving Mr.. Bradshaw to his owl
devices.
Meanwhile the great railroad magnatt
and fnancier had drawn table before
the window, in Room Number Ten, ant
his pen was flying over a tablet o
paper as fast as a busy man can MAXI
1t 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 Pet'
stepped into the room.
"Mr. Hunten'on," he said, lgnorini
the fact that the great magnate had no
so much as raised his eyes, 81 am heal
to bid We welkum t ouah beautiful
city,"
Here he paused for an answer, bu
Mr.. Huntington made no reply. Pet
was not abashed; he had come for q
purpose, and one rebuff was not goini
to stop him.
"Well, by granny" he said, after 1
pause, and his voice expressed such In
dignation that the great fnancler llftet
his eyes to see what was the matter
"ef them fool porters amt left y heat
without fab, an 1t a-rainln outside
like forty, too; ! nevah did see slcf
keerlessness; it's anuff to give y tn
newmony!"
With that he set to work and soor
had a cheerful fire blazing in the oil
CRATE. Though the day was not cold
the cheerful crackle pleased Mr. Hunt
ington, and he gave Pete a nod and {
smile OF thanks. Emboldened at this
the old man began to set things I'll
rights in the room, talking to himself II
his own fashion as he placed each ar.
tlcle In its proper place.
"It's a-rainin' outside an it's morel
likely he'll need this we're gum coat
he mumbled as he took Mr.. Hunting
toms macintosh and hung 1t CAREFUL!
upon a peg. THAT thar valise," hi
continued, "mought be put in the close
an tn trunk could be set whur 1t Il
now" and he suited the action to tn,
word. Mr.. Hunting had ceased writlnI
and was watching Pete with an amused
smile. The willy old fellow knew tina
he was pleasing his patron, and whel
he at last ceased his work the room
looked a hundred per cent better.
"An' now, Mr.. Hunten'on,' said thu
old man when he had finished, the. |
amt nobody in this yere town a
knows how to treat a'man O. yo' quail
tiles but me- My names Bradshaw
Pete Bradshaw, an whenever y want
me, III sholy be on hand"
You are very kind, Mr.-ah-Mr."-
Bradshaw" repeated the old man
Bradshaw, commonly called Pete By
them at likes me-"
VERY we'll, Pete. come here tomor.
row morning at 8 o'clock, and you may
be able to be Of service to me-" The1
Mr.. Huntington said Good morning.