Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-07-26
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! A Matter Of Signs
Observation-Disclosures

banging door drowned her mothers
remonstrance. "Cau her back. Ma
tilda. We can't tell what she may do,
and it is unwise to offend Taylor un-
necessarily
Matilda looked lazily out Of the win
dow.
'It is too late, mother. She is half
way across the cornfield now. Good
gracious! she is climbing the fence.
and there is the gate not ten yards
away"
But ten yards was a long distance
when 10 was in a hurry. Over she went,
and on breathless, across another field
which ran parallel with the railroad
track. At its edge, in full view of pass
ing trains, was a large barn, its sway
back roof rather the worse for lack of
shingles, and on one side an enormous
red sheet Of canvas, with staring white
letters which announced: Grand bar
besue at Scruggs' Station" and con-
cluded with the democratic invitation:
''Come One, Come ALL"
A man was putting the last tack into
the canvas when the girl accosted him:
s.Hello, what are you doing?"
The reply came from the top Of the
ladder: 'Nothin', I'm DONE" And he
began to descend. ''But must insist
upon your taking it down"
''What's the matter with it?" His in
solent manner crimsoned her cheeks
to the color Of the sign she surveyed
scornfully.
ga great deal; chief of all is the i'm
pertinence OF placing it there without
our consent"
"Well, them's my orders, and it's
done. If you want it took down, you
got to see the boss. Here he comes
now" And he placed his ladder against
the barn and went off without further
parley.
How do you do?" was the noncha-
liant greeting of the newcomer, stand
ing at ease in the road beyond The
girl walked to the fence with de-
termined air.
"Good afternoon" she said, stiffly. 81
was just ordering the man to remove
this sign from our premises, but he de-
clined, referring me to you as the
boss her pretty lip curled-"and I
must ask you to see that the obnoxious
thing is taken down at once.''
'Well, really, that is beyond me just
at present. 1t was ,5pJt there by order
of the committee, of which I am only
an insignificant member, and
''Will you kindly inform me by what
right the committee ordered it put
upon our barn without our consent?'
He was civil and self-possessed as he
replied:
'Why, it was rather cheeky, wasn't
1t? But Ipresume they took your con-
sent for granted. Anyway, if you don't
mind, I'd like to have it remain there
till tomorrow, when I can arrange
with the committee. I'm awfully sorry
If you object" He smiled across the
fence at her, with frank, handsome
eyes. 10 was Modified and recognized
the fact with horror. In an effort to
be as dignified as she felt she ought
to be, she went to the other extreme.
81 most certainly do object, and fur
thermore it will not be necessary for
you to see the committee I am per-
fectly able to take the sign down my
self" And with a naughty toss of her
bare head she went to the ladder. She
was struggling with it and had half
dragged it toward the sign, when it
was seized with quiet strength.
"Allow me-if I am not mistaken
this is my ladder"
''And your barn, too, I suppose you
were going to add" She stood pant
ing with childish rage. 1.-THE rent has
not been paid, know, but it will be
as soon as possible. In the meantime,
pray be generous enough to spare us
further insolence."
There was silence when he carried the
ladder to the fence, threw it over, and
y; III IN no ci6n
There, he turned a face white with
ply, for fear of telling you some plain
truths as to your display Of temper.
/ shall see about the sign tomorrow.
In the meantime permit me to be equal
ly firm in my determination that it
must remain there for the present"
Then swinging the ladder over his
shoulder, he went off rapidly down the
railroad. 10 stared stupidity after him,
then she turned to the sign.
There you are now, but not for long.
Well see.'' The white letters Knocked
her with a vacant grimace, and "Come
One, Come All" danced before her eyes
as she made her way slowly back to the
house. They shone along every fence,
they adorned the we'll curb, where she
stopped for a drink of water. At the
pig sty she paused and said in response
to friendly grunts: "You would have
better manners, wouldn't you, piggy
wig?"
At supper her mother said: 'sWeu,
10, what did you do about the sign?"
Nothing" Matilda echoed. teasing
ly. Nothing. OF course not. JOS ex-
elements usually end in smoke" then
added: However, there is nothing
to do but to let the sign stand. It is
not in our way"