The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-10
WILKINS HIRED MAN.

Sunday morning. while Mrs. Wilkins
was at church with Tommy, Mr.. VIII
kins, in defiance Of the social ethics Of
Lake Hin, put on his overals, and. rake
in hand, attacked the carpet Of dead
leaves that covered his lawn. He knew
that his wife would make a scene if she
caught him, and he knew that his Sab
bath-breaking would furnish another ar
gument against suburban life, and he an
ticipated considerable guying from his
male neighbors, and yet. in spite of all
these misgivings. he raked the leaves in
10 rustling piles and watched with dog
ged satisfaction the columns Of blue
smoke that rose among the oaks from
his unhOly fires
wilkins had employed seven different
hired men since spring. None had
stayed more than month. and none had
carried away either the esteem or good
viii of Mrs. Wilkins. Most of them were
worthless. some dishonest. some lazy.
and some lacked that regard for the pro-
prieties which the woman Of the house
insisted upon So it came To pass that
wilkins had hard time getting. 10 say
nothing OF keeping q serviceabl hired
man, and when the leaves began 10 fall
his lawns, gardens. vines and orchard
Were in sad case, his chicken-house need
ed repairs, his coal cellar was empty.
his wintec kindling was unchOpped and
his loyalty TO suburban life was totter-
ing. Therefore he had dehed ali prece-
dent and on Sunday morning attacked
the work with his own hands.
Mister, III clean up that lawn for a
meal"
1t was a low. strong voice. musical of
tone and so oppOrtune shat Wilkins let
his rake fall and looked about. The
stranger was a tall, lean young man,
dusty from a long walk. but clean and
trim as 70 clothes and person.
-I'll JUS go YOU" said wilkins. opening
the gate. The big fellow walked in,
dropped his coat on the ground and fell
TO work without word. After getting
Lack into his Sunday garments the man
Of the house watched his Tescuer. The
latter had laid aside his round felt hat
disclosing . bullet head, closely shaved.
The workers clothes, new. cheap and
coarse, - tit the wearer. and as Wilkins
watched MIN swiftly and silently clear
ing away the dead grass. weeds and
leaves. his heart miSgave him and he
murmured t. himself:
An eN-cOnvict. III bet"
Mrs. Wilkins soon came home with
Tommy. md eyed the stranger assance.
When she had noticed him eating heartily
but dCc0rously, and had observed that
NE knew the purposes of knife, fork and
spoon. she darkly limited TO her husband
] mar lnere Was something mysterious
about the newcomer. When wilkins felt
sur; that his wife hadn't guessed the
probable truth. he resolved To offer the
mar job and as the latter passed out
the walk toward the road, the suburban
lite stopped him with:
My friend, I like the way you work.
and I like your looks, ard if yCuu stay
III give YOU 81 a week and your board
just 10 keep up the place, tend the chick
ems and the furnace.
Thank YOU. sir. I'll try ii, was the
answer. You don't keep a horse and 1
won't have to go to town."
No Just Stay here on the place and
do whatever you see necessary. ex-
planned Wilkins, fully understanding the
mans dislike to going into town.
All right sir. My name is James
Green"
Wilkins showed the tail. gaunt fellow
over the place and pointed out the room
over the carriage-house where he was 20
sleep. Tommy. who was 10 years old.
trotted after them. deeply interested in
the stranger