The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-29
gaz s;9alssil & ssssy 3 :sl;9
His Grandfather'S Grandson

Slocum here could give him ten yards
in hundred and beat him out easy"
Durham looked at the young man at
whom the speaker pointed. He was a
tall and wiry youth, with an extremely
good natured countenance.
II know nothing about Mr. Slocum's
ability" he said, but I prefer to be-
lieve that Abner Greer was the best
runner this county ever produced"
Dunham said this with such a solemn
air that the landlord and the young
man stared at him in surprise.
Then one of the boys suddenly
laughed
That's funny" he said. Nobody
knows really anything about what this
man Greer could do while Bob here
holds the record at go. and beat Jim
Gilman out at 100 only last fall"
Just the same" said Durham, IT
hold that Abner Greer was Il better
man.
This time they all laughed and stared
at the neatly garbed young man with
his clear eyes and his clean cut face
and laughed again.
'Runnin' S Il good deal of Il craze
around here" said the landlord. IT'S
about the only amusement tn boys
have, an they've got it down pretty
fine. Bob Slocum here is about the
best man that ever Went down tn track
!! in these parts. Ny boy John, that's
gone to the Philippines. was Il good
one, but Bob was just a leetle better.
really can't believe old Abner Greer
could hold candle to him."
II say Bob could give him ten in a
hundred an beat him out in IL romp,"
sneered the spokesman of the group.
And I hold that Abner Greer was
the better man." said Durham dogged-
ly.
The young fellows looked at one an
other with lifted eyebrows and twisted
mouths. 1t was a most excellent bit Of
humor.
"AIebbe." said one of them. with a
prodigious wink at his fellows. ''mebby
you've thought out some way of provin'
it,"
But Durham did not smile.
Yes" he said, Il have" He looked
them over. II don't blame you for
thinking me foolish. Perhaps / am
But If ] explain the matter to you I
hope you will see it in a. new light.
had day 10 spare and | came down
here to Eagleville to look at the old
village. had thought about it good
deal lately There We're reasons why
it should interest me, My father was
born here and my grandfather, Abner
Greer, lived and died here
The landlord looked around quickly.
"Sho!" he exclaimed
II am the son of Abner Greer's only
son." Dunham went on. "My father left
here at so early an age that he remem-
bered but little of the place. Besides,
he is very busy man and has no time
for "reminiscences. And, then. | wanted
to see the place for myself. ! came
here to find that the one thing that
really interests me is my grandfather's
memory. They tell me he was IL sweet
and lovable man, one who stood well
with his neiGhbors, and no doubt with
his Maker. Gentle and modest in his
ways, there seems to have been but one
thing In which he was ambitious to eX-
Gel. And that, they say, was running.
IT peases me to think that even in this
minor accomplishment he was a leader.
l want In believe that there was no bet
ter runner in all the county. and that
there never since has been as good n
runner. You may call this foolish
fancy, II you will, but 10 mo il seems
like paying tribute to my grandfath-
er's fair fame when stand here and
assert that he was the best man that
ever came down the cinder path"
There was Il little silence. Dunham
had excited rude guffaw.
The landlord put out his hand
"Abner Greer's grandson" he said
well, well.' Then he added with a
quick pressure Of Dunham's hand, "It's
good stock, my boy. it's good stock"
The little group Of young men who
had been staring hard ut Dunbnm
stirred uneasily.
Talk Is all very WELL" said the
spokesman but how do you pronose
to prove it?"
Il have thought of way" said
Dunham, and he family smiled as he
said 1t, 1T is modelled on the fashion
of the days or romance. Some of Won
no doubt have read of those chivalrous
customs. When a good knight started
out with the assertion that his ladyloye
was the fairest and most accomplished
L.. t<...