The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-01-02

en- words 10 his employer lie had
worked well, asked no fayors, made no
mistakes Under his assiduous efforts
the wilkins place had taken on new
signs Of prosperity and beauty. Then
he came to Wilkins one evening and
said that he'd Ike 10 spend one day In
Chicago He wanted to buy some
clothes. be said and would Ike to
have his pay There was So due him,
and WilkIHs had only a twenty dollar
bill
All right. Green" said the big heart
ed suburbanite. Here's twenty
And, lets see, here's my Communication
ticket. It'll save you paying railroad
fares"
Mrs. wilkins overheard this talk and
when Green was out Of hearing pro
claimed her husband fool-a waste
full. gullible stupid fool.
THAT man Green will never come
back" she snapped. See him" point
ing across the lawn. Hes not even
going toward the depot. He's tramp.
maybe a murderer. and he's gone or
with your money and your ticket VIII
kins. you're a simpleton9
wilkins was a little doubtful when
he noticed the course taken by bis
"mode hired man" The next evening
added 10 his misgivng for at shutdown
Green had not returned Mrs. wilkins
began to gloat when the s O'Clock train
had passed and there was no sign Of
the missing gardener. Then the door
bell rang and the girl announced "a
lady to see Mr.. wilkins" He found
youngish woman. with much jewelry
and very pink cheeks, smirking at him
as be entered the parlor.
"Mr wilkins" she began. "a lady
fren' O mine what lives out here tells
me theys a man workin' for youse. an
If amt much mistaken he's my hus-
band He's tall. slim. sandy Teller.
don't talk much. and-he's done time
at Joliet and
Mrs. wilkins entered here.
What do you want with him. ask
ed the lady of the house.
The visitor was beginning to explain
when wilkins heard footsteps falling
family on the walk outside. He slip
ped quietly out of the room and into
the yard Green was coming up the
back steps into the kitchen when VIII
kins stopped him with, We'll. see
you're back all right"
Eyes. sir" said the gardener, pulling
out the railway ticket and IS. There's
vour oh moo nd tho ticket
wilkins noticed that the latter wasn't
punched.
~ walked" explained the man. 81
don't like trains
wilkins led him across the lawn and
told him that there was woman in
the parlor claiming to be his wife.
"a blond. vulgar looking womanF'
said Green
Eyes. She's in there now talking to
my wife
"Well. sir. If you'll just let on that
you didn't see me this evening, I'll be
grateful I'm tired now, and | don't
want to see that woman. at least not
tonight. Please say that I'm not here
and won't be back till tomorrow
30 GTeGl Sluuh Ou ~ bcu, dhb thN
blond woman was sent away. promis-
Ing to call again. In the morning Mr..
wilkins found Green's bed unrumpled.
On the coverlet was a new leather
whip. with a card inscribed: For Tom
my. Goodby." The Wilkinses never
saw or heard of him again and Mrs.
Wilkins never knew that he had come
home that night with the change and
the ticket.
Il always knew he was scamp.
she said proudly. II knew he'd run
away. and he did"
well don't blame him. unused
wilkins. lighting his pipe and smiling
at the memory of the blond woman
with the brummagem jewelry. I'd
run away myself under the same cir
cumstances. Chicago Record Herald.