Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1902-02-28

y refcscd to do her bidding. explain
ing that Mr.. wilkins had absolved
him from any duty hut such az be
could end Oh the place.
he had been two months on the
place before be spoke more than a doz-
en- words to his employer. lie bad
worked well. asked no %favors. made no
mistakes Under his assiduous efforts
the wilkins place had taken On new
signs Of prosperity and beauty. Then
he came 70 wilkins one evening and
said that he'd like to spend one day In
Chicago. He wanted TO buy some
clothes, he said. aud would like to
have bis pay. There vas Si2 due him.
and wilkins had only n twenty dollar
bill.
IAN right. Grecn." said the big heart
ed suhurbnnitc. Heres a twenty.
Yon ran bring me bnck the change.
And. let's zee. here's my continuation
ticket. Itn ave you paying railroad
fnres."
Mrs. wilkins overheard this tnlk and
when Green was out Of hearing pro-
claimed her husband a fool-a waste
full, gullible. stupid foO'
THAT man Green Will come
back" she snapped. See him." point
ing across the lawn. Hes not even
going toward the depot. He's q tramp.
maybe a murderer. and he's gone of
with your money and your ticket. VIII
kins. you're a slmplctong'
wilkins was a little doubtful when
he noticed the course taken by his
''modpl hired man" The next evening
added to his misgiviug, for at shutdown
Green had not returned. Mrs. wilkins
began 10 gloat when the 8 o'clock train
had passed and there was no sign OF
the missing gardener. Then the door
bell rang. and the girl announced "a
ledy to see Mr.. wilkins" He found a
youngish woman. with much JPwelry
and very pink cheeks. smlrking at him
as he entered the parlor.
"Mr. wilkins" she began. "A lady
frpn' o. mine what lives out here tells
me thpys a man workIn' for youse, an
II I amt much mistaken he's my bus
band. He's n tall. slim. sandy Teller.
don't talk much. and-he's done time
at Joliet. and
Mrs. wilkins spterpd here.
what do you want with himT' 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 o and into
thr yard. Green was coming up the
bnck steps into the kitcnen when VIII
klns stopped him with. well. | sec
you're back all right"
eyes. sir" said the gardener. pulling
out the railway ticket and 50. There's
your change and the ticket"
wilkins noticed that the latter wasn't
punched.
II walked" explained the man. 81
don't like trains"
wilkins led him across tho lawn and
told him that there WAS q woman ID
the pnrlor claiming to he his wife.
"a blond. vulgar looking woman?
said Green.
"Ycs. she's In there now talking t
my wife"
"well. sir. IL you'll just let on tina
you didn't see me this evening. I'll b.
grateful. I'm tired now. and | don
want to see that m At least no
tonight. Please say that I'm not her
and won't he back til tomorrow"
So Green skunk OF 10 bed. and tn
blond woman was sent away. promis
ing to eall again. In the morning Mr.
wilkins found Green's bed un-umpled
On the coverlpt 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 lie had come
home tina night with the change and
the ticket.
II always knew he was a 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 hrummagem jewelry. I'D
! run away myself under the same cir
cumstances. "-Chicago Record-H erald