The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-04-12

grouped about torch-lighted tent there
was a iostling, shouting, scuffling mot
of hungry people. They were contendine
for a chance to buy villainous disks oil
dough and canned fruit that were being
sold under the misnomer pies" The
! widow and her boy at the outer rim OF
the swaying, fighting crowd were making
feeble efforts to approach the vender
Jerry. sauntering along, saw them, and
for a moment paused with grim smile
at their puny efforts. Then he showed
his way into the bedlam like a foot
ball player bucking the line. In two
minutes he was face TO face with the
pieman. roaring:
| Simpkins, or I'll wreck your d. out
htP'
Price is gone UP. Jerry" grinned
| Simpkins.
ITO - with the price. Ski Quick!"
But when the giant walked of with his
/ six pies and beloved Charge emf ev-
erybody laughed at the baker and the
J scramble for his wares was resumed.
/ Here's some samples, madam" said
! Jerry, touching the woman's arm and
! handing the pies to her son; hope you'll
/ like en-. This is my bakery, you see.
and we're trying 10 build up a trade"
| There was fresh laugh at this but
1 the widow was too delighted to puzzIs
about the joke. Jerry followed her out
of the crowd. and when they were clear
said: Find a lodging. madam" She
said no, and he asked her If she had
tried the Creek House.
I've tried them all, SIR" she said,
her eyes Frightening as she watched her
boy attack one OF the pies; but /
couldn't get even shelter. suppose well
have to sit up under some porch, or-oh
1 don't know what wen do
IF you don't mind trying the Greek
House again" he murmured, standing
apart. Il think, in fact I'm sure there
small room. There was about an
hour ago
And so the woman and the boy,
munching pies as they almost ran after
the big fellow. hurried 70 the Creek
House, and after some whispering be-
tween jerry and the mysterious clerk,
were led up into a study. dusty room
about as commodious as a dry goods
box.
They didn't see Jerry any more after
that until the registering was all over
and the final drawing was at hand. Then
Harry, the boy, saw him galloping in
cloud Of dust with some of the soldiers
from Fort Sill, and thought him quite "A
heroic figure. After that such strange,
sad things happened TO them that they
a
standing through hot, hungry, anxious
hours the poor woman had drawn her
number. Meeting the deputy marshal.
who always nodded to her. she showed
him her ticket and almost tainted when
he blurted
That lets you cut, missus Your num-
Der amt no good. It's too high"
But don't 1 get farm. them" she
gssped
Don't ger nothin'. But don't take or.
Theys a thousand r two in the same
tx"
She asked dozen men at the hotel.
but they all told her tho same thing. 50
that, convinced at last, she ran 70 her
sGualid room, and, with her arms about
her boy. wept as II her heart would break
The next day. thin and detected. she was
standing at the little depot among the
crestfallen group of disappointed set
tiers waiting for the train that was 70
bear them back TO the East.
Going away. madam said a voice be-
hind her. She turned about to see Jerry.
hat il hand. smiling at her boy. She
would have said yes, but her voice
choked and she only nodded her head
Il hear you drew a blank he was say
ing. and 7 just came over 10 say H
edged away from the little crowd. and
the widow and her boy followed till they
were together in the shade Of the derot.
oh, about the room she was blush
Ing now. I didn't mean % go away
without paying for IT. But I haven't
enough TO get Us back 70 Kansas city. i
told the clerk I'd send him z check. -
1t isn't about the room I was talking
Interrupted Jerry. feeling his ears grow
rsdder as he stammered. Pact IS. ma'auI.
was 81 that drawing. too. I don z
know what made ne 50 n. because 4
didn't want = claim. that is. dicut want
one till / met-anyW ~. 70 make a long
story short. ! drew one CT the low num-
beTs. IN IN for a good farm. and"
he paused here as Z with the Flessurs
o. cCnteu plating her expectant face.
Would you mind tsking the claim OF
my
But Mister sid the woman.
'Afarrin-Jerrv Martin Re finished
4 have 10 money. Mr. Martin, AZ least (
not with me
That's 5ass il he SAID snliins se-
ligatedly rcw. YOU aons ared any
money 20 speak 81 cant sel uy
claim. but can relinquish il over D. sou. /
aaG-yoCr heart is set On getring claim, +
is1 Z T. Ms -
Yes. sir. for ny boy. you know. ia {
do anything n ny power Tor r9u. e I
you'll-lt you reaiy den vast yc1r 4
claim.
Haven't Eot .he least Use sor il. hon
estly- Eol Sc. = r. r5t 8 farmer. madam
oh. yss you're 2 ozke-. Rrs-'- yen
they vssrs zRlzlrs back = To- Greek .
Hotel zoV % arrange It's re.ir.slsa- 4
uss-t which usa-t 30 rruch - re -
nlan and 50 uttie % 1e-ry El--i1-
Baker, Re rs7eate-. srllnas e BIS
cuucsfr Yes. and a barker.r Asa
rirkrd ~ rhe hor is vh0liT tef
E-ais Nzs-5ohz y Fzftesg-