Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-06-25

the stranger in high, falsetto voice.
81 reckon that name is kind of strange
to you round here?"
"Simon Friend" repeated the other,
laboring under an absurd misappre-
hension, that's right good name,
Mr. Friend. An what might your busi-
ness be?"
Same as yours" replied the sQueaky
voice, "at least jest at present. reck-
on we're all in the same business here"
"Tryin' to be smart" suggested q
voice.
Don't have to try" responded Mr..
Friend, as the stranger had been ridic-
ulously named. Il see you're all
a-guessin'. I'm guessin' you're q farm
er an you're blacksmith an you're
tn undertaken. There amt nary dec
tor nor lawyer present"
Blamed if the crltter isn't right"
said the one he had dubbed q farmer.
Now, then, how's your bizlcss; scne's
ours?"
"Ai1't we all loafn'?"
"But We are just putin in spare
time. What do ycI Go when you
work?"
| II don't work." responded Sir1cn, c3
| If he were ann ouncing q welcome
| truth; "did you never hear this Scrip
ter? The lame and the lazy are allus
provided for"
What lameI yep asked the stcre-
keeper, taking al active part in the
| conversation for the first time.
| "Rheunatiz. Have it turriblo n ny
right leg. Can't sleep nights nor work
| days. Turrible."
i've got a bottle Of patent medicine
| that's warranted to cure The rheuInat-
| ics," said the storekeeper casting his
eye over top shelf; you kin have it if
you'll climb for it-thcro'S step lad
der around somewhere"
Eut SiI1cn shook his head. ~ can't
climb, eff 1 could wouldn't need mel
ecin.'
Cne Of the men volunteered to get the
bottle which Simon took without any
show of interest. But as he dropped it
into his coat pocket he took frorl the
same receptacle small object which
iSoNhiDiId Il bll VI NOCu WHICH,
he put to his lips and presently the
place was filled with strains Of music
that charmed the listeners with their
sweetness. Every man there got q
scolding for being out so late that
night, and when the advent of the
lame stranger and his wonderful power
of entertaining was offered in apology,
then al the women fell on the absent
Simon tooth and nail. They called him
lazy vagabond and threatened to
make the town too hot to hold him.
But it was not week before they We're
trying to get peep at him, and tor
menting their husbands to bring him
home so the children could hear him
play, and commanding him for keeping
them away from the tavern. But Simon
was so shy Of women that none could
get near him, by which sign they knew
him for an old bachelor.
1t soon became apparent that Evans
vile without its Simon would be Ham,
let without its Dane. From being the
poor, pinched object that had drifted
in among them he waXed fat and meta
phorically "kicked." Nothing was too
good for him and his lameness and
rheumatic pains made him q pathetic
burden. But he entertained the whole
village-at least the male part Of it.
He told stories that every grandfather
had known in his youth as if they had
happened to him, changing them just
enough to make them fit in. He played
all the old airs and many of the new
| ones on his mouth organ, which he
made to initiate every known musical
instrument. And as reward he lived
in clover. True, his apartment" was
over stable, but it was warm and
comfortable, and if his food did not
| come to him he shut himself up and
sulied until the best Of everything eat
able was provided. A whole year he
lived there like a nabob, and then
two calamities happened. The first one
| was personal-Simon fell and broke his
leg. He would not be moved from the
walk where a runaway team had
thrown him until the DOCTOR who was
his friend and chum, came himself;
| then he had everyone sent off, and,
| leaning on the doctor and dragging the
| broken limb, he hobbled to his lodging
| near by. There the doctor assisted him
to bed, set the broken member and
| undertook such care of Simon as he
| could give him in off hours. And Just
| at that time the women of the village,
| led by the doctors sister, went off en-
a still hunt.
Simon's room now became the piece
de resistance in the makeup CT the
village. The broken leg kept the enter
tainer in bed, but offered no obstacle
to social enjoyment Nothing was i'm
bibed stronger than soft drinks, but
conviviality obtained just the same
The doctor watched the case and took
care of his patient. He told the crowd
that the broken leg was knitting finely
and almost any day Simon would be
up and around. Then he Tsould leave