Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-09-24
CHAPTER XII.
Around the Tavern Fire.
said.

Il heard reyther a strange story
over yander in Their town thes mornin'
when / went fer Their doctors" Tom
Smith said, presently, setting down his
mug of cider and wiping OF his beard
ed lips with the back of his hand. "a
strange story an reyther more'n l
think Johnsing deserves"
He hev more'n he deserves now"
SadleT said, with a leer at Lode.
But the story, Tom" Jones inter-
posed, to prevent further unpleasant
ness. Let's hev ct ct once"
"Et's bout JOhnsing, OF course"
Smith said, solemnly. EFT all pears
ter be bout JOhnsing. A shef'less, no
count critter ennyhow."
Never mind bout thet," Jones said,
seeing Lode turn his big black eyes
from the fire to the face of the speak
er. "Johnsing is havin' all he ken
we'll carry 'thout our sayin' hyard
thengs bout hem. Let's hev yer story,
Tom"
"Well, when l was done seem Their
doctors an ther wimmen," Smith con-
tinued, let Their judges house, what
young Green sent me ter see, went
over ter Scrubs on Their corner
opp'sit' Their court house where some
o. ther fellers was. One o. Their men
thar got ter talkin' pretty free bout
Their trial an Their lamin' an Their hull
b'isness, an one O. ther others sed ter
him tibet he'd best keep civil tongue
in his head bout tibet Johnsing an his
gal fer ct seems tibet Lem Johnsing-
him tibet left hyar many year ago
hev KEN back ter see his brother,
an has been askin' news O. him, an
is a-findin' out all he ken bout him,
an special bout tibet gal O. hisn. ct
seems he hev got his darter with him
an she heV took a faTncy ter tibet
gal o. Johnsing's from Their first what
she hev heard all from Their Judges
son. An cts KEN out tibet thyes goin'
| ter kerry her way up Moth ter Their
| big city when Jneys go, an eddicate
her an make lady o. her. An Lem,
he hev heap O. money, they says
over yonder. an he an Their jedges
struck up a powerful friendship tibet
may, they lowed, mebby prove a.
benefit ter Johnsing in many ways,
but most special in way t ives all
know"
eft pears queer how thengs KEN
round" sadleRsaid, meditatively, but
Lem Johnsing al'ays did hev more
grit n most of EN-. Theys a shef'less,
no count set ennyhow, 'ceptin' him,
an Their gal worse n most"
Look a.hyar, Sadler." Lode said,
slowly-Dolores could not have
spoken slower. "Et's bein' worsen
Their beastie ter hit man when he's
down, special when yer know he kyan't
live long ter bother nobody. Eff
theys get hem over ter Their towr
alive eth be more'n l reckon. An
more'n tibet, he may be dead or a-dyin'
thes minnet while ives what Gail our
selves his friends be talkin' o. him
names an sayin' onkind thengs bout
hem. Hem an his gal has 'nough ter
thenk Of thout we uns heapin on ner
an him a lot O. hyard thengs t amt
all true or kind. How'd ye like ther
same bout We. or yer gal, sadler?"
The fire died down on the hearth
until only a glowing heap of ashes re
NAMED The rain and wind sobbed
outside at the doors and windows
swaying the creaking sign at the door
post Suddenly the low door was
thrown open. letting in gust Of
hoarse east wind and showers Of rain
and sleet, and out Of this, like wreath
OF the storm, tall, graye-faee1, drench
ed 70 the skin, young Green stood IL
their midst.
He closed the door and advanced
toward the FIRE, removing his hat a
he did so.
Jones arose at once. Jones wal
always ready for business; the judges
son would pay well, no doubt; h'
should have the best In the house
The other men retained their positions
and regarded the newcomer with ~
friendly eyes.
"A powerful bad storm, ledge, salt
Jones. good-naturediy. KEN RICH
up hyar BY ther IRE. an get ye dry.
} yes, Green said, pleasantly, quicl
! to note the aullen aspect OF the mel
around the hre. Its 9 night TO niEls