Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-11-10

Seeing Abner at the fence, Mrs. Baker
came to the low door and stood bend
ing her head to loEk out.
II heerd at home" said Abner, eat
Pole was over thar akin fer me. I've
been away tony peach orchard on the
HILL"
"Yes; he's been over thar twice." said
the woman. Hes back of the house
Some'r's settin' a trap fer the children
to ketch some birds in. I'll blow the
horn. When I blow twice. he knows
he's wanted right off,"
She took down cows horn from
nail on the wall, and, going to the door
on the opposite side Of the house, she
gave two long, ringing blasts, which
set half dozen dogs near by and some
far of to barking mellowly. In few
minutes Pole appeared around the cor
per of the cabin.
"Hello. Uncle Abb" he said. won't
you come IMP
"No; hain't time" smiled the old
man. II jest come over to see how
much money you wanted to borrow"
II don't want any O yo'rn," said
Pole, leaning over the fence, his un-l
buttoned shirt sleeves allowing his
brawny, bare arms to rest on the top,
rail. II wanted to talk to you about
Alan an that bank bust up"
you've been to town, heer." said
Abner, deeply interested.
Eyes, nm I've been with Alan an
Miller fer the last week tryin' to do
some'n', but we couldn't. They've been
sendin' kilograms by the basketful, an
JEFF Dukes has trotted his legs off back
an forth, but nothin' hain't been DONE"
"You say the hain'tT Abner's voice
Quivered and fell.
mo. They both kept up Their sperits
purity well fer about ten days beca'se
that dang Atlanta chief Of police kept
wirin' he was on a scent o. Winship,
but day before yesterday they give In:
We was a-settin' in Miller's Office when
the last message come from Atlanta.
They said they'd been after the wrong
man an that they'd give up. You ort
a. seed Alan's face. Miller tried to
cheer I'm up. but it wasn't no go. Then
who do you think come? Alan's sweet
heart. She axed to see i'm, an they
talked awhile in the front room. Then
Miller come back an said she'd axed
to be introduced to me. Test think Of
It! I went imam seed she'd been a-cry-
In She got UP. by links, an ketched
my hand an said she wanted to thank
me beca'se I'd been sech friend to
Alan! Uncle Alb. felt as mean as a
egg suckin' dog. beca'se thar was Alan
dat o. his back, as the Teller said. an I
hadn't turned hand to hep I'm. An
thar she was, the gal he loves an
wants, an is poverty standin' betwixt
'em. couldn't say nothin', an reck-
on looked more kinds Of durn fool
than she ever seed on two legs"
"Well, what did you do?" asked Alb
ner. too much moved by Poles graphic
picture to speak with his usual light
ness.
"What did l do? made my bow
an slid made Decline fer Murray 8
bar an put two down as fast as they
could shovel 'em out. Then tuck an
other, an quit countin'. I begun to
think owned the shebang an broke
several billiard cues an throwed the
chalk around. Then Dukes come an
said he'd give me q chance to escape
trial fer misconduct eff I'd straddle
my boss an make fer home. agreed,
but thar was one thing | had to do
fust. l had promised Alan not to
drink any more. an SO didn't want
to sneak away to hide 1t. went to
Miller's house, whar he's stayin', an
called i'm out. I told I'm I'd jest come
Ter no other reason an to let i'm see
| me at my wust. felt like 1t was the
only manly way, after I'd broke faith
with friend as true as he is"
''Too bad" sighed Abner. "I'll bet
1t hurt Alan to see you in that flx."
"Well, he didn't complain" said Pole.
"But he put his arm around me an
come as nigh cryin' as ever seed a
strong man. It's my fault, Pole SEES
he. I can see that Then him an
Miller both tried to git me to so up.
stairs in that fine house an go to bed
an sleep it off. but wouldn't.
come on home an got mad at Sally fer
talkin' to me an come nigh as peas
hittin' Ter in the jaw. But that's over,
Uncle Alb. What I'm in fer now Is
work. l amt no fool I'm on a still
hunt. an jest want yore private
opinion. don't want you to commit
yorese'f unless you want to, but I'd
go more on yore Judgment than any
mans in this county. 1 want to know
eff you think old Craig is honest mar
at heart. Now don't say you dom,
know an keep yore mouth shet. fel
what want to know, an all want t.
know. is how you feel ABOUT that one
thing"
Abner hung his head down. Hi
long thumb trembled as its nail went
under splinter on the rail and priet
It of.
II see what you are a-drivin' at" hi
said. "You Jest want to feel shore o
yore ground" Abner began to chew
the splinter and spit out the broker
bits. He was silent, under Poles anx
ious gaze, for minute, and then h,
laughed dryly. y reckon me m 80,
I. has about the Same suspicious" b
{ taid ''Thay b'tns,A lssn MsItJin. ~