The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-11
FEB. 25, 1902.

FEB. 20, 1902.
Dear Guardian: am surprised at
the charge and arrest you mention, the
particulars of which my sister wrote
me yesterday. There is no real ground
for the accusation, and ! have written
to Rufus assuring him of my mistaken
confidence in his integrity. Pardon me,
but fear prejudice has tendency to
blind you as to his worth Thanks, / am
improving.
Your ward,
JUDITH MAYS"
In Strobel's opinion his ward was dis
playing more faith than common sense,
but had she not always proved herself
perverse? In the end, he said, after pc
rusing the reply to his note, she would
see her folly-one had to be patient with
sentimental girls Of eighteen. Preju-
dice? That was a harsh name for what
he insisted was his interest in her well
tare-but which was really his love and
an ambition to win her for himself But
he would wait until reason asserted it
self
The circumstances were indeed
against Rufus Dent. He was young
yet to make, but Miss Mays guardian
was the only one who believed that he
was not living within his income, insig-
aificant as it seemed to man of means.
That he might get cheaper lodgings, he
had even secured boarding place in the
country a couple of miles distant from
the little county seat. His arrest on a
serious criminal charge came about in
this way:
The nearest neighbor of his landlord
was Jacob Keef, the county trustee.
This man had been a small farmer all his
life, not very successful from business
standpoint, and unused to handling con-
siderable sums of money; but he was
!ovial and a good mixer" and this
seemed qualification sufficient to his con-
stituents for being intrusted with gov
ment funds" At the beginning of
February his collections had been great.
1t was the last month in which taxes
could be collected without penalty at
tached for delay; and he was consequent
ly rushed to write his necessary re-
ceipts, even with the help of an assist
ant By dark he found himself in the
lars of the peoples money.
With this sum on his person-there
was no bank in the village-he very nat
urally felt somewhat nervous; and his
nervousness was increased by the fact
that q number of robberies had been
committed throughout the county dur.
ing the winter. His sense of RESPONSE
bility made him a coward, and as he
drove On homeward after night, it was a
relief to .overtake young Dent on the
road.
Get in the buggy and ride, Rufus" he
said. II don't mind saying that I'm
ioysd at seeing you. hain't told any
body else, but I've got in my wallet more
money than ever saw before In one pile,
and hang me eff it don't weigh as heavy
on my mind as ton of lead! Did you
see them two fellers follerins me from
store to store to-day while maxim collec-
lions. Well. 1t strikes me that they
seemed little too interested not to be
taxpayers themselves"
"Oh. suppose they meant nothing
said Dent. 81 saw them. but some one
said they had been inquiring for q
small farm for sale What you need is
a good warm supper, and then you'll for
get your uneasiness.'
''P'rhaps.S Still. wish you'd 60 home
with me tonight. I would feel better
with some one in the house besides me
and my wife. Spose you go over?"l
Thank you" said the young man. 81
am obliged to put in late hours tonight
reading up the authorities on torts-
That big suit Of Day vs.. Long comes on