The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-20
SENEY PAID HIS BOARD

WHY SENEY PAID His BOARD
The wagon factory had been shut
down for over month and old man
Mcfarland and Mrs. Mcfarland were
getting uneasy. They made their hV-
ing bS taking in boarders, and most OF
the boarders made their living by work
ing in the factory. the consequence ~
which was that the weekly board oils
were in some cases only partly met ana
in some cases not met at all Mrs Nc
Farland worried and when she wor-
ried she talked to her husband Ior the
greater part of the night and ne iost
eleep. So did the men who occupied
the rooms on either side of them 1or
they knew what that steady mufnlul
was about.
of some of them said Mrs. Mef ar
I'VE can't go on this way any longer.
There's PiN Seney owes us nearly ~
Why don't you make him pay some
thing? Do you hear me, Robert.
Yes. L hear you grunted Acr ar
land but what are we going to DO
THEY'LL all pay when they get the mon
ev and if we get to bounding them
ehevH get mad and quit, and we VIII
lose the connection.
I'VE might Just as well, as far as
can see The connection isn't gong 10
nav our bills unless there's some money
i'm il and we might as well quit before
we get any more in debt Why don
Won 60 for Seney? I'm pretty sure ne
could pay if you insisted on it.
why don't you ask him2 I should
think YOU could it it Just as Wen as
can" -
do with the cooking and the houseWofh
without running around attending 10
vrot1r ,tlsiness If you can't see tnat
man and get some money from nln 4 m
going to quit and that's all there IS
about it,"
Mcfarland kent awake a long time
after Inc PARTNER of his Joys and sor-
rows -1ad stopped talking and gone TO
sieeu He was little man, meek anu
firnid with whom the battle OF lite ha'i
gone so hard that he had been eoIlelt
Tor years to hover around the OUTSKIRTS
as a sort of cam0-fOnoWer me luea
of asking any man for money was pain
ful to him. He knew what 1t was hi.H
self and imagined that everybody else
must have the same sickenlng SeuSd-
ton of impending doom that he expert
enced i'm the presence OF dun- anu
Eeney was a burly. loud-voiced man
with a terrible eye and nerce Wnishel ..
McFarlands heart san.- within aim at
the thought OF insisting on having
money from this truculent giant In
sist" was the word that his VIE hao
breast at the absurdity of it and the
unreasonab leness of women generally
He knew that the factory would soon
open again and everything would be
paid up and he could keep on with HIS
duties of marketing. milking and tend
ing the old cow which was pastured on
the vacant lots of marshy grass, carry
Ing water from the we'll and doing such
other chores as might become mar
His life was not one of rapturous en-
iOyment. but it was cOmfOrtabl
enough, and his Wife's threat of quit
ting frightened him. He fell asleep
contrivine delicate means of broachins
the disa greeable subject with ths
dreaded Bill Seney.
With his Wife's eye upon him he rose
from the breakfast table is BIZ Seney
rose and followed him out to the door
AS the delinquent turned to walk up
the street Mcfarland hailed him in IA
tremulous voice.
"Oh. Bill he said. II want to speak
to you a minute privately"
wen. there amt no one around as
see" said Bill. gruff1y. What is it?"
Mcfarland cleared his throat ner-
vously and then. with his eyes on a
button of the mans coat. smiled and
Bin?"
Il amt Fixed at all" replied seney.
with a frown. I'd ha' thought YOU 4
ha' known that with the factory
stopDed- What's the matter with your
It's this way Bill" said Mcfarland,
humbly. Il hate to dun you, but we
are needing money the worst way. and I
thought YOU might be able to let us
have some if it was convenient"
You thought right If it was con-
venient I could let you have some just
was we'll as not. but it amt. What do
you want money for Won't they trust
you at the grocery 90
Yes, but then there's remand they
only sell for cash at the meat market.
We've got to have meat"
II guess that's right" said Seney.
You can stand them off for the rent,
but it would be mighty slim diet with
out meat / couldn't stand for that
Let's see if I can't think of some way
Of helping you out"
Mcfarland looked hopeful as the
other sat down on the doorstep and be-
gan to smoke meditatively. II wouldn't
trouble YOU if didn't need the money.
Bill he said again.
Seney waved his hand in a magnani-
nous gesture. That's all right he
said that's all right. I know YOU
wouldn't Mac.
See here" he continued. rive got it
now, and it's the only way 7 can see
out Of it for you. Take and butcher the
old cow"
Mcfarland looked after him as he