The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-05-01
lie his way along the highway that

made his way along the highway that
led in a northerly direction.
II promised to take that letter to the
young lady. I wonde If I shall have
any trouble in seeing her. Perhaps I
sam.altogether too sure Of what I can
do, and what pressure I can bring to
bear on others. None too sure of my
own liberty, for that matter. Go slow,
Job, slow, or you will spoil every
thing!"
He had reached a little brook
spanned by a wooden bridge, and he
stopped for a moment to wipe the per-
%spiration from his face, for the day
was oppressively hot.
AS he leaned there for a moment,
with his hat off, resting and cooling
himself, a peculiar ringing OF a bell
reached his ears coming from the d.
rectton of the town he had Just left.
Job thrust his hat On his head, and
turned to see an old man approaching.
On his breast he carried some sort of
q placard with an inscription, and a
bell attached by a strap around n Of
his wrists. With the free hand he felt
his way with a long staff.
} Seems to me the blind mai is
making his way into a mighty I'M
profitable neighborhood, If he keeps on
SAAS wei AS 10 oaAA L " oCSlAs AAS
has much less to live for than I have.
l guess I'll set him right and tip him
something for the mistake Of hts taking
the wrong road"
The patriarchal figure. in earth-col-
ored rags, drew near. He was a tall
man, and bent with years, his long,
white hair falling almost to his shouI-
ders.
Hendricks, who had taken out a
piece Of money, dropped it into the tin
cup which the blind man wore attached
to a leather belt about his waist. AT
the clinking sound OF the coin dropping
in the tin, the old nan paused.
God bless you, mister, and may the
Lord and his angels watch over you
day and night"
He wore dark glasses over his eyes,
showing that he could not be wholly
blind.
I'm afraid tina you're going out of
your way, friend" replied Job, gently.
"Out Of my way?"
Yes; you are heading for the open
country. You have leftsthe town-you
a better return, Or something might
happen to you off alone on a road that
contains few houses
We'll, now, it's mighty lucky struck
you amt it? l generally have a boy to
go about with me, but the imp has run
away fishin' or to join in some mischief.
I thought I'd see how I could manage
for myself" ,s
pinched himself, for he fancied that he
saw a very bright eye peering at him
out of the corner of one of the glasses.
Live here?" the old man laughed.
Catch me Twin in the country. The
city is the place for pickin's, but
makes it a rule to visit all the towns
near by in the summer months, is 1t
~o~t - H., 49,, ,ool+1, - ~,1-af
measly, ongenerous lot O. folks they
are, these here country pelicans; !
can't abear 'em, I can't! Want to give
We old clothes and cold victuals, stead
O. money. No, you don't find yer gran
dad Twin in the kentry when he has the
city streets for a lay
H certainly has a fine pair of eyes
muttered Job, who had been watching
the man intently and was confident
that he was a humbug.
Perhaps you will be SO very kind as
to turn me about in the right direction
for the town." Quavered the alleged
blind man.
I'd rather give you a heave into the
brook was what ran through Jobs
mind at that moment, regretting tina
he had wasted his charity on such al
old fraud. He took the man, however
by the arm, n set his face toward Eths
town. 2
Whether he was unnecessarily rough
in the operation, or whether the othe
stumbled. at least one thing happened
his great green spectacles fell off in TIL
road. Job stopped and restored then
to him, but, as he did SO, he looked a
the mans face and he drew away in
stinctively, as If overcome with a sud
den fear.
Am I all right now?" asked tn