Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-09-23

n VIII uO Tic
ness Becraft replied. Its too hot
/ for whisky. May be you'd like nip,
though he added, with a peculiar
sidelong glance, which the vagrant
caught. 1t was as though the young
er man was surmising what the
elders habits might be-
"Oh, no. Rossiter said, not be-
traying the fact that he noticed Be-
crafts scrutiny. I'm not much on
whisky myself. I like a little beer
now and again, however"
'Yes, beer amt bad, but the shake
is what / need now. l feel a bit
empty"
They stopped at small corner
drug store, where all three had the
drink which Joe Becraft ,craved,
though the clerk looked askance
when he came to serve Rossiter
"My mothers waitin' at the Cot
tage hotel" said the elder Becraft,
when they again stood upon the side
walk. That's where the hop
wagons to come for us about two
o'clock. Now before we go up, for
we want you to come along with us,
I've got something to propose.
You'll take it all right, won't you?''
Perhaps 1 know what it is" an
swered Rossiter, for several times
he had seen Becraft furtively regard
ing his hair and beard
do you?"
ST can guess"
''Well, if that's the case, you amt
a-goin' to mind, are you? You can
pay me back, you know"
you'll trust me to pay you back,
then?''
Trust you to? Why, of course 1
will. You'll pay me if you've got
anythin' to pay with, an you'll have
it all right after little
Il don't believe there are many who
would take your view of it,
''P'raps not, for, to tell the truth,
you amt what the boys would call
"a swell But shave an a hair cut'Il
make Il sight of difference. I know
of place close by where We'll go.
A chap from our town keeps it."
AS they turned from the main
thoroughfare, which was called Ken
eseo street, puff of warm wind blew
cloud of dust in their faces.
"Thunder!" calculated Joe Be
craft, I've swallowed enough nasty
stuff for one day. Do you know" he
added, 'for decent city, this town
is one of the dirtiest goin'! faint
as bad as it used to be, but it's plenty
bad enough"
Rossiter was not posted in the mat
ter of municipal STRENGTHENING, so
he did not reply to these observa-
tons. They had not walked more
than block when they saw bar
ber's striped pole. and entered little
shop where Il dapper young man,
with deliberately brushed hair and a
not over-clean white duck jacket,
was making change for customer
whom he had been shaving.
'Hullo, Joel" said this individual.
what are you up to?'
"Oh, the mills shut down for
few weeks, an I'm off hop-piclzin'
with the family" answered Becraft
Friend of mine, here" he continued,
indicating Rossiter, wants you to
fix him up
The BARRIERS attention was for the
first time directed to the companion
of the Becraft brothers.
SAY" he began.
NO Jollyin', now" interrupted Joe.
HE took an oath while ago that he
wouldn't get shave or hair cut till
you cleaned your streets properly,
but he's backed OUT
The barber exploded in a guffaw.
Lucky for him he has, he an
swered, unless he means to hire out
to Forepaugh or Buffalo Bill as the
wild man of Borneo''
While Rossiter's locks were being
trimmed and his beard removed. Joe
Becraft and mis- tonsorial friend kept
their tongues continually wagging.
Their conversation had chiefly to do
with the town of their nativity and
certain portion of its inhabitants.
and Rossiter listened with not a little
inward amusement, for each Young
man had, in his way, a sense of broad
humor that flashed out in their COM
ments upon people. Finally the bar
ber's task was accomplished, and he
removed the soiled apron from Ros-
siter's neck with a flourish and a
There you are, sir!''
"Gosh!" Joe Becraft exclaimed, ST
wouldn't believe you were the same
fellow
The change in the yagabond's APP
pearance was indeed great His
rather large. clear-cut features