Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-09-18


drink which Joe Becraft craved,
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 I know what it isl an
syered Rossiter, for several times
he had seen Becraft furtively regard
ing his hair and beard.
do your"
81 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 I
will. You'll pay me if you've got
anythin' to pay with, an you'll have
it all right after ittle-'
81 don't believe there are many who
would take your view of it,
"P'raps not, for, to9ten the truth,
you amt what the boys would call
"a SWELL But a shave an hair cut'n
make a sight of difference. I know
of a 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
a cloud of dust in their faces.
''Thunder!" calculated Joe Be
craft, 1--WE swallowed enough nasty
stuff for one day. Do you know" he
added, 'for a 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 a dapper young man,
with deliberately brushed hair and a
not over-clean white duck jacket,
was making change for a customer
whom he had been shaving.
"Hullo, Joel" said this individual,
what are you up TOP"
''Oh, the mills shut down for a
few weeks, an I'm off hop-pickin'
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.
mo 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 his tonsorial friend kept
their tongues continually wagging.
Their conversation had chiefly to do
with the town of their nativity and
a certain portion of it's inhabitants,
and Rossiter listened with not 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, ct
fellow"
The change in the vagabond's ap-
pearance was indeed great. His
rather large, clear-cut features
showed to an advantage without
beard or mustache, and though the
lines of his chin indicated a lack of
decision, one studying his face for
the first time would have said that
its possessor was endowed with d
strong individuality. His deep brown
eyes were laughing and grave by
turns. The discomfort and bitterness
which showed in the expression of
his mouth were not to be seen habit
ually. Dissipation had left no mark
upon his countenance, for although
at times Rossiter had imbibed freely,
he was very far from being a drunk
ard; indeed. he had no special taste
for liquor, and had frequently re-
| sorted to it not so much because he
craved it as because it took him out
| of himself.
Becraft produced some silver and
| paid his townsfe1low.
Its my treat to-day" he ex-
planned.
They now retraced their steps to
Keneseo street, and followed this
| thoroughfare until they came to the
elaborate liff-hridUe Snanninr the