Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-11-13

ySkSS2y place the first rays OF the
sun were touching the slate covered
spire of the largest church in town.
He went to public wagon yard and
hitched his horse to one Of the long
racks. A mountain family he knew
slightly had camped in the yard, Sleep
and were making coffee over little
fire. Pole wanted cup of the bever.
age, but he passed on into a grocery
store across the street and bought
dimes worth Of cheese and bareback
crackers. This was his breakfast. He
washed 1t down with a dipper Of water
from the street well and sat around
the store chatting with the clerk, who
was sprinkling the floor and sweeping
and busting the long room. The clerk
was redheaded young man with a
short, bristling mustache, and suit
Of clothes that was too large for him.
Don't Mr.. Craig stay around Finch
| ers warehouse a good deal?" Pole
asked as the clerk rested for moment
| on his broom near him.
mighty nigh all day long," was the
reply. Him an Fincher's some kin,
| I think"
ION his wife's SIDE" said Pole. Il
want to see Mr.. Craig. wonder eft
he'll be dewn thar this mornin'."
"Purty apt" said the clerk. "Finch-
er's his best friend sence his bust up,
an they are mighty thick. l reckon he
gifts the cold shoulder at lots O
places"
you don't sayw
IAN Of course he wants somewhat
to go besides home. In passin' I've
seed i'm a-fgurin' several times at
Fincher's desk. They say he's got
some notion O workin' fer Fincher as
his bookkeeper."
"Well, he'll have to make a Twin
some way" said Pole.
The clerk laughed significantly.
"Ef 1t amt already mazda" said he
with smile.
Pole stood up. II don't think that's
right" he said Co... Me nur you
nur nobody hain't got no right to hint
at what we don't know ncthin' about.
Mr.. Craig may "a lost ever cent he
had"
"In a pigs valise!" sneered the red
headed man. I'D bet my hat he's got
money-an' plenty of it, huh!'
well, l don't know nothin' about
it." said Pole, still colby. "An' what's
more, Dunn, I amt a-goin' about
smirchin' any helpless mans character
nuther. Eff knowed he had made by
the bust, I'd talk different, but don't
know it."
"Oh, see which side you are on
Baker," laughed the clerk. Folks are
about equally divided. Half is fer i'm
an half agin. But mark my words
Craig will slide out o. this town some
day an be heerd of after awhile a-git
tin started agin some'r's else. Thai
racket has been worked to death al
over the country"
ther. Half an hour passed. Customer
were coming in from the wagon yari
and examining the wares OH the coun
tiers and making slow purchases. Thu
proprietor came in and let the clerk g
to breakfast. Pole stood in the door
way looking up the street in the direc
ton of Craig's residence. Presently h
saw the ex-banker coming from tn
postofice reading his mail. Pole step
ped back into the store and let him g
by; then he went to the door agail
and saw Craig go into Fincher's ware
house at the end of the next block o
struggling, wooden buildings. Pol
sauntered down the sidewalk in tina
direction, passing the front door of TIL
warehouse without looking in. Th
door ut the side of the house had
long platform before it, and on
Fincher, the proprietor, was WEIGHING
bales of hay which We're being unload
ed from several wagons by the cour
trymen who were disposing Of it.
"Hello, Mr.. Finchery' Pole greete
him Familiarity. want any help III
loadin'?"
Hello, Baker!'' said Fincher, lool
ing up from the blankbook in which b
was recording the weights. mo. l reel
on they can handle it all right" Fincl
er was short, fat man, very bald an
with a round, laughing face. He ha
known Pole long time and consit
cred him a most amusing characte
n "How do you come on, Pole?'
"Oh, about as common. Jest though
them fellers looked sorter lightweight
The men on the wagon laughed 9
they thumped bale of hay on to I'll
platform. You'd better dry up" OF
of them said. well git the mayor
put you to work agin."
"Well, he'll have to be quicker abo,
it than he was the last time" said Pc
dryly.
Some one laughed Justify from b
hind tall stack Of wheat in bags
the warehouse. 1t was Lawyer TT
bue. He came round and picked I
Fincher's daily paper, as he did evel
morning, and sat down and began
read it.
..Now you are talkin'," he sal
'Thar was more rest in that Job, Pol
than any you ever undertook. Thu
tell me you didn't crack rock"
Fincher laughed as he closed b
book and struck Baker with it pla
fully. pole was too tired to do tn
job" he said. HE was born that way
Say, Mr.. Trabue," retaliated Pc
} "did you ever heer how got the be
q Mr.. Fincher in a chicken trader"
} II don't think I ever did, Pole
laughed the lawyer, expectantly. "Hc
} was itT"
"Oh, come off, don't so over th
| 500 In - caid Ftnchor A1shinp