The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-02-26
! STUDY IN VALUES
Copyrighted. 1902. by The Author. Pub. Co
By Eleanor Wat

The train came to standstill in
front of the little, implanted depot
Only one man stepped off. and with
but moments pause tie train steam
ed on again.
The stranger stood a moment,
glancing half curiousiy down the line
of old, wooden buildings that formed
the one street Same old place" he
thought with a half amused smile
IF old Rip Van Wrinkle had come
back here after his twenty years
sleep he'd never have known he'd
been asleep. It's the old town that
has taken a twenty years nap this
time, though he solilOquiZed. There
is not a new building and hardly
change of any kind since l left
AS he picked up his grip and turned
towards the old weather beaten hotel.
he became conscious that he was the
center of interest to the loafers loung-
ing about the platform.
An hour later he sat By the open
window OF his room T;editatively
smoking. The half amused smile re-
turned to his face as he thought of
the greetings he had just received. Il
wonder who all the old dodgers are.
anyway" he reflected. I've a dim
idea tsat | used to know them, but
I've had too much else to think of in
the last twenty years to remember
them now.
Il wonder if Jack Strong is still in
this little opehorse town" his
thoughts ran on. Poor old Jack. |
haven't thought of him before in years.
| used to think the sun rcvolved
around Jack. Well, suppose he has
vegitated here until he Is like the rest
OF those old fogies down there. It's a
shame, too. for Jack was as bright.
ambitious a boy as you will often find.
l. it hadn't been for that conscience
of his that wouldn't let him leave
home after his fathers accident, he
might have made his way in the
world without any trouble" The law
yer pulled his cigar in silence for a
while. Presently the uoor opened and
the landlord entered with i,itccer
of water Grey lazily turned his head
and inquired Does Jack Strong live
here YETI
Jack Strong? You bet he does.
Brownsville wouldn't be Brownsville
without Jack. Poor fellow. he's beeh
having hard luck this last year.
though. The gossip-lovirg landlord
perched himself on the edge of the
table glad of an excuse to talk, and
rambled on for the next half-hOur.
BY the end o. that time his guest was
in possession of the principal events
of Strong's life during the past TWEEN
ty years.
Hum. lost everything he had but
the old homo in that FIRE, did he? Had
to mortsaCc the homestead to get
funds to stoch up again. had lis own
family and the old folks to support.
his old father and mother heart-brok-
en- at the idea of leaving the home
stead. Why isn't he just the man I'm
looking for in this little deal?" he
sCliloQui2ed II can make good use
of him and do him good turn at the
same time" He smoked on thought
fully for some time. then looked at his
watch. Guess ri look the old fellow
up" he concluded. AS he rose he
glanced compiacently at the prosper
Gus, elegantly attired figure reflected
in the cracked mirror and thought of
the probable contrast between his
appearance and that of his old chum.
He sauntered down the street and
into the open door under the modest
sign u. Z. Strcng." A man in
worn, limiting suit fastened for