Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-05-03


the expenses and the use OF the CO.
operative hall 10 make the presenta
ton.
That" says lsaacs, sarcastic like
lis more'n | care TO stand up In front
OF The village and take" In course
they say as what he said was right
and they'd be bringing ridicule on the
whole afialr. They got 50 puzzled
they called me In, and asked what
was TO be done.
"The first thing" | says. very firm
lis TO pay for the drinks OF these last
two meetings"
They didn't like this at all; but
they was In such fix that they paid
me, very grudging.
Then Isaacs got up and spoke very
feeling.
Fellow members" he says. "you
meant well by me, and I'll take the
will for the deed Surprising you
save the cost OF the purse, and the
hall. and hand over the balance
now"
But they wouldn't listen to this.
Everybody had been told there would
he i public meeting. and they'd gone
as far as TO bespeak the hall.
Then Isaacs stood up and tapped on
the table.
Gentlemen" he said. lust listen
to me- You cant give no testimonial
when you amt got nobody 10 give II
to; and you can't give none when
you haven't none to give. unless you
pretend you have. Pretend. do you
see?" He winked at them terribly
artfrl.
Suppose the squire or some one
looks into III" suggested Brown.
AS Is like enough" says Phillips.
lslacs spreads out his hands and
laughs. a sort of fat Jewish laugh
he had, II you know what | mean.
IF money was put in the purse"
he says, 1T doesn't follow as it would
stop there. Ii might be handed back
after the meeting for example" He
winked again. And they looked at
one another and winked. too. Never
saw winking like 1t in my parlor since
we lost Lizzie Harmer. the barmaid
what my wife sent of sudden. A
good-looking gal she was. and no
fault to find with her, that could
see: but women is queer in their
ideas.
So they agreed TO make up sort
of temporary purse for the lopks OF
il. 10 be handed back after the meet
ing.
THE handsomer We make it, says
Isaacs. 1.-The more they'll feel bound
to do when your turns comet So
they put five pounds each. including
lsaacs himself. what made somewhere
about eco. reckon.
Saturday week they held the meet
ing very successful. The squire was
in the chair. and the doctor close be-
side him. Isaacs had some new Sec
ond-hand clothes on, and his hair cut.
and shave at Browns, and a sort
of wash. Never knew such a change
in any man. He had a smart young
fellow from London with him. Mr..
Moses, he said his name was.
II we didn't hardly know lsaacs
when we saw him. you might have
thought we'd never knowed him at
all. TO hear the things the speaker
said. He was a man. 1t seemed
what had every virtue that ever was
invented. He was an ornament to
the village-what don't say he
wasn't. in his new secondhand suit.
Isaacs spoke very feeling, as you
wouldn't have thought.
The contents of this purse means
different to me from what them as
subscribed knows he said. with
tears in his eyes. Williams and
Brown and Phillips srinned at one an
other. 1T Is. in fact. less a gift, to
nv mind. than a loan, which | shall
always owe to my kind friends TO
repay. Mr.. Chairman, and ladies ana
gents, thank you.
When he had finished they cheered
till the cobwebs shook down OF the
ceiling Williams moved "a vote OF
thanks to the squire for presiding,
and the squire moved a vote TO VIII
liams for asking him to preside; ana
everybody moved votes OF thanks 10
everybody else. Twenty minutes be-
fore closing time, moved the ad-
journment OF the meeting for re-
freshments. and they all moved their
selves TO my house. A rare busy time
we had; and my missus said as, 1or
once. I'd showed presence OF mind.
Isaacs was so overcome that he
went straight home. but Testimonial
and the others was in the bar-par-
lor. It'll nigh break his heart, paying
It back tomorrow morning" ne re-
marked, shaking his head, but It
serves him right"
| went with them next morning 10
see him. Leastways went. didn't
see him then-or since! A man was
painting q new name over the shop.
It was opening under new and I'M
proved management, the young man
named Moses said. MIR. Isaacs had
sold 4 to him, and had left the neigh
A..hood He had hou9ht the purse.