The Cairo bulletin., 1906-05-08
THE UNDOING
OF UNCLE ZEKE.

dent. There can be strenuosity In
speech as well as in action Quite re
Gently the postmaster at certain
village on the eastern shore related
an incident wherein the strenuousiIy o
speech proved Uncle Ieke's undoing.
We'll" the postmaster admitted, re
nctantly, there don't many drum
mers stop In the village over might
liz they can get away-not now they
don't. They used to- every one,
The drummers used TO come down
to Kings Crossing that's seven miles
from here--on the mornin' train, and
Uncle Zeke. that run the hotel here
would always he on hand TO drive
them over, 50 they didn't take liv-
cry team. They would calculate to
get through in the village, an catch
the evening train at the Crossing.
There wasn't but one train each way
in the day.
That's what they calculated on, but
| that didn't suit Uncle Zeke- naturally
i like he wanted them TO stay over
night OF his hotel, and they did.
1T was this way. The train passed
/ the Crossing at seven o'clock in the
evening Wei, when there was a
drummer at the hotel, supper had a
way OF bein kinder late. so it was
generally bout half.past five before
Uncle Zeke got his mule Solomon
hitehed up ready to drive EN- down
They's finally get started. though, an
make right good time for about three
miles, an then right in the middle
of the river ford that mule solomon
would balk, an Of all the champion
bakers. Solomon sure took the cake
Never heard Of Solomon halkin any
where else, or any time cept when
there was a drummer in The buggy
but he never missed it then. | do he.
lieye' that mule could size up Il drum
mer half mile off.
We'll. as said, solomon would
balk He would just stand there in
the middle OF the ford, with his legs
braced out an his ears laid back an
all the cussin' ever heard wouldn't
bulge him an inch There was just
one thing that would move him.
When he heard the faint far-off whistle
of the train for Kings Crossing he
would kinder sigh, gather his legs
up. an calmly walk on Wasn't no
use then--couldn possibly get to the
Crossing in time to catch the train
Nothin TO do but turn round an
come back to the village, there not
hein any hotel at the Crossing Fun
ny thing shat mule solomon never
baked in the mornin', always got to
the Crossing in plenty of time for the
train.
Uncle Zeke made right good
thing out OF his hotel for long time,
an was powerful fond of that mule.
Used TO might near cry when he had
TO larrup him when he was a-balkin'
in the water. u
well. one day Uncle Zeke brought
out a big Wall street fellow that want
ed to look over some oyster interests. !
He fooled around the country all day, |
an in the afternoon came back TO the /.
hotel AS per usual, supper got kinder |
late They was eatin' when a young |
fellow rode up on a bicycle with a |
telegram that the agent at the Cross
ing had sent on for the Wall street !
man 1t must have been right impor
tant, for when he read it he never
stopped to finish his supper, but
grabbed his hat an yelled for Uncle
Zeke to get him 10 the railroad in no
.ime--a special would come along and
pick him up
I'm give you $50 to make 1t in
IS minutes, he says to Uncle Zeke,
an you oughter seen that old rascal
hump hisself an get the harness on
solomon,
well they got off in a hurry an
we're evidently goin to do that seven
niles in A. minutes all right at that
sait-till they come 10 the ford. You
zee. the Wall street fellow had big
diamond in his shirt, an so on. an
or he first time in his life Solomon
made a mistake-took i'm for a drum.
ner When they got in the middle
# the ford Solomon kinder leaned up
gainst hisself an waited for the Gus
omary cussin' 1t come, but not the
customary kind. That Wall street fel
ow like to have had fl.
Take the hide on him he wells
I'll give you 500 to get to the sta.
ion By $50 he says.
Uncle Zeke sure wanted that money
n the way he. whaled into Solomon
fas a caution Solomon stood it all
III Uncle Zeke called him a foo
NILE; that took all the stiffening out
( him. and as he gave a heartbroken
igh walked slowly out of the watgi
nd lay down in the middle of the
Dad on the bank. Uncle Zeke whaled
nd walloped him. but wasn't no use
olomon felt that he had been be
-ayed and slandered by a friend be
al loved and served. and his heart
as broke. He wouldn't get up-thtl
renuosity Of language had been toe
iuch for him.
Finally the New York fellow
rabbed his grip an started TO walk .
e wouldn't even give Uncle zeke
Dilar for bringin' him that far He
lt a farmer down the road to take
Ina in his wagon. an the agent saio =
3 got TO the Crossing bout seyer =
click "a mad no u-as ahouf 10 choke -