Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-01-03


! stares greeted her remark. Soup"
at looks to me loike medicine-or
durty dishwather. Is ut good?"
Excellent. Try it and see."
Ready tasted gingerly, all eyes upon
him.
IT'S all roight, fellers, go ahead!"
The quail was greeted with, Say,
will you look at the sparrows!" and
as for the salad, it was refused with
scorn, until Reddy, the official taster,'
tried it. and remarked:
1T amt so worse-its kind av'
grass hash!"
Ices and nuts, cheese and fruit dis
appeared without comment.
What do you say to toast?' said
Thornton, finally 81 have one that l
should like to propose in this very
superior brand of cider. Let's stand
and drink ito the ladies, God bless
| EN-"
The IL looked anxiously from one to
another, slid from their chairs and
drank perfunctorily. THE Ladies'
didn't awaken any chivalric thrills in
their manly breasts. The ones they
knew were apt to be overworked, and
over sharp of tongue-but if Thornton
wanted to drink to the ladies"-why,
that settled it, Hutton broke the si-
lence that followed Thornton's toast,
with
I Here's to Mr.. Thornton, the best
Teller know, and to his grill" They
drank to that with real enthusiasm,
crying, Speech, speech Thornton
rose and laughed, and cleared his
throat.
Ladies and gentlemen: / am not
much of speech-maker, as you will
find out I'm just a quiet sort of a
fellow who likes his friends and
wants his friends to like him. So you
see I'm very much flattered by the
toast offered by my good 2omrade,
Hutton. l think, with your permits
sion, will now resign the floor to our
guest of honor, Miss Katherine Win,
throp."
Hear, hear! Three toots for the
lady"
I'm afraid that this is conspiracy
on the part of our host. l never made
speech before in my life, and I'm
| frightened to death. Reddy, stop grim
ming like that. I'D like to tell you
that this is the jolliest dinner l ever
went to in my life, and I've enjoyed
every minute of it, thanks to our host
and you. 1 wish you every good thing
and l ask you if you will all dine with
me some time? This isn't much of
speech, is it?"
AS Katherine sat down, almost dis.
concerted at the steady gaze of IL
pairs of eyes, Reddy O'Connor was on
his feet.
I'D loike to say that ivry domned
wan av us 'ull be on hand fer that
| dinner-and if any Teller has got any
excuses comm he kin make thin to
Reddy O'Connor! AS fer Mr.. Thorn
ton, we all know the sort of Teller he
is, fer he's the frind av' us all re-
mimber the furst tonne l laid eyes on
him, | thought he was wan av' thin
Cholly boys, an | SEE to him, SEE l,
Hello Algy, where did We git yer
lid? An he SEE 10 me, SEE he, AT tho
lid store, yer little Mucker, did we lift
yours?' er somethin' to that effect,
| L
right, all right, an frum that minute
him an me has been frinds, an the
Teller tibet SEE anything against him
gifts his face punched by Reddy OCon'
nor-see?"
Reddy sat down amidst shouts Of
laughter, when to everyone's sur
prise, the shy eight-year-old boot.
black, commonly called the Kid" slid
off his chair to speak.
"Mr. Thornton's been awful kind to
ma an me an the kids, an all you
fellers know he's awful kind helpin'
fella git start, an IT," here en-
barrassment threatened to envelop
him entirely, so he marched to Thorn
tons side, and solemnly proffered
package Il got present fer YOU he
explained. Il didn't have much money
to spend, so the fella trusted me fer
tits a box of blackin'-its the best
blackin made" - proudly. Thornton
swallowed hard as he accepted it, and
not boy so much as grinned. They
knew what sacrifices it meant to give
presents.
Il think l never had a present
liked so WE'LL" Thornton managed to
say, "and no hands except yours, Tim,
shall ever put this precious backing
on my boots. Thank you, old chap
thank you all for coming and giving
me such happy day. / feel as rich
as Croesus with such friends"
Then the dinner broke up, SO that
the boys could get to work on their
evening editions, and Mrs. Winthrop
thanked Thornton for most enter.
tanning experience. AS she stopped to
say farewell to Reddy, Katherine put
out her hand to her host.
IT'S very genuine, and very sweet"
she said. Il thank you for it all. 7
like your friends and l hope that I