The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-10-08

NhuHiils Wuous tnTfe ulOulnh btlOTtf
the very dogs had not considered
worth bark.
An echoing whistle from far down
the canyon at last brought silence. and
the crowd made way for the recep
ton committee TO step close to the
track. With a warning screech from
the engine and a changing OF the bell.
the train swept around a curve. rum.
bled over the bridge. and stopped. pun.
ing impatiently. Sauger's held its
breath
AT last a familiar figure was seen
to descend from the high steps. IAN
aboard" shouted the conductor. sig.
mailing the engineer.
As the engine began TO gather no
mentum slowly. In puffy jerks. for the
up grade run. there was spilled frcm
! the second day coach an accumulation
OF females OF assorted sizes. which
piled up in heap on the cindery path
beside the track, then rose. one by
one. and meekly tagged the steps Of
Joseph Cunnlll. capitalist
The train crept out OF sight around
the curve. but Sauger's did not know
A. The brass band was silent. and the
Z reception committee stood stock still
and stared stupidity. The committee
az last. regained It's presence of mird.
and stepped mp 20 Old Joe. but sLu-
gers guest OF honor was timidly ma.
king for the trail behind the station,
which was the short cut 20 the town.
Isaac Pendleton stopped him. Hero.
Joe, old fellow. you Amt goin TO giye
us the cold shoulder. are your What
YOU IN such n hurry for?'
"Ask-ask her; she'll tell ye." be
stammered. pointing behind him. Tie
gaze OF the crowd was transferred IN
the aggregation OF females. which pre-
scented shrinking front 20 the pub
lie eye. The oldest OF about 40 sum
mers. unkempt and forlomcyed. gath.
cred the youngest. aged two. TO her
breast, grouped around her the re
naming seven. ranging from rs down
and cast her eyes on the ground In
I frightened confusion The old miner
braced himself. and turned brayely
toward the crowd Wen. sc 500. MIR.
pcndleton." he said keeping his eye
on the mlld-faced stOrekecper. 1T was
somethin' Ike this. was prospect
IN "a smile went the rounds OF the
crowd-"an' that night the mule died.
an ! was peggin' along afoot. kinder
lonesome. an come across. down the
creek. woman and eight kids what
their husband and father had died a
week before. and she'd been dom odd
Jobs round the diggin's and was clean
beat out an lonoy.hke. Wen. when
! come along. she Jest cried. she was
so glad 20 see me- cause ! looked Ike
her old dad. an the children called
me grandpap. An she was goin' TO
pun up stakes an make tracks for the
poor farm. SO ! seq Come along
with me TO the parsons. the one what
peddlos his gospel talk through the
mimi country seq |. because there
didn't seem 20 be nothin else TO do,
seems how she didn't have no per
tcctor. An thought mebhe We
wouldn't be terrible put out. gentle
men. n used the rest of the money
TO come back TO Sauger's an set up
Molly an the children"
The crowd was very quiet.
But what about your pile. Joe?"
asked Spandling after moment.
How much. and where did you make
the striker"
Striker" repeated Joe In bewilder-
ment Il didn't make none this time.
less Mely's the strike"
A groan ran through the multitude.
disappointment was pictured on
hundred faces. some looked fairly men.
acing. II was not often that Sauger's
bostirred itself as II had for this oc-
casion which had ended SO absurdly.
They would be a butt for the ridicule
OF the whole county.
Suddenly. the hotel man stepped up
TO the woman and spoke to her in a
low tone. Then he faced the crowd
Boys. you're scarin' the poor crit
turs TO death. with the tender feelln'
for Charley Mason glarin' out OF your
eyes. The reception committee viii
be responsible for the DRAWN up OF
a testimonial 10 that gentleman: you
leave that To us. But we're a pack OF
fools. just the same. not to see that
this Is the biggest joke In California.
bigger than the Barneses' strike. II
Old Joe didn't bring back nine times
more than we expected. then I'm
crazy. Whoever heard OF a claim that
PANIED out such nuggets as these
here?" pointing to the eight young
women. Il find" he continued. that
this estimable lady. Mrs. Joseph Cum
mill. Is past master at the wash tub.
What do you say 10 setting her up in
The Grubstake Laundry and re-
questing that heather clothes-destroy-
er. Chin Ice. 10 seek another sheep
ranger"
Sauger's gave a lusty roar. Clark
had touched vulnerable spot. Every
man who wore a collar clutched at it's
ragged edges with one hand. and
threw his hat in the air with the
other.
The bus was filled with Sauger's
guests on its way to town. and the i'm.