Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-10-08


the canyon at last brought silence, and
the crowd made way for the recep.
ton committee to step close TO the
track. With n warning screech from
the engine and a changing OF tho bell,
the train swept around a curve. rum.
bled over the bridge. and stopped, pun.
Ing impatiently. Sauger's held its
breath.
At last n familiar figure was seen
TO descend from the high steps. "All
aboard" shouted the conductor. sig.
mailing the engineer.
Az the engine began to gather mo.
mentum slowly, In puffy Jerks. for the
upgrade run, there was spilled from
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, ant meekly tagged the steps of
Joseph Cunnill, capitalist.
The train crept out of sight around
the curve. but Sauger's did not know
1t. The brass band was silent. and the
reception committee stood stock still,
and stared stupidity. The committee,
ut last. regained its presence OF mind.
and stepped up to Old Joe. but Sau.
gers guest Of honor was timidly ma.
king for the trail behind the station.
which was the short cut to the town.
Isaac PendletOn stopped him. Here.
Joe, old fellow, you amt goin' TO give
us the cold shoulder. are you? What
YOU In such a hurry for?"
"Ask-ask her; she'll tell ye." he
stammered, pointing behind him. The
gaze Of the crowd was transferred TO
the aggregation of females, which pre-.
scented a shrinking frCnt to the pub.
lie eye. The oldest, of about 80 sum.
mers. unkempt and forlorn.eyed. gath.
cred the youngest. aged two. 10 her
breast. grouped around her the re-
naming seven. ranging from rs down,
and cast her eyes on the ground In
frightened confusion. The old miner
braced himself. and turned bravely
toward the crowd. We'll, we see, Mr..
Pendleton." he said, keeping his eye
on the mlld.faced storekeeper, 1T was
somethin' Hike 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, a woman and eight kids what
their husband and father had died a
week before. and she'd been dom odd
Jobs round the dlggin's and was clean
beat out an lonely-llke. Well. when
! come along, she jest cried. she was
so glad TO see me. cause looked like
her old dad. an the children called
me grandpap. An she was goln' 10
pull up stakes an make tracks for the
poor farm. SO | SEE: Come along
with me TO the parsons. the one what
peddles his gospel talk through the
mimi country seq /, because there
didn't seem TO be nothin' else TO do,
seeln's how she didn't have no per-
tector. An | thought mebbe we
wouldn't be terrible put out. gentle
men, II used the rest OF the money
to come back to Saugers an set up
Nelly 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-
mont. 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.
aclng. IL was not often that Saugers
bestlrred itself as II had for this oc.
caslon which had ended 20 absurdly.
They would be a butt for the ridicule
OF the whole county.
Suddenly. the hotel man stepped NJ
TO the woman and spoke 20 her in
low tone. Then he faced the crowd.
Boys. you're scarln' the poor crit.
turs TO death, with the tender feelIn'
for Charley Mason glRrin' out OF your
eyes. The reception committee viii
be responsible for the DRAWN up OF
a testimonial TO 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 harnesses strike. II
Old Joe didn't bring back nine times
more than we expected. then I'm
crazy. Whoever heard OF claim that
PANIED out such nuggets as these
here?" pointing to the eight young
women. Il find." he continued, that
this estimRble lady. Mrs. Joseph Gun.
Mill, is past master al the wash tub.
What do you say TO setting her up n
The Grubstake Laundry, and re.
qaseting that heather clothea-destroy.
or, Chin Lee. TO seek another sheep.
ranger"
Sauger's gave lusty roar Clark
had touched q vulnerable spot. Every
man who wore collar clutched at it's
ragged edges with one hand. and
threw his hat in the air with the
other.
The bus was fllled with sauKer's
=. A.