The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1908-10-23


the crowd made way for the recep-
tiou committee to step close to the
track. With 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. "All
aboard" shouted the conductor. sig.
mailing the engineer.
As the engine began 10 gather mo-
mentum slowly, IN puffy Jerks. for the
up grade 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, and 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,
at 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. Hero.
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-
sented a shrinking front to the pub.
lie eye. The oldest, of about 45 sum
mers. unkempt and forlom-eyed. gath
cred the youngest. aged two, to her
breast, grouped around her the re-
naming seven, ranging from Is down.
and cast her eyes on the ground in
frightened confusion. The old miner
braced himself, and turned bravely
toward the crowd. We'll, ye see, Mr..
Pendleton," he said, keeping his eye
on the mildfa storekeeper, 1T was
somethin' like 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 doin' odd
jobs round the diggin's and was clean
beat out an lonely-like. 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 goin' TO
pull up stakes an make tracks for the
poor farm. So / seq: Come along
with me TO the parsons. the one what
peddles his gospel talk through the
minin' country SEE l. because there
didn't seem to be nothin' else TO do,
seems how she didn't have no per-
tector, An | thought mebbe ye
wouldn't be terrible put out, gentle
rlen, if used the rest OF the money
to come back to Saugers an set up
Mely an the children"
The crowd was very quiet
But what about your pile, Joe?"
asked Spandling after a moment
How much, and where did you make
the striker"
Striker" repeated Joe in bewiider-
ment. Il didn't make none this time.
less Melys the strike"
A groan ran through the multitude,
disappointment was pictured on
hundred faces. some looked fairly men.
acing. 1t was not often that Sauger's
bestirred itself as it 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 feelin'
for Charley Mason glarin out of your
eyes. The reception committee will
be responsible for the drawin up of
a testimonial to thet 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
panned out such nuggets Gs these
here?" pointing to the eight young
women. Il find," he continued. that
this estimable lady, Mrs. Joseph Gun.
mill, Is a past master at the wash tub.
What do you say to setting her up in
The Grubstake Laundry and re-
questing that heather clothes,destroy-
er, Chin Lee, to seek another sheep
ranger"
Sauger's gave 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.
ported band was not wasted. II was
not equal to the Wedding March"
b,,t ola loo ond 10 ,,sffo