The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-27

came. 'Tain't altogether clear what his
contr'y disposition had to do with it,
There's more things amt clear to
you nor there is to be found in Holy
Scripter," said old man Greenhut, an
grily. IF you was to slip l reckon you
wouldn't see your way clear to fall
| down. More'n likely f man was to
! take little slate an pencil an write
down every single dodgasted thing you
know, r ever did know, r ever will
know. an add 'em all up together,
'twouldn't sum up as much as a hound
pup O. the wilderness knows O. the plan
o. salvation"
''HowsOmeveT, bein' as you're so well
'quainted with Jim Foster, more'n
likely you en- tell this story better'n
l was dom of it. Mebbe you'll tell
these here gentlemen about that game
o drawn Jim Foster set into t brung
disaster to Arkansas City. l reckon you
set into the game yourself, p'r'aps. Go
on an tell US about it,"
Yes, go on" said Jake Winterbot-
tom, willing enough TO add to Mr.. Pep
per's embarrassment, and Joe Bassett
and the others Clipped in readily
enough. Tell US the story; we sure
would like to hear about that game"
But Owen Pepper was by no means
acquiescent. Il don't know nothin
about no game with Jim Foster into
it, he said, sulkily, AN what's more
don't believe there never was no such
game"
"Oho" said old man Greenhut, Ge-
risively. That's the how on it, is it.?
There is RELY somepin' t you're
'bleeged to say you don't know nothin'
about, an you try to make up for
it by claimin' t you don't b'leeve it,
Huh"
After sputtering for spell the old
man took out a large black cigar and
lighted it. Then walking around to his
favorite seat by the window, he put his
feet on the sill and smoked until he
was calm enough to resume the telling
of his story
You wouldn't hardly believe t
mis'able critter like Jim Foster, born
with crick in his disposition t made
him contradict everybody. an made
him know all sorts O. things t want
so, cd be the means O. keepin' Arkan-
sas City I'm haVin' a harbor. But that's
what ne done, right here in my own
back room.
Must "a been ten or fifteen years
ago, afOre the river commission had
spent all the money there was on earth.
an when they was tryin' to figger out
more ways o. spendin', t some on 'em
peared to find out all of a sudden t
there was place or the map called
Arkansas City, an bein' as they'd
fixed up all the other landin's on the
river they sent a leftenant in the army
down here to see if he cd find some
way to spend some of the money here
"Well, this here leftenant, his name
was Crosby, he reckcned a harbor d
be about the right thing, an he monk
eyed round oonjurin' on whether it d
be better to dig the harbor outen the
bank O. the river or build the bank up
round the harbor.
Took him some time, an bein' some
of a spot outside of office hours. he
used to call in here evenin's when he
was tired workin' sides settin' in at
game o. draw 'casional.
Jim Foster. him bein' a engineer, an
KNOWN it all. like ] was sayin, he
come outen the doctors care about this
time an set himself up to give the lef-
tenant pints about this here harbor
thing, till the leftenant come to be toll
able nigh wore out lister come round
here nights an ask whether anybody in
town d be willing to throw Foster
overheard if twas made with while.
4 wouldn't mind he says, if the zap
RELY knowed what he was taIkin'
that knows it all; he don't know moth
in.
"WeIl. / told him | knowed it was
hard, but | says faint the Arkansas
City way for to throw folks overheard,
no matter how wuthless they is, bein'
as there's most arays some use to be
made of em.
THAT accounts" explained the old
man, suddenly breaking off in his story
and glaring at Mr.. Owen Pepper, that
accounts FIR some queer critters bein'
into our midst"
There was no reply to this and he
went on: THE leftenant, he says he's
sorry. 'Pcared like it was almost need
full for to root out Jim Foster, hip an
thigh, an he'd do il hisself on'y f'r
Foster bein' smaller'n him an some
weak FIN sickness. He'd be willih'.