The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-04-17

trHaA"e7As
Nope. l was coming downstairs.
Why"
No matter. All you know is that
Mr. Meeker is looking for another
place."
"Yes'm. and l know the reason.
What" exclaimed Justin, sharply,
The lad eyed him steadily as he
walked into the room
You warn't worth keepin'." be said,
boldly. You was stalled. A feller's
got 10 be a pacemaker. nowadays, to
get ~anywheres. 'Tsin't what he's done.
or what he's doin' in a hole. It's what
folks see he's good for. and is goin' to
do in spite of EN- all. You've done
right by others. but you amt done
right by yourself. You stopped
pushin, Don't you see that? They
see it, and that minute you was put
down as one OF them as would be
comm along behind"
Edison Peck" the exclamation Of
Mrs. Meeker rang wrsthfully. Not
another word. The idea Of such i'm
pudence and audaolty from you. Why.
you're not out Of short trousers yet.
What are you thinking of"
"0f you and Mr.. Meeker." blurted
the boy. Il can see and read and
hear, cant 1? Amt | one of the fam
lily, with a word to say out OF my own
thoughts? tell you he's got it in
him and he don't know It,"
Go OUT" cried Leona, aghast at
what to her sounded an unforgivable
insult.
But Justin Meeker lifted a detain-
ing hand as the tousled head turned
toward the door.
Watt" ne said. Come here, Edi-
son. SIT down. THERE Who has
been telling you this Let him alone.
my dear. Some malicious tongue has
been busy as usual. Now. my boy, go
ahead. What have you heard said!"
"Nothin' much. Mis- Meeker doesn't
understand. Neither do you, It's all
myself and hard pushin' to say. with
her gettin' mad. but | amt through
yet. I'll keep a BLOWN It out and
get atop OF wanting to back down"
Tears we're starting In the anxious
orbs Of Edison; his lips Quivered, but
his jaw set. de~terminedly. as he
clutched the chairs rungs. He looked
like one bracing for the extraction Of
a tooth.
Il say you've got It in you and you
don't know It," he bolted. Didn't
you give yourself dead away talkin'?
'Spose I'd hire a man who said what
you did to Mis- Meeksr and expect
him to last? He couldn't. Why, he
just couldn't last"
Justin was gazing thoughtfully at
the floor.
What is it l don't know" he asked.
quietly.
How to kick yourself into doin'
more than you're asked to do" said
Edison Peck. solemnly. That's what
If you was In business on your own
hook, It would be pinch and worry
and fret and reach up, shown by
others. learnin' their ways, graspin
chances TO get ahead, maxim yourself
a boss In the crowd and then MOI
stoppin'. OH you'd be agertated
then, | guess, for fear of Dustin up
or lettln' others skate by you. You
make circles on the ice, you do, when
you ought to be ~pluggiu' across the
pond. There"
He paused, red and painting. Meek.
er was biting his lip. Something about
children and fools" crossed his mind
He laughed %nervously.
81 d~eclare!" said Leona, hoarsely.
He's right" calculated her hus.
band. I've thought the same thing.
my dear-about-well, you under.
stand"
Where are you going" said Leona.
as Meeker grabbed his hat.
Out" returned that gentleman.
hastily. BLACKWELL and Company are
short-handed, l heard. Hard men "a
work for-but-"
'Leona lost the rest.
Dear met" she said TO her dis
turbed soul. I've thought so. too
about-that."