Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-03-06

covering his entire front, an old Derby
hat, much battered, askew upon his
| head, and the usual unlighted cigar
| stump in the corner Of his mouth. The
! store was well lined with the loafers
usual OF q winter night In a ragged
line they circled the stove, facing the
squire. who was perched, as was his
custom, on a projecting shelf, opposite
them, his feet on the counter.
Now, what do you folks know about
| this ere Farthing?' he was asking with
solemn earnestness, leaning far forward
and holding his forefinger poised before
the group. There was an expression
on his face that seemed almost affec-
tionate. 1t was like a father in earnest
expostulation with his SONS. Have you
ever thought how almighty little you
know about him? Have yeh? Who is
he, and where'd he come from? Now,
somebody speak right up quick"
Jim Kemmerer sayes he come from
nigh Philadelphy STILL" volunteered
Dan Tressler.
'Humph! What does he know about
it? Wal, les 'sposen he did What's
he out here for, hiding in this hole in
the mountains? What's he here for?
Did ye ever stop to think that Phila-
delphy folks don't very often buy farms
In these here mountains, unless there's
some mighty good reason? Heigh :?
Now, what's Farthing down here for?"
He paused impressively for an answer.
Hes mighty tight t-mouthed," OBJ
served Lem Fisher, falling in with the
Squfre's line of thought. He don't say
word about himself, and you can't
made him."
That's 1t. You've hit 1t right on the
head. Now, let me ask you one ques-
ton" The old man leaned toward the
group impressiyely and spoke almost
In a whisper. why is IL that folks
tal
man that you don't know won't say
anything about himself, what's prob
ably the reason? Did you ever know
straight man in all your life who
want always giving you something
from his own experience? Did you,
nowT It's human nature to talk about
yourself, and just you recollect now
that this Farthing's been here going
on to 10 months and he hain't let drop
one single word. You fellers think of
that for minute or two"
AIS all right" burst in Dan Tessler,
with a spasmodic burst of courage. It
took courage to oppose the squire's die
tum. There amt kinder man ever
come into this valley still. Nosuh?
Jest you see what he done for me when
/ was bed-fast last sumner You think
of that. He didn't leave me lay, way
most folks done, but he and his boys
come right down at Wunst and went to
WOFk. 1eSSun. jest cause IL taint
natural for him to keep his mouth
going like a krout knife every minute
amt agin him, now I'm tellin' you that.
If some Of you fellers," sweeping his
glance over the group about the stove,
but not including the squire, IF some
Of you-uns quit your yammering
wunst and didn't work yeh jaws so
much, 1t would be better for you and
everybody else in this valley still" He
resumed his pipe and smoked furiously.
Now, that's all right. Dan"-there
was an indulgent tone in his voice.
but Farthing's carrying ii too fer.
Wouldn't it be jest natural now for a
man that's moved into an out Of the
way hole in the mountains for some
rcason"-there was certain squlnny-
ing of his eye and accent of his voice
that made the word significant-"and
who don't want to say much about his
past for some reason, wouldn't it be
jest like him to Overdo the Good Sa-
maritan business at first? Wouldn't
he want to get on the good side of the
people and pull the wool over their
eyes? Mind, yeh, now, I amt talking
about this Farthing. I'm just 'sposing
a case"
(Contisued Mex. Weekl