Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-03-25
Johnny Kay
By ROBERT VREELAND

staging 60 feet above the street level
dld not disturb Johnny in the least;
that he had a roll of greenbacks with
total valuation of 5000 in his trou
sers pocket did not trouble him either
Twenty-four hours later was to see
him steaming westward in search for
new field in which to ply his trade
! OF sign painting, and Johnny Kay was
very glad to feel that he possessed
| $500 of good money with which to set
himself up in business in a booming
little western city that he had in
mind
AS Johnny shaded off a letter he felt
the staging tremble slightly as some
one put a foot on the ladder below
johnny looked to see who might be
the intruder.
] "Hello,' said the man who was com
ing over the side of the staging; he
was a siX-foot one-inch man, whom
Johnny had never seen before
"Hello!" said Johnny.
The siN-foot one-inch man stepped
close to Johnny.
Got bit of hard cash handy, my
friend?" he asked.
Johnny saw a peculiar CLINT in the
strangers eyes; he noticed further
| that the shade of one eye differed very
slightly from that of the other, so
slightly that it was probably not gen
orally noticeable.
Ihlrsty?' asked John, putting a
hand to his change pocket for dime.
The siX-foot one-inch man put out a
strong hand and gripped Johnny's col
lar.
q am in need of your roll,' he said,
briefly.
Being a decidedly understood speci-
men OF humanity, Johnny could not
I protest effectively against the grip of
the siXfoot one-inch man, and their
position on the slender staging for
babe any such protest which he might
have attempted on terra firma.
Il am in need of greenbacks and |
want your little roll,' said the six-foot
| one-inch man
Johnny felt the hold on his collar
tighten, then he was lifted from his
footing on the staging and swung out;
his feet wriggled convulsively for a
moment and he looked down
Sixty feet below he saw the brick
pavement cleaning red in the morning
sunlight and for the first time in his
80 years of living Johnny's stout heart
quailed. From some seemingly re-
mote distance low voice was com
manding his attention.
My friend, | am in need of your lit
tie roll; you are to hand it over and
leave me "A hours before telling your
little story, Or
The silence was oppressive. Johnny
looked down again. The brick pave
lneni still cleaned red ir the sunlight;
and it was full GO perpendicular feet
below. The mans grip seemed 10 be
| loosening on his collar. Johnny silent
| ly reached toward his pocket.
You're a little dufer," said the
man as he put Johnny down ON the
staging.
Johnny handed over his ron and
spoke briefly. He did not whistle after
I the siX-foot one-inch man had gone.
/ still he considered that there might
have been a genuine tragedy and was
comforted.
I'm smallsized parcel, but
guess I'm worth $500 10 johnny Kav
And there's another couple of hundred
sailed down where | can get hold OF
4 it, he said.
One morning two years later Johnny
Kay was laying god-leaf on a big
plate-glass window in the booming lit
tie western city to which he had gone
and set up in business. A crowd stood
outside watching the men at work and
Johnny turned to the young man who
was helping him.
What do you feel like, Dick?" he
asked
Inc young man laughed neryously.
Like monkey in glass cage" he
said,
When you've been al it a month
you'll feel like a great man before the
public" laughed Johnny. Then he
glanced at the faces outside and
paused.
! Dick, you keep working, or pretend
ing to, he said under his breath. and
with seeming deliberation, put on his
coat and joined the crowd outside. He
spoke word TO couple of policemen
and edged his way to the side of a
| large man.
Looking your work over?" asked
big man.
Johnny looked into the mans face
and spoke gently.
I've been looking for you,' he said.
Later, at the police station, he told
| his story.
I've been looking for this man for
| two years. I've looked a good MANY
crowds over when was doing window
signs in hopes to see this pair of eyes.
amt learned man, your honor, but
| ! have notion that about every man
| has share of old Adams curiosity.
we fellows always draw crowd, and
| had sort of feeling that this man
would come to my window some dav.