The sun., 1909-02-14
THE RECLAMATION
OF GREENHUT
He Swears Off From His Sins and
the One Eyed Man
Reappears.


one evening waiting. as the custom was
for the arrival Of some outsider VIII,
might have enough money and sportin,
blood to try conclusions with them. AL
though they sat as usual In sociable 81
lence. each man occupied with his owl
tobacco and such reflections as he nigh
chance 10 have, there was an uneas,
something in the air OF which each maj
was conscious, though no man had ye
mentioned IT
Old man Greenhut himself sat in hi,
ravorite chair by the window, with hi,
feet on the sill and a large black cigar
hanging out Of his mouth. All day he
had been unusually silent and when
spoken 10, as he had been occasionally
he had gared stonily at the speaker
before replying in the fewest words pos
sible His friends had observed this
with surprise. and speculaticns as tc
what was eating the old man" were
among the reflections referred to.
Presently the silence was broken by
stertorous snort from the old man and
ooking at him his friends observed that
the cigar had dropped from his lips. which
we're now wide open. Then seeing that
he made no motion To recover the roll
Il tobacco from the floor they realized
that he was asleep.
Wonder what's done struck the old
man said Sam Pearsil in an under
tone He done pears To be some down
in the mouth
'Mebbe he's done been a-me ltltin'
onto his SINS said Jake Winterbottom,
with grim jocularity. More likely,
though, how he's done eat su'thin' what
hain't set well onto his stomach
Il reckon faint nothin' Serious re-
marked Joe Bassett, indifTsrenty. Likely
good hunk O. blue mass II set him right.
Los oonsid able tougher n mule. an
ss i'r his sins ] reck ton they don't trouble
lin no mon the cigyars he's done been
,mokin ell his life
This opinion seemed To lie sha~e by
the others, for they returned 10 the en-
,oyment Of their own tobacco without
further comment. waiting for the old
man TO have his sleep out; but few
minutes later they heard him groan
hcayily, and looking at him again they
erCeived that he was evidently In great
distress. One hand was prcssel against
the pit Of his stomach. while the fingers
ui the other fumbled feebly about his
mouth. as II in search OF the lost cigar.
What pears to be the natter" said
Winterbottom. not unkindly as he picked
up the butt and put it back in the old
mans mouth.
i don't rightly know said old man
Greenhut, but reckon I'm goin' to die.
Jake. I've got pain in my belly ID kill
a hoss, an ] amt so young as I was some
years ago"
Die nothin'.' replied Winterbottom
heartily. What you need is a few spoon
iuls O. quinine an hot sweat. Scker
men n you te cot wuss every day in the
year.
Il know" said old man Greenhut /
'Cerulously, but they amt 80 old as
be, an likely they've lived a better
ie n have.
i hain't been no pre't of sinner,
lake, but I've done them things t I'd
ushter have did. an I've left ondone
hem things t I'd ought not for 10 did,
Ill therc don't pear to be no health into
me, like the Go6d Book says. Ireck on
as up TO me to get ready f'r the gre't
1a' is comm.
It's a-comin' some time, an 'cordin' to
the way I'm feelin' pears like it's comm
most hell roarin sudden
We'll. even II tbs. said Winterbottom
soothingy, i reckon you hain't no call
TO fret. You hain't never watered your
liquor unreasonable. an you done been a
Substantial citizen fr right smart
while 4
Yes, Jake know returned the
sick man. But I hain't never gone up
10 the mo'ncrs bench. an I hain't never
got religion. Ireckon I'm one o. the goats
ye, an you know what the Good Book
Sa-s o them
They en- flourish all the days o. their d
.o like green bay hoss, but, on! thcir q
e"nd their dretful eend. when they'm
cut down ike the peppergrass. ontimely.
reckon it's up to me to reform. Jake.
a'ore IT'S too late"
say, Jim. said the big Sheriff in an
Gndertone, turning to Biaisdell this :
here reely does pear to be serious. Hadn't I
We better send up an borrer Doc
new stomach pump? Suthin'
"a oughter be did prompt
No, don't send f'r no doctor said old o
man Greenhut, overhoaring what was
.ala in part But If you en- get that new 3
Nethodls parson TO come here an labor |
with me- spell mebbe I'd be some better r
pared. ! reckon I'll die right soon
how Then he writhed and groaned in .
fresh access Of pain. L
'Lordy lordy.' exclaimed Winter
.otiom in sincere dismay. What the &
'"'H d happen. d'ye reck on il a preacher Y
vas 10 come in here' More'n likely tn u
M shack d fall down onto him. Il
Preacher nothin'.- said Joe Bassett I
q deep disgust i say it's a stomach Il
ump he wants" a
IL Il" RELY wants a preacher" sug- "
'es'ei sam Pearsall. -mebbe it mought
bright thing TO fetch one in. It'd
sort o lvenin' for 10 hear what tn
~ man say il the preacher RELY should
abor with him.
ms suggestion, though made in an
'naert"nc inaudble TO old man Green
H'' "GS heard by the others. and appre-
'atnS their opportunity for entertain
'eht they Immediately agreed that il
as unquestionably the proper thing TO
e'ch clergyman as soon as possible.
'ccordlngy Winterbottom was deputed
o secure one Immediately. and while he
aS gone the others pushed the game
'ohg as energetically as they could.
/ hoerl of "A sDo't down In Natoha, ~, | /