Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1909-05-13
CHAPTER xIII.-cOntInued.

CHAPTER XiIl.-contInued.
Ladies and gentlemen" he shouts.
Here is positively the last chance to
secure this nihcent-er-er-lam
brykln. made by the deserving poor
90 cover the restless rich. Competi-
ton has been so strong that no one
person has been able to buy II. The
only solution would be n syndicate.
and the almshouse 10 opposed TO
trusts. Therefore am authorized to"
then he bent down and whispered:
''Mr. Morton, kindly give me whatever
small change you have left"
The minister looked puzzled. but he
handed up a half dollar. Van Brunt
reaches into the hat and takes out one
of the folded slips of paper.
Here you are SIR" says he. Treas.
ure that as you would your life. Now,
then, ladies' and gentlemen. this Is n
raffie. The minister starts Il. Tickets
are anything you please. provided It's
enough. Come early and avoid the
rush"
There was a kind OF gasp from all
the church people. The members OF
the sewing circle looked at each other
with the most horrIhed kind OF faces.
The parson. Mr.. Morton, run forward.
"Just a minute. Mr.. Van Brunt, II
you please" he sings out.
But Van waved him away. The sum.
mer folks come after them tickets like
a whirlwind. laughing and shouting
and passing up dollar bills. 'Twa'n't
hardly any time afore the hat was
empty and the Twins Jacket pocket
was full OF money. Then he fills up
the hat with more pieces OF paper.
These are duplicates OF the num-
bers sold" says he. The drawing
will now take place. Here. Bill"
He grabA a little shaver by the coat
collar and lifts him up to the chair.
Old lady Patterson. the deacon's wife.
set up a scream.
"stop!" she yells. MY child shall
not"
1T takes but q moment, madam"
says Van, waving to her. calm and
easy. Nov, Julius Caesar. please take
one Of those numbers from the hat"
The boy redeemed up and grinned
and looked foolish. but he stuck q
frecklId paw In and took out a piece
OF paper.
Number H." shouts Van Brunt.
Number IL secures the--the tapes.
cry. who's the lucky one7"
Everybody unfolded their papers.
but there didn't seem TO be any IA.
Hartley had three. but he want in II.
Number H." Van calls. who is
IL? Mr.. Morton. you began this.
Where is your Tickets"
The minister looked ireadfully
troubled. Really" he stammered. y
lit was a mistake. l."
Here's yours. Mr.. Morton" says a
little girl. You dropped It on the
ground"
The parson looked pretty sick. He
reached for IL. but Van got II first.
Number II Il U.s." he says. "ouI
esteemed friend. Rev. Mr.. Morton. So
cures the prize. That's as It should
be. Three cheers for Mr.. Morton"
Tho summer folks give the cheers
but the church folks looked pretty nv
arage Wild. thought.
forgot how much was in Van
Brunt'a pocket. That bedquilt fetched
IN enough money 70 pretty nigh bus
che poorhouae itself.
The Twins felt good. They fggeret
that they'd made hit at that ''lawr
1ete.'
Great success. my rRfie idea
wssn't Il. skipper" says Van Brnnt
on the way home.
didn't answer right on. Eurehs
spoke up.
We'll" abe says, ut sold the bed
quilt. but wouldn't wonder II Il made
tho new minister lose his Job. Yol
ace. twas gambling. and that church
IL dreadful down on gambling. Mrs
Patterson told me that she shoull
have her husband call q parish meet
ing night on. guess you won't b
anviled 10 no more sales this year"
And We want. Poor Morton ha.
an awful time explaining. and the onll
way he could set cut Of Il was 70 la
Il heavy on sha TWlns. He had b
preach sermon giving gambling ilta
and all aropnd town twas nothing bu
hop disnApRsae and wicked tha Heai