The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-01-27

silver spoon was dazzling against the
linen-"your biscuit and milk, Mr..
Keatcham. Didn't you have It when
you were hoyg"
4 did. Miss Janet'--and Keatcham
actually smiled Y used 10 think
crackers and milk the incest thing In
the world
That is because you never tasted
corn pone and milk; but you are go.
ing TO-"
When you make It for me. I'm GLAD
you're such good cook It's one OF
your ways like, My mother was a
very good cook. She could make bet.
ter dishes out OF almost nothing than
these mongFel chefe cen make with
the whole world"
4 reckon she could said Miss
Smith she was speaking sincerely.
When my father didn't strike pay
dirt, my mother would open her bak.
cry and make pies for the miners;
she could make bread with potato
yenst or 'sall.emptins'--can you make
saltrising bfeadgr
2 can---shall make you some to-
morrow
I'd like It. My mother used to make
more morey than my father. some.
times when we children we're low in
clothes and dad owed a bigger lot OF
money than usual, we had a laundry
al our house an well as bakery
Yet, In spite OF all the work, my
mother found time to teach all OF us;
and she knew how to teach. too; for
she was principal OF a school when
my father married her She was a
New Englander. SO was he; but they
went west We're forty.nlners saw
the place where our little cloth-and.
board shack used 10 stand After the
big fire, you know Il burned rs all
up: we had saved a good deal and
my mother had 4 nice bakery Sho
worked too hard; II killed her Work
end struggle and losing the children" 4"
They dleG?' said Miss Janet.
'Diphtheria. They didn't know any
thing about the disease then, We all
had It: and my little sister and botit
my brothers died. but I'm tough. l
lived My mother fell into what they
called decline. | was making a lit
tie money then--I was l6; bpi :
couldn't keep her from working. Per-
hapa Il made no difference; but y did
make difference her nor having the
1.-The right kind O. food. Nobody knew
anything about consumption then /
used to go out In the morning and 90
afraid I'd find her dead when ] got
bRek. One night did" He sloppcd
abruptly erlmsonlns up 20 his eyee--
4 don't know why I'm ielllns yoa ell
thil"
z call that tough the colonel
biurted uut the words. ho was con.
scioua OF sense ol repetition. When
had he said ghoaa very same words
before to whom? OF all people in the
world, 10 Cary Mercer Mighty
tough" murmured he softly
Yes" said Keateham, 'lt YES re
did not say anything more. Neither
did the colonel Keatchan ohediently
ale his milk aud biscuit; arid very
shortly the colonel took hts leave
The next morning after an neyent-
fnl hour Of sorting. reading and an
swerlng letters for Miss Smith to copy
on the travelling typewriter, Keatcham
gave bis new secretary q sharp aensa.
tlon; he ordered IN ais quiet but per.
amptory fashion; ellow put that trash
away; BIT down; tell me all you know
Of CaFy--reri name is Cary Mercer,
isn't lt7r
The colonel said Il was; he asked
him II he wanted everything
Everything, Straight Without a
chaser" snapped Keatcham.
The colonel gave II 10 him lie be.
gan with bis own acquaintance; he
told about Phil Mercer; he did not slur
= detail; neither did he underscure
one; Keatcham got the uncolored
facts. He heard them impassvely
making only one comment: "A great
deal OF damage would be saved in this
world II youngsters could be shut up
until they had sense enough not 70
fool with firearms" When Winter
came TO Mercers own exposition Of
his motives and his design If success.
fuI IN his raid OH the kings Of the
market, Keatcham grunted 1T the end
he breathed a nolseless Jet Of sigh.
You don't think Mercer Is At all'---
he tapped the side Of the head.
No more than you are"
HOr you"
eoh. we'll" the colonel tested. I'VE
al have a prejudice in favor Of our
avn sanity What meant was that
Mercer Is BIT of a fanatic: his hard
luck has-well. preiudieed hini--"
Roatchams cold. firm lips straight
ened into his peculiar smile which
vas rather Of perception than Of
humof.
One might say Of him--Aunt Rebee-
e Winter did say Of hlm-that he
saw the Ineongruous. which makes up
Tor humof. but be never enjoyed a.
possibly Il was only another factor IN
hla contempt Of mankind
Colonel said Ksalcham. do you
think Wall street Is den Of thieycsg'
Il do.s said the nnlonel promptly
4 should ike q take q machine gun
ar two and clean yoq 81 oat
Ksatoham did nos amlle he hllnked
IL ewes ana nodded a presume 8