The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-01-06
"WILFUL MISSING


~ ftA"NN "a 'N+"
TIC pleasant. htrld smoke o. the No
sensber weed burning rose md Tho
trost.torehed air from a thousand
tielde across the rolling sweep Or tho
Lancashire Mosaes Down the long.
straight road q young farmer strobe
His head coye.cd With crisp brown
curls rose from his shoulders like the
head ofagQdcTb4 ideal q q rneps
fl smallhoIder" he seemed absolute
B IN tune witii the happy. prosperous
landscape.
he entered the door o. q tiay inn
that nestled on the sunny side Of an
oak coppice an Inn which indicated rs.
ancient allegiance % tho stanlcys W
rs tlmeworn sisn d the Eagle and the
chud,
evidently John Prescott was wei
used to the place. for the neatly sand-
Cd floor. the almost purple blarkness
OF the old oak bar and walnscotins,
the silrery sheen Of the century ld
pewter. provoked from him 40 glance
OF admiration, lie walked straight to
a tidily spread table by Tie brightly
glowing fire. and. though II was but
ten. seated himself to the second meal
Of the day.
He turned e~xpectansly towards the
door Of the rarlor behind the bar, and
then by a movement 10 the room was
made aware that he was not alone. In
the corner fartherst from the fire sat a
stranger, his arme o. The table his
face buried IN his hands. Before him
stood an untouched mug Of beer.
As Prescott looked. the stranger
raised his head and glarcd back with
lshmaelltish eyes. His face was dlstort.
ed. horrible, SCARED and omaclated By
accident and prlvatIon; his hair, thin
and white. hung over his forehead and
mingled with his scantg brows; round
hts chin and checks hung hank wisps
Of beard.
Poor devil, How terrible Thought
Prescott. "a wonder what'a bis age2
IT might be anything!" Thcn the
tramp's face went back into his gnarl.
Cd and twisted hands.
Through the parlor door came pretty
Nance, the landlords daughter, bear
Inc a tray. which She set down before
John. who promptly fell to on the
great plate Of beef, the home.mads
pickles, the home-baked bread, and
The leaning jug Of ole,
Nance sat down BY him and waite.
tlll his healthy hunger should be sui
HclcntIy apreased n allow time icl
cIgiitics.
swell. lass" quIried John presently,
IN a nausc between bites.
"Well. john"
Their words were not many-the
Moss folk do not speak much when
muiunl affection 4 hegiuuirg 70 dawh
N their iIves-but tier eyes spoke
yelsmes. dF
The tramp shiftedshis baer mus and
seroped noiaily with his feet Prescott
glanced at him, ana then looked O.
nnirlneiv at the eiri.
Nance bent forward until her BAR
touched his fece. $
Don't e look Quecrly?' she wills
pered. For MORN en- hour 5 been 81
tn there wiout touching e beer
When A. came Ia he looked at me 70
strangely that Ave been afeeted ever
since Dads out, taking M old sow
over { Farmer Legget oh, Am right
elad you've coined. John lad"
she looked a~pprehensively at thu
tramp. fearing lest he should have
heard.
Then commenced their usual morn.
ing chat, the chat they had enjoyed
every working day since, six monthe
before. John had discovered that Il
was much more pleasant 70 take his
meals IN The inn than IN his own lone
y house,
'rhe tramp was soon forgotten in a
discussion as to the merits Of the sos
Tint had Just gone 70 Leggot's farm
From that the taik drifted 70 crops,
the price Of seed. and then 70 Johna
plans for the future. On and On wag.
ged their tongues. for now Tiny wore
on their common ground-thc soil
Hhyness had Disappeared.
a. want this, and that, and t'uther-n
said John. acome Christmas All So 20
Preston; perhaps 70 Liverpool, and