Willmar tribune., 1909-10-06

III OlO IdCeU, ANXIOUS looking g1tl OF
twelve or thirteen; Jimmy and John
ny, grave little fellows of about ten
and eight, and Jackson, the capitalist.
Lyddy had bathed her mothers wan
face with cool water, and Jimmy and
Johnny were tanning her with their
tattered straw hats. Jackson stood
back and looked solemnly on. and his
distress was none the less great be-
cause he was not crying.
''Can we do anything?" asked Con.
way as the two looked in at the door.
II am better now," said Mrs. Bas-
com weakly. but gratefully, raising her
head from the shabby old lounge where
the children had placed her. 1T will
soon pass away; it always does"
If we can do anything began
Nickerson slowly.
won't you come in?" invited Mrs.
Bascom. with a feeble attempt to be
hospitable "Lyddy. set chairs for the
gentlemen"
The dusk was fast deepening. The
cloud wall had spread across the sky.
and few great drops Of the coming
storm were FLASHING down.
"Much obliged to you, mom," return.
ed Conway, but II we can't be Of any
help We'll ride on. Is there any place
near here where we can git accommo-
dations for the night?"
'"The nearest house is two miles
away" said Mrs. Bascom. "You can't
~ f,, I'M or
to put your horses in the barn and stop
here"
The men made a show of remon.
STRANGE.
1--WE needn't eat much" Nickerson
whispered to his comrade. "an' we can
pay for what we git"
The horses were hardly under shell
ter before the rain increased to a down.
pour.
"Where," began Conway-"that is.
is your husband comm home soon?"
"He is dead" answered Mrs. Bas-
com.
BY this time she was able to sit up
on the rude lounge.
"Lyddy," she said. 'set out bite
for the gentlemen to eat. We haven't
got much. but you're welcome to what
there is."
THANK We. mom," returned Conway
awkwardly.
The children were shy at first. but
when the frugal meal was over and
the men were sitting back from the
table while Lyddy cleared it of little
Jackson advanced gravely and climb
ed on Conway's knee.
"W'ere you doin'. mister?'' he asked.
"Hush, Jacksonv' said his mother.
"Oh, jest leave s tell as not NOM"
said Conway. ME an Nickerson are
on our way back to the old Indiana
home we left twenty-five years ago."
"What part of Indiana?" asked the
widow. with pitiful eagerness.
"Green county-Spencerville
The woman's eager look faded away.
1--WE are from Burtis." she said.
"An' we're dom back dere pretty
soon" spoke up Jackson cheerfully.
THAT SO. mom?" asked Conway
heartily. ''That's good"
| A-A-"e - Uc&du Tie "1UOW "edk-
y.
| She glanced at the children, and
there was an undercurrent of hope
lessness in her low voice that told the
men that. though she did not wish to
destroy the hope of the children. she
felt little for herself.
"Yes, mom." interrupted Conway,
understanding 1T costs heap of
money. 1-right heavy rain fallin',
hain't it?''
II dot money" Jackson uttered tri-
umphantly. "in my bank! We doin'
pretty soon.''
| He scrambled down from Conway's
| knee
did my bank, Yyddy" he COM
manded. When it was handed down
to him he brought 1t triumphantly to
Conway.
Money! he chuckled. "Doin' back
to Indiana pretty soon!"
Ntckers0n saw that there were tears
In the Widows eyes.
"Want to look at my knife. Jack
son?" he asked. producing huge,
many bladed affair, with a corkscrew
In the back.
Jackson grasped it. marveled and
was silent. Presently he fell asleep
in COnway's lap. with the huge knife
in his clutch.
The men. with awkward kindness,
tried to talk Of other things. but Mrs.
Bascom kept returning to the one sub
ject ever in her thoughts-thc old
home
Il have been hoping for years to
CO." she said. but
Same way with us, mom!' returned
Conway. ME an Nickerson got to.
gether four years ago--we came from
the same old town at about the same
time. but never happened to meet
again till four years ago-an' ever
since we've been fggerin' on takin' a
ja'nt back there, but never got to it
til! now. We've finally managed to
save up enough to make the trip"
Presently the widow told them a
part Of her story. She CLOSED over
the failings of her dead husband. but
word or phrase let fall here and
there told Conway and Nickerson what
kind Of man he had been
Jackson Bascom the elder had been
neither depraved nor vicious. He had
been simply a combination Of over
hopefulness and laziness-a contented
waiter for something to turn up.
In the meantime be farmed the
hnr hcSR