Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-02-27
CHAPTER xIII.-continued.


Ladies and gentlemen he shouts.
Here is positively the last chance to
secure this Observation-Disclosures
brykin, made by the deserving poor
to cover the restless rich. Competi-
ton has been so strong that no one
person has been able to buy it. The
only solution would be a syndicate,
and the almshouse is opposed to
trusts. Therefore I 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 a
rattle. The minister starts it. 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 Mortified kind of faces.
The parson, Mr.. Morton, run forward.
Just a minute, Mr.. Van Brunt. if
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 mt
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 grabs 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 a moment, madam y
says Van, waving to her, calm and
easy. Now, Julius Caesar, please take
one of those numbers from the hat
The boy redeemed up and grinned
and looked foolish, but he stuck a
freckled paw in and took out piece
of paper.
Number A." shouts Van Brunt.
Number Ia secures the-the tapes
try. Who's the lucky one?"
Everybody unfolded their papers,
but there didn't seem to be any IA.
Hartley had three, but he want in it..
Number a." Van calls. who is
IA? Mr. Morton, you began this.
Where is your ticket?'
The minister looked dreadfully
troubled. Really" he stammered, Il
lit was mistake. +"
Here's yours, Mr.. Morton" says a
little girl. You dropped it on the
ground
The parson looked pretty sick. He
reached for it. but Van got it first
Number IA it is he says. Our
esteemed friend, Rev. Mr.. Morton, Sc
cures the prize That's as it should
be. Three cheers for Mr.. Norton"
The summer folks give the cheers,
but the church folks looked pretty av-
erage wild, thought
1 forgot how much was in Van
Brunt's pocket That bedquilt fetched
in enough money to pretty nigh buy
the poorhouse itself.
The Twins felt good. They iggered
that they'd made hit at that lawn
fete.''
Great success. my rattle idea,
wasn't it, skipper" says Van Brunt,
on the way home.
1 didn't answer right off. Eureka
spoke up.
Well she says, cit sold the bed
quilt, but / wouldn't wonder if it made
the new ministe: lose his job. You
see, twas gambling, and that church
is dreadful down on gambling. Mrs.
Patterson told me that she should
have her husband call parish meet
Ing right off. l guess you won't be
invited to no mere sales this year.
And we want. Poor Morton had
an awful time explaining. and the only
way he could get out of it was to lay
it heavy on the Twins. He had to
preach a sermon giving gambling fits,
and all around town twas nothing but