The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1910-02-22
The Boy and the ProdigaI
How Arthur Howard Made Good as an
Amateur Detective.
IN. r. Rose. In Cleveland Plain Dealer

! come In by the stage that brought the
mail. He was a young man with a
bright eye and pleasant smile.
He smiled now at boy who had
slowly edged up to him.
"Hullo," he said.
"Hullo," the boy responded. with
much gravity.
"Fifteen?" queried the stranger.
Most fourteen" the boy replied.
| big for your age. Live near
here?"
Bout half mile. Live with my
grandmother Peasley. My folks are
out West. Ma amt we'll"
The stranger nodded sympathetical-
iy. And he looked the boy over. He
was clean boy and a neat boy. His
trousers and coat were old, but care
fully brushed and darned, and his
shoes were whole and clean.
wonder If your grandmother
would like to take a boarder for a
week or two?"
The boys blue eyes sparkled.
L dunno that she wouldn't" he
answered. We've got a spare room
with dandy bed in it, and grandma
makes bully pancakes"
The stranger smiled again.
| Fine recommendations" he said
| If your time isn't otherwise engaged,
I'd be glad to have you guide me to
| your grandmother's home"
Sure" said the boy. "I've got the
time. 1 haven't anything TO do 'cept
a little weedin and splittin' wood.
School don't begin for a week yet"
i Tho cf ~ l.
Then, he said, perhaps 1 could
get you to show me the best places
to fish"
I'll show you the best places l
know" replied the boy. There amt
any of 'em much good now. Ben Toll
liver says they're pretty well fished
out"
They were walking side by side
along the main street of the little viii
lage. The boy walked with his head
in the air and his hands thrust deep
In his Jacket pockets. 1t was quite
evident that he appreciated his inti-
macy with this easy young stranger.
Pretty quiet place." said the new
conner.
as it?" said the boy. "Its the
only place ever lived in. 1t just
seems natural to me-"
The stranger laughed.
Some day l hope you will have n
chance to make comparisons, he
said. when say the place is quiet.
mean that nothing startling ever
happens here"
Il dunno bout that" said the boy.
"Bingham's barn burned last spring,
and Toby johnson fell in the dam on
the Fourth o. July, and John Sawyer
he owns the big house up there on
the hill-gave the boys a new hose
cart, and there was a church fair in
the brick church, and the circus
showed over to Brownsville"
The stranger laughed.
A round of excitement" he said.
The boy gravely nodded.
They're putin in a new bell in
the schoolhouse," he went on, land
she's a hummer! An last June old
Ezra Dawson. he was most ninety.
died, an Judge Atwater's son, jim.
came home from college, but he
didn't stay long. Mart Edwards says
he heard he went to Moo York. Didn't
see nothin' Of him there, did you?"
NO" the stranger laughed; "Tm
afraid 1 missed him.
"Humpy Stafford says he was a
| howlin' dude-that's because of his
clothes, you know, but CHn Green
said he seen him drivin' a boss car
down to Coney Island. Cliffs been
round a good deal, an everybody
thinks he's an awful liar"
Again the stranger laughed.
"Yes, an right after Jim Atwater
went away Jed Kenton came back.
He's the prodigal son. you know"
ais he?"
"That's what Bruce Jones called
Aim. They was talkin bout 1t at 81
Brainard's store when 7 was waitn'
for some merlasses. Bruce said he
was the Teller Parson Gibson told
about so many times Mebby you've
heard the story? It's in the Good
Book"
yes" said the stranger. "I've
heard Il. It's a beautiful story.
There amt anything beautiful
about Jed Kenton.o said the boy.
They're all pretty tough lot, them
Kentons. See that OIL red house on
the hills, Just beyond tn willows?"
Eyes"
That's where they live. Jed
ruined away when be was bout as
old as me. an he never showed up
again until las July"
The stranger no longer smiled.
Ever see this prodigal?" ne cas-
ually asked
Yes, the boy replied ~He won't
come down town. but just hunts and
fishes. I saw him once up on the
Six-Mile Creek an he chased me
away Said he'd skin me n I came
round scarin the fish again"
Big MANI" asked the stranger. in
differently.
Bout as tall as you"
Easy stepper?"
Nope. Kind o. lame
The stranger seemed to hesitate.
Rather pale and good looking9~
The boy laughed
Il guess tn prodigal you seen
wasn't much like this one. Jed Ken
tons face is red. an his hair is stif.
an his eyes are little, an when his
hats on you see white scar across
his forehead"