The Washburn leader., 1911-10-13
A SINGULAR
VEHICLE,
By yELlNoR STEWART CATION
Copyright by American Press Asso-
ciatiOn, 1911.

night in the park, stopped Il gentleman
on tho sidewalk and said:
''My friend, you haven't seen n fam
lily cOnsistin' Of woman and four
small children-two boys and two girls
the girls lookin' like me and the boys
like their mother-go ridin' by here to-
day in two story frame house paint
cd yallcr?"
Excuse me- my friend. I'm in a hur-
ry."
The wayfarer passed on, leaving the
sccdy man standing looking after him
as though he felt very much hurt.
Leaning up against Il tree box, he
waited for another person to question.
A lady came along, and the man. pull
ing the rim Of his hat, accosted her.
beg your pardon. ma'am. Have you
seen anything of a poor woman with
four children enjoyin' themselves on an
afternoon ride III n yaller house on
wheels down this here street?'
The lady looked sorrowfully at the
man, took out her portemonnaie, picked
out silver coin to the value of 10
He looked at the retreating lady, then
down at the coin in his hand. and
didn't seem to understand.
The next person to whom he ap-
piled was benevolent looking gen
tIeman with mutton chop whiskers and
spectacles
'I'm lookin'." said the seedy man,
g., lx,SS c.k0
"Well. my good man. tell me about
what family you're locking for"
1--WE tole that to two pussons al
ready. and they don't seem to know
what I'm talkin' about. thort I'd
just call 'em a fam'bly to you. SOS
I wouldn't mix you slp. and say nothin'
about the rest Of it,"
"Hut how can help you to become
rr;::..:;l%.l TO this family without your
,ci.ng ne more about thcm?'
We'll. IL you're sure you'll under
s.and. I'm iookin for 'cm to ride by
hrrr ;:,out lis :i:nc in Il yallcr house
C,:. o.,i:.' their>elv"s".
In ~ yellow lousc?"
"Yrs. two story. shngle roof"
contemplating him thpughtfu,ly for
some time. tell me where you live.
I'm going to take you home"
My residence is anywhere from "a
Union street to no number at all at
present. Hopkins street"
Poor fellow!" sighed the benevo-
lent man.
tn1x hlAsf rot sp,t1
me. None O. the others did. What's
the use o my tellin' people all about
1t? They only think I'm gone daft"
He looked very much troubled. TAX
ing out his bandanna handkerchief, he
blew his nose sonOr0usly.
Come with me-" said the benevo.
lent man coaxingly.
II don't want to so anywheres with
nobody. just want to catch my wife
and children as they 60 by and enjoy
the rest o. the ride with 'em."
Il think can take you where you'll
learn all about it. Come
Where you goin' to take me?"
"Oh. I'll take you where you'll be
cared for"
Il don't want to be cared for.
want to know whether my family has
gone past. There's puff of smoke
blowin' around the corner now
shouldn't wonder If it's them!"
II see They're coming in an automo-
bile. You confused 1t with yellow
house."
II didn't do no such thing. The
smoke I'm talkin' about comes out O.
the chimbly."
The gentleman assumed an authOri-
tative tone. Now, my man, either
walk with me to a police station or
Ill call policeman and have you
taken there by force. You're of your
head. don't know whether you are
a dangerous lunatic or not. but you
need to be shut up. IL not for the pub
lie good, for your own"
Il knowed It," said the man lugu-
briously. II knowed If l tole you the
hull thing I'd get myself into trouble"
''Wil you Gomez"
"Who are you anyways?'
I'm the president Of the Society of
General Charities. Now you know
that I intend you no harm wish to
help you"
"But don't need no help. There!
There's another pun O. smoke. reck-
on they'll be turnin' the corner purity
soon. VIII you wait few minutes?
II they don't come along Just as said
they would I'll 60 with you"
"Ins.ead Of waiting I'll 60 with you.
IL ycu IRE satisfied the smoke you sec
comes from another cause than what
you suppose. perhaps you viii 60 With
me-
"I..cs on I'll risk It,"
TIL walked down the street to the
one Were they saw the smoke and,
turn into it. saw a windlass pulled
arohua by horse. Ropes led from 1t
toa '*o story yellow house about 100
feet a'Yay. which was being moved in
the middle of the street.
"Tbere she are" exclaimed the