The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-12
JUST ~JEENIs.


a chair not far away. gave him only
a look. and it was Ave minutes before
he said:
"Say stranger, if you hain't too tar
nal busy. I'd like to talk to you a Bit
go ahead"
Il like your looks"
$50 do l."
you've got a trusting expression -
I'm full of trust
IF you was to give your word. I'll
bet by gosh you'd keep it,"
Yes"
And I'm also a good Teller. Ask
anybody around here, and they'll tell
you that Zed Shoemaker is one of the
straightest men in the state"
''Glad to hear it."
Never even wronged an old hen out
of a kernel of corn"
Never took a cent for my services
as pallbearer at funeral. Allus
when his has stopped. Say, I could
sit here and tell you a hundred good
things about myself"
Il don't doubt it"
But what's the use? You have
Travelled, you have. You can jedge
men. You can tell when a Teller is
lynn to you. Been abraod, L 'spose %
Seven or eight times"
"Of course. You've been abroad,
while I've never been 90 miles from
home. You've had good TIMES while
was sweating my shirt. You've worn
broadcIoth while I've worn rags.
You've been to the circus and theater
while I never had time to go to the
county fair. Dog my cats, but hain't
been used right"
Il see you haven't" I replied.
ct got to thinking it over a couple
of weeks ago, and I got ALFRED mad
about it Along come a Teller who
wanted to buy my farm, and I sold
out. lock, stock and barrel. No more
grubbin' and backbreakin' for me-
But what will you do ?"
AZ dunno, but that's what / want to
talk with you about. I saw you up
here yesterday as 1 passed along, and 1
says to myself. says L:
'Zed, thar's a young Teller that
knows the ropes and can put you next.
Sec him and tell him what you want
am
But I can't advise you whether to
start a chicken farm or a cranberry
I answered.
Whats your cognomen, Stranger"
"Jeems'
Anything ahead or behind it?''
Nothing. Just Jeems.'"
Maybe your parents was pressed for
time and had to cut it short, but I'm
no kicker. It's a longer name than Zej
anyhow. I want you to look me over
from head to heel and back again.
He stood up and then walked about
to give me a front, side and rear view
and then asked:
How do I size up?"
We'll, I should set you down as a
guileless Uncle RUDE"
And try to sell me gold brick?'
Yes"
And discover Oil on my FARM"
Yes"
And try to wiring me in on the shell
gamer"
That's it,
Stranger, put it thar. You've made
I'm goin' to do. Now I can see my
way clear
We'll, what is it?'
Men you are goin' to hitch up to-
sether as pards and work the inno-
cent and unsuspectin'. I'm goin' to
give you $25 a week to stay right
here and learn me every game on
the shelf, and when I'm top-notcn
We'll set out and travel and skin 'em
from head to heel and divide the pro-
fits. I've been skun a dozen times
over, and now it's my turn, b'gosh."
Mr.. Shoemaker" I said, with as
sober a face as 1 could put on, your
words seem to argue that 1 am not /
4 man of integrity
But 1 don't mean 'em that way l
Jest mean you'll go pards with me.
Well keep our integrity all right, but
f we find fellers that can't keep their
money Wen take it in to donate to
hospitals.
Mr.. Shoemaker"
'-Call me Zed. 1t will seem to bring
Is closer together"
well, Zed, am an honest man"
For heavens sake, don't go tc
blasting my hopes that way
Il am honest part of the time. In
he case before us I can be about
20 days I have gone as long as go,
out it was d strain. For 20 days 1 can |
will clean you out"
by thunder, but I never met such |
| frank-spoken man. he exclaimed.
There is only one other like me in |
he United States, and he is at pres |
ent in Jail in Denver for his frank
less.''
"Jeems. I accept your terms
We began business the next day, |
md poker was the first game I taught |
linn. He swallowed it in chunks. In |
week could manage to let him win |
our pots out of five, and 1 realized |
hat I had lost some of his admira- |
ion and respect.
He was rather clumsy at the shell |
Same, as his fingers were large and |
tiff, but after 10 lessons he went out /
md beat a street car conductor out of i
wo dollars, showing that there was /
lope for the future.
1 had high hopes, from his inno- |
'ent look and speech. that he would |
De a success as a gold brick man, but |
lie fell down on his first trial. Many |
man with his honest face and truth |
ul look is skinning the farmers right |
md left from week to week, but the |
cry first RUDE he tackled gave him
wo black eyes and run him a mile |
Town the highway.
On the afternoon that my 20 day |
INIT expired 1 gave my pupil fair |
warning that he would no longer ,
count on my honesty. Although his |
yes had been BACKED, his head had |
been swelled at the same time, and |