Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-11-09

est in one in New York, besides 'aving
string o. race horses.
well. Tom Braddock comes from
Baltimore. His father was boss
trainer and trader there for q good
many years afore he died-wich was
about two years ago I've card It
said by them as knows. that he some
times traded bosses In the dead Of
night and forgot to leave one In ex-
change for the one he took away
However that may be. he never got
caught at II and SO died an honest
man. 1t seems that he borrowed one
of Colonel Grand's riding bosses to
go after a doctor one night. some
years ago. and didn't return 1t for
nearly eighteen months. He wouldn't
ave returned II then II the colonel
'adn't seen i'm riding 1t In Van Styles
street parade out In a little Indiana
town during county fair week ] was
with the show at the time. w'ich was
afore old Van Slye sold out to Tom
Braddock. Well. Tom and Mira Brad
dock begged so ard for the old scamp
that the colonel not only let I'm on.
but took I'm back to Baltimore to
train bosses for I'm That was about
I'VE seasons ago. and It was the nrst
time any of us ever laid eyes on the
colonel.
tom Braddock and Is wife lived
In Baltimore In the winter time. where
she kept little Christine In school from
November to March. The rest of the
year she teaches 'er 'erself. / might
say that Christine Ia a specially well
edicated child and well brought up
You can see that for yourself Tom
wanted 'er to learn 'ow to sing and
49,
all winter, but 'er mother said nix to
that, very proper like. In course q
time. Toms father worked, It SOS
Tom could practice is bareback acts
at Colonel Grand's stables. He was
the best rider in the country at that
time. The colonel got i'm to drinking
and gambling. That was the begin
ming. The poor cuss admit been such
a bad lot up to that time Him and
Mary had always got on fairly well
until he got to drinking. 1t wasn't
long afore the colonel took q notion
to Toms wife. He as a wife of is
own, but that didn't stop I'm He
just went plumb crazy about Mary
Braddock. who was the purtiest. love
Hest woman he'd ever seen or any OF
us, for that matter. I'll never forget
how nice she's aIlus been to my gal
ere and to every gal in the show. for
that matter. She's an angel IL there
ever was one. Don't interrupt, Casey
I've said 1t You keep still. too. Ruby,
and don't sniff1e like that, either.
81 won't go into the 'istory Of 'ow
the colonel tried to get 'er away from
Tom. I dare say that's the very thing
that makes 'er stick to Tom SO loyal
like in spite of wot he is now. Just
principle. that's all. Well. for more'n
two year the colonel as been Fostering
'er almost to death and she as to
stand 1t because he's got such ter
rible old on 'er 'usband. You see, the
colonel lent Tom a good bit of money
when he bought old Van Slye out sea
son afore last. ! will say this for
Tom, he paid I'm back dollar for dol
lar. We 'ad a good season and he
got the show cheap Tom give up rid
ing because he was tight all the time,
nearly killing Christine once or twice
Every once In awhile. come so the
colonel would turn up and travel with
the show for a week or so. inducing
Tom to play poker and drink Tom
aIlus lost and then the colonel'd stake
i'm for a month or SO to run the show
on. This as gone on for two years,
ION RetIlHS WusS eli lAc tiAic 0LA LAS
colonel more persistent Tom as lost
all sense Of honor and decency. He
knows the colonel In trying to get Is
wife away from i'm and he amt got
spunk enough left to object to it He
don't even try to protect 'er from the old
villain. They say Grand as promised
'er fine 'ome In Washington and Will
edicate Christine abroad. besides Of
fering enough diamonds 10 all at
But she just despises I'm more and
more every week. He'll never get err
no street Why. she just couldn't do
it! 'Tain't In 'eri
early this season he lent Tom Eve
or six thousand and Tom can't pay ie
back, know. business as been 30 bad
He's come on this time. I dare say. 10
bulIdoze 'em into Is way of thinking.
he'll help Tom out some more afore h@
leaves, Just to draw the web closer.
He'll stay a few days. 'ang1ng around
'er like a vulture. paying no attention
to 'er rebukes. and then he'll go on to
return another day. He's wrecked
Tom Braddock. just as q stepping
stone. Some day he'll be through with
Tom for good and all and you'll see
what 'appens to Thomas"
"what beasts!' cried David
BRAD as got to this point In is love-
for drink and cards." said Joey. Hell
sacrifice anything for whisky. He's got
to AVE # We've all talked TO I'm. No
good II don't like to say II, Day