Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-01-06


him good one, provided he needs
any of my help in that line. Now go
and attend to your business
There were few at the railroad sta
ton, and those few paid little heed to
General Weymouth when he stepped
down from the train. The young man
greeted him with eager respect and
explained why he was there.
The general took his arm and walked
to the carriage. "This is restful. I'm
glad to see you here" he said. "But
tomorrow" he added bitterly, '1f Il
am fool enough to be dragged back
into politics, I'll be met wherever go
by men that fawn and men that seek
by that crowd I thought and hoped I
had escaped forever. 1 was very hasty,
Mr.. Thornton, when I gave my word
to your grandfather. 1 fear I must
hold you responsible just because you,
were present. 1 told you the other
day that you seemed to typify the
young strength of the state, so I'm go
ing to appeal to you, young man. Il
cannot very well appeal to the rest,
for they are not in the secret. I'm CO.
ing to beg of you, Mr.. Second Genera
ton, to release me from my promise.
What say you? And remember that
I'm an old man who has fought the
good fight and is very weary"
"I've got to confess there isn't much
wit and humor in me. There doesn't
seem to be just row." stammered
Harlan after cropping some moments
for suitable reply to what he accepted
as badinage.
"Oh, don't want jest in answer to
that. SIR protested the general. 'T
am in earnest" But his tone was still
a bit whimsical. You know, even so
great a man as Caesar consulted the
oracle and the omens and the sooth-
sayers. Why should not I practice a
little divination? Now, answer me,
young man. or I'll say young men OF
the slater?
"Yet 1 can't think you really mean
that, general protested Harlan, who'll
ly confused by this persistent banter.
Call it in fun. call it in earnest,
still l demand my answer" General
Weymouth was serious now. ST came
here resolved to tell Thelismer face
to face that 1 could not sacrifice the
last strength of my life in the way he
has asked. But when you met me at
the station all my ambitions for this
newer generation, as I have dreamed
them, came up in me. My boy, this
state of ours is In bad way. In
one respect it is especially bad. We
have one solemn law In our constitu-
ton that is made our own political
football and the laughingstock of the
nation. We forbid the sale OF liquor
Look at that saloon we are passing at
this momentI 1t Is a law that affects
nearly every person in our state. comes
near to every one. directly or indirect
". The manner of its breaking, pub
icly and protected by politics, has
bred disrespect for all law in the boys
who are growing mp. And they are
the ones who will run our state when
we oldsters are gone. I'll not say
anything about the other reforms that
conditions are calling for There's
one-the big one that fiaunts itself in
our faces. And it's -law-our laws
Every day that passes under present
conditions adds its little to the damna-
ton of the moral principle in our boys
and girls. growing up with eyes and
ears Open I wish ] were twenty
years younger But Pm old enough to
have fantastic notions, old enough to
insist on an answer to my question in
spite of what you may think of NV
mental condition. VIII You release
me from that promise? I made 1t to
the young men of this state-in my
disgust at conditions, in my passion
to do something to clean out this
nestY'
Ito be continued.l