Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-11-30


Dick produced the sapphire 1t was
most unusual in him to carry the small
est part of his gains ON his person.
The circumstance struck Ernie at once
$50 you We're going to give it to her.
snapped he.
"She wouldn't take it if I. were fool
enough to offer it, said Dick quietly.
dropping the ring into his brothers
hand 1t Immediately found new
resting place in the latter's pocket
Maybe the other one will take it
from me- he grinned Il
You'd better not try it. Braddock
would kick YOU TO DEATH
Everybody wants to kick me-
whined the other. taking a new turn.
But, say. he didn't offer to kick me
last night when l told him she'd been
out walking with that guy. 1 see 'em
I seen 'em sneaking in. I told Brad.
l bet he raised thunder with en-
Dick was looking out past the stand
in the direction of the big tents
I'm not so sure he said dryly. 81
see Brad and Christine and the guy
you mean talking over there by the en-
trance They seem to be in a special
ly good humor.''
Ernie sprang forward. his eyes dilat-
ed He stared for a full minute with
out blinking. Then his grip on Dicks
arm suddenly relaxed
''Oh, God. how I wish 1 was straight
and handsome like him. he cried bro
kenly.
Dick did not look down but he knew
that the tears were standing in the
boys eyes.
Don't think about it. Ernie he said.
ly rubbed his eyes with his bony
knuckles- He sobbed twice and then
, burst forth in a shrill TRADE of abuse
Quivering with ungovernable rage, he
called Dick every vile name he could
lay his proficient tongue to.
Poor Dick offered up no word of pro-
test, no sign of resentment When
Ernie stopped for sheer exhaustion not
only of his lung power. but in the mat
ter of epithets, the tall martyr took
his hands out of his pockets, stretched
himself lazily and announced as if it
We're expected of him as duty:
We'll, the crowd is beginning to
gather at the ticket wagon. l guess
I'd better be strolling. among 'em, Err
ME- So long,
Ernie looked up eagerly, his mood
changing like flash.
Good luck, Dick he said, his eyes
sparkling
That same night Artful Dick Cronk
had long conversation with Thomas
Braddock. David was the principal
subject of discussion. The airy scala
wag was not long in getting to the bot
tom of the fugitive's history, so far as
it, could be obtained from the rather
disconnected utteranceS of the con-
+ vivial Thomas. They had come upon
each other in a barroom, but Dick had
succeeded in getting the Snowman
away from the place before he reached
the maudlin stage. The days business
had been good. Braddock was cheer
full, almost optimistic in consequence.
He vociferously thanked his lucky sun,
not his stars. Convinced that this was
an uncommonly clever bit of para
phrasing, he repeated it at least a
dozen times with great JUNCTION, al
ways appending q careful explanation
so that Dick would be sure to catch
the pointer, you might say, the twist.
IF we only had sunshine like this"
he announced with a comprehensive
wave of his hand regardless of the
fact that it was 10 O'Clock at night,
I'D clear a million dollars this season.
We've got nearly $500 in that tent
tonight, Dick. Twenty-one hundred on
the day. A week of this beautiful sun
shine and we'd be doing $4,000 a day.
I'd make old Barnum look like a two
spot Did you ever see more beautiful
sunshine, Dick? Now, did you?'
That's not the sun, Brad said
Dick, removing his pipe from his lips.
That's a canvasman with a torch"
They had arrived at the lot
Braddock swore a mighty oath and
with jovial good humor chucked Dick
in the ribs, not very gently, it may be
supposed. Dick, with responsive good
humor, seized the opportunity to de-
liver a resounding thump on Brad
docks back, almost knocking the
breath out of him.
Say" demanded Dick Cronk, "telI
me something about this new clown
of yours
Whereupon Braddock lowered his
voice and told him as much as he
knew of the story.
Il don't believe he killed him." said
Dick at the end of the story.
Neither do t. said Braddock. "But
it won't hurt to let him think that
were all still leetle bit doubtful
Il heard all about the murder in
Staunton. The sheriff was trying to
head the kid off if he came through
that county. We We're expectin' to see
him landed in jail any day. They had
bloodhounds after him, hear" Dick
Cronk's body quivered in a sharp