The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-04


births ana deaths OF Alexander the
Great. Nero. Columbus, Shakespeare,
Washington, Cleopatra. and that hugt-
ling maiden. Lucretia Borgtas The dea-
con had just figured out that he and
Nero were born on the same day OF
the same month and were very likely
much the same in disposition, when
he heard a rustling behind him and
realized that Mrs. Dolby stood in the
door. He didn't turn, however. He
had just come to q paragraph where
the public was informed that Plimsors
cough remedy would cure the worst
cough in 2 minutes and 10 seconds. or
money refunded, and he wanted to
drink in every word of it.
Samuel DOLBY"
Yes, that was the voice of Mrs.
Dolby. but the deacon didn't give such
start of surprise that he busted on
any buttons.
Samuel. am speaking to you."
OF course she was, but he had fin
tshed the cough syrup paragraph and
lit down on one relating to enlarged
hvers and the remedy to take for
them. The dose would shrink q liver
as large as a beer key down to the
would cause your Aunt Sarah to
breathe her last and leave you q lib
eral legacy.
Samuel. you hadn't been gone ten
minutes when Mrs. Whitbeck came in.
She came to tell me that had been
living with an outlaw for the last
seven years and never suspected it,"
Perhaps the deacon smiled at this.
If he did, however, it was down in his
inwards. where it would have taken
an x-ray to discover it.
Eyes, Samuel. seven long years ago
you took ten dollars and went over to
Elyria to buy q suit Of clothes. You
came home without them or the
money. When I asked you about 1t
you said you had been robbed. but
from that day to this you have never
raised a hand to find that robber. Why
hain't you? 1 have thought and
thunk and thought a thousand times,
but never knew till tonight!'.
1t was coming, but the deacon was
game. He didn't gasp gasp nor lose
breath. On the contrary. he
cracked his toes like man taking
solid comfort and having no fears.
Robbed! Robbed" sneered Mrs
Dolby. There was a circus at Elyria
that day, and you went around with
your mouth open looking at the sights.
There was q man who had a string
with loops in it, and he wanted you
to bet you could put your finger in a
loop that would catch and hold. You
felt sure you could, and you up and
bet that ten dollars and then come
home and lied about it!''
eS, tnat was just the way OF IL.
The deacon wildly remembered how
sure he was OF winning that bet, and
the feeling that came over him when
he lost He had come home and lied,
but that was seven years ago, and no
liar ought to be held to the mark at
, ter that interval of time.
Anything to say. Samuel?''
He hadn't. He had turned a page in
the almanac and had become interested
in how to exterminate pole cats in a way
they would stay exterminated.
mo more ies?"
He had none. He knew when. to let
well enough alone.
Every WE'LL go to my death. take
paris green. I have 1t all mixed up out
in the kitchen. shall struggle and cry
out in my agony. but you needn't mind.
Just sit right there and keep on reading
your darned old almanac!'
That's what the deacon did.
She retired to the kitchen.
She ratified spoon In a teacup.
She sighed and she groaned. She opened
and closed the outside door.
She Topped down on the floor and asked
1t was half an hour before the deacon
closed the almanac and wandered into
the kitchen. Mrs. Dolby sat on, the floor
with her head and arms on q chair, and
was fast asleep. He shook her shoulder
and she reused up and said:
Eyes. it must be bedtime was dream
ing what a good man you have always
been. Samuel!''
''Ho-humr' he yawned and wound up
the clock.-(Copyright 1913, by the Nc
Clure Newspaper Syndicate.)