The Springfield herald., 1913-03-28

body would be willing to take him
home and feed him and take care OF
him, for It's Gods truth hadn't
enough for him and the children too.
But nobody wanted him; he was pret-
ty old. and he wasn't never handsome.
And one store was in. as l went out
heard drummer that was trying to
sell goods say. I saw that Teller at the
Relief. but l notice he's able to keep
dog. Lets the children 60 hungry
ruther'n the dog, guess kinder
again. and l whistled to Sport. and l
looked at him and saw how his ribs
showed and his eyes was kinder sunk.
He wagged his tail and yelped like he
used to. seeing me look at him; and
then I went straight to that drug
store Billy used to keep-Billy Har-
vey. He moved away last year: he
was = good friend Of mine. said to
him. Billy. you got something that
would kill = dog in q nash. so he'd
never suffer or know what hurt himr
And Billy-he understood. and he said
he had. You Jest put it on his tongue
and he'd never know what killed him.
Billy was sorry for me. He gave 1t
to me for nothing, and he gave me
some bones and corn bread and milk;
so Sport had good dinner. And he
come right up to me and looked me In
the eyes, wagging his tail. His eyes
was kinder dim. but they was just as
loving a. ever. And he was wagging
his tail when he dropped. Then /
went home. and the children asked me
where was Sport. and little Peggy
cried-oh, Lord!"
"It was awful hard on you, Wesley"
said Robbins gently.
IT suppose 1t wasn't nothing to what
some men have suffered. There was
poor Tommy Walker. give up his farm
when 1t was foreclosed-thought he
had to-and went on tramping to
Kansas City. and after he'd tramped
a week there, looking for a job. give
1t up and jumped into the river. And
you know how old man Osgood killed
himself. honest old man as ever
lived; always kept his machines un-
der cover. too; he couldn't stand 1t.
They found 1t harder-and lots more.
too: but I've found 1t hard enough.
And l know I'd shoot that sneaking.
sneering young Shylock. and not mind
1t near SO much as I minded killing
poor Sport"
Il don't know but we'd all better
quit" said the younger man with a
sigh. This Isn't a living country.
Three years of drought would break
any country UP. It's not meant to live
in. We had fair crop this year. but
it's SO low: and freights. though
they're lower. are pretty high. ! don't
see any way out Of 1t. And declare
OF we'll only get a bad name fer the
place"
II don't care for bad Names" said
the other sullenly. Il got wife and
three children; was fo,eclosed
year ago-so's you, SOS lot of the
boys: we're at the end Of our string
now-legally. So what did we say?
We said we didn't care, was 1t legal
or illegal: that laws was made to skin
the poor man; and we elected a sheriff
we could depend on not to enforce
the laws. and we druv on the blood
suckers they sent out here. They say
one feller was killed. don't know.
Guess that's one 81 Doc Russell's
stories. The boys talk lot about
the cause of all this here trouble. and
how we're going to have revolution.
and how referendum and initiendum
will help. and how free silver will help
Il guess. myself, little more rain
three years ago when corn was up
would have helped more'n anything
and they talk how they're fighting the
battles Of the poor man, and the east
ern bloodsuckers has ruined US. and
the Shylocks are devouring US. and
they holler the roof on. listen to
EN-. but don't believe 'em any more
than you do"
But" interrupted the other man
eagerly. II voted with the peoples
party"
"Of course you did. We was going
to be unanimous. and you dass'n't
stand out; but you didn't believe in
it. Me either. amt maxim any
pretense, but I'll tell you It's Jest here
Pm down to bedrock. If let my
farm be took away and my stock.
what's going to become of my wife
and children? You can call 1t stealing
or resisting the law. or anything you
please. but I'll kill that feller before
III let him turn me cut"
Don't you think we can SCARE him
of? Killings nasty word"
my father was with John Brown;
he helped kill man. He never lost
no sleep about it; shan't neither.
Look here, Mr. Robbins, got lots of
time to think. winters-lots. Remorse
and all them fine feelings you read
of. they don't belong to folks that are
way down in the dirt. You got to have
something to eat and wear, and not
have, your stomach sassing you. and
you half froze most of the time; when
your body is In sech fix it's keeping
your mind so full there amt any show
for any other feelings. And look a
here. there's worse"-his voice sank.
why, you git to that pass You amt
able to feed your own wife and babies.
When this morning Peggy kept hush
Ing the baby, and she was fretting and