Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-01-21

cer?" demanded the girl, in genuine
anxiety. Every one along Misery
called the old man Unc' Spicer.
Il can't jest make out" Her in
former spoke slowly, and his brow cor
rugated into something like slllen-
ness. He amt jest to say sick Thet
is. his organs seems all right, but he
don't pear to have no heart fer nothin',
and his yictuals don't tempt him none
He's jest puny, thets ALL"
I'll go over thar, an see him." an
nounced the girl III cook a chicken
| thetll tempt him."
The girl spent much time after that
at the house of old Spicer South, and
her coming seemed to waken him into
fitful return of spirits.
Il reckon, Unc' Spicer," suggested
the girl, on one Of her first visits,
I'D better send fer Samson. Mebby
hit mout do We good ter see him."
The old man was weakly leaning
back on his chair and his eyes were
vacantly listless; but, at the sugges-
ton, he Strengthened, and the ancient
AAo NehAS again W his ldCGs
Don't we do hit" he exclaimed, al
most fiercely. Il knows We mean hit
kindly, Sally, but don't ye -neddle in
my business"
Il didn't low ter meddle." fall
tered the girl.
mo, little gal" His voice softened
at once into gentleness. II knows
We didn't. didn't mean ter be short
answered with ye either, but thar's
jest one thing l won't low nobody
ter do-an' thets ter send fer Samson.
He knows the road home, an, when
he wants ter come, he'll find the door
open, but we hain't a-goin' ter send
after him"
Wilfred Horton found himself that
fall in the position of a man whose
course lies through rapids, and for
the first time in his life his pleasures
were giving precedence to business.
Horton was the most-hated and most
admired man in New York, but the
men who hated and snubbed him we're
his own sort, and the men who ad-
mired him were those whom he would
never meet, and who knew him only
through the columns of penny papers.
Powerful enemies had ceased to laugh,
and begun to conspife. He must be
silenced! How, was a mooted Ques-
ton. But, in some fashion, he must
be silenced. Society had not cast
him out, but society had shown him
in many subtle ways that he was no
longer her favorite He had taken a
plebeian stand with the masses. Mean.
while, from various sources, Horton
had received warnings of actual per-
sonal danger. But at these he had
laughed, and no hint of them had
reached Adrienne's ears.
One evening, when business had
forced the postponement of a dinner
engagement with Miss Lescott, he
begged her over the telephone to ride
with him the following morning.
Il know you are usually asleep when
I'm out and galloping," he laughed,
but you pitched me neck and crop
into this hurly-burly, and shouldn't
have to lose everything. Don't have
your horse brought. l want you to
try out new one of mine"
Il think" she answered, that early
morning is the best time to ride. I'll
meet you at seven at the Plaza en-
trance"
They had turned the upper end of
the reservoir before Horton drew his
mount to walk, and allowed the reins
to hang. They had been galloping
hard, and conversation had been i'm
practicable.
Il suppose experience should have
taught me-" began Horton, slowly,
that the most asinine thing in the
world is to try to lecture you, Drennie.
But there are times when one must
even risk your delight at ones dis
comfiture."
I'm not going to tease you this
morning" she answered, docilely. 81
like the horse too well--and, to be
frank, like you too Welt"
THANK you" smiled Horton. "As
usual, you disarm me on the verge