Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-11-18
We find time t see it's done afore tn
stage comes In. Mfchael?"

We find time t see It's lone afore tn
stage comes in. Michael?"
I'll do it myself an right away.
Mr.. Peace" cried the proprietor ca
gerly. won't ye have a mild snort
while I'm dom IT." and his hand
reached behind him.
Quit" snarled Mr.. Peace. throwing
his gun forward. "Afore ye try hos
tality Jest prance round tn room with
hands up an when ye come ter a
poster. brush II down. There! that's
much nicer. an We do it real graceful
an pretty like" This as the proprie-
tor entered upon his task in a stiff.
awkward manner
do we drink now, Mr.. Peace?"
humbly asked the man beside him. II
don't want to do nothing hurried
like"
Sure ye kin; only. I alters admire
t. e two fippers on tn bar rail fer
every man present Hi! Number
Four. where's yer left duke?" and the
Colts was instantly trained along the
line.
IF We please, Mr.. Peace, | ain't got
only one" babbled the offender.
"Ill 'scuse We. then" said the old
man. kindly, after c%raning his neck
to discover the empty sleeve.
After the glasses were gently re-
placed on the bar in the midst Of a
prolonged smack Mr.. Peace cleared
his throat and explained:
Fer one day I'm a highly respected
citizen O. this settlement. Remember,
we all admire me as a scft-hearted.
gentle-mannered OIL cuss, halter broke
an kind t. children. When tn stage
comes in a OIL lady will git out. She
will be here a few hours an | should
be desperate sorry t. hear any care
less word dropped that might lead
her t believe | amt peaceful by ma
tur'. as we'll as by name. | hope
won't have t. correct anybody, as she
amt use t. gun play. TIL sheriff is
backin' my game till arter tn last
stage goes"
we lIilIh d lltdp VI L SoSSb
boys" shivered Big Mike.
That's good; that rings true"
grinned the old man. 1T would be
kind O. nice If we all remembered ter
use tn Mister Lemme hear we say,
all tergether, 'Howdy, Mister Peace
All ready? Bark"
"Howdy. Mister Peace" growled the
line.
Don't sing It," demonstrated the old
man. Put more feelin', more heart
inter It. Try 1t ag'in, an sort O. smile
as If We was that tickled t see me that
ye'd swim sever miles under water. |
Jest t. grip hands"
The next essay was more satisfac.
tory, and the new citizen then turned
to drilling Big Mike in crying. Dear
OIL Jem."
"Only, Michael" warned Mr.. Peace,
icily, keep yer hands well up an out,
as If We was swimmin', when ye say
it. An don't try t fall on my neck,
either"
Here's tn stage!" cried Big Mike.
1t was an affecting spectacle, that of
the little, brlght-eyed, old m re.
over her son. 1t appealed to
the loungers in front of Big Mixes
place as having been especially or
dered for the day and Nudge Creek.
And as the two lavished terms Of en-.
the onlookers assumed a
proprietorial air, and benign
ly pronounced 1t all as very desirable.
Imbued with this feeling of response.
hility the settlement for a space for
got to wonder at the genial presence
of Mr.. Peace.
After mother and son had met, the
sheriff and Mr.. Peace were duly pre-
scented, and those nearest heard her
say, in a pretty, puzzled way. "Mr.
Peace?" Then she clasped his with
cred hand and peered intently into his
bearded face, while he stood stifly.
his eyes staring over her shout
der. "Why, it can't be-why. it's Jem-
my Peace!" she cried, softly. Its the
Jem l use to know" And she placed
her other hand on his rough coat
sleeve and beamed in delight at de-
him beneath his whiskers.
"Ya.as, it's me, ma'am," he awk.
confessed. "Lawd! We two
amt met fer a dogs age. How dye
know me? l s'posed tn brand had
worn off,"
Know you'll" she cried in a little
birdlike voice; "as If l could yer for
get you. You were-yes, Jem, you
were a handsome boy"
"A-kerchew!" loudly sneezed Big
Mike.
Then the bystanders were precluded
from hearing much more as the inter.
ruption caused Mr.. Peace to suggest
Michael, ye're ketchin' cold out
here. Please, please go inside an take
tn boys with ye."
Dear OIL Jem," choked the proprie-
tor, turning humbly away; and the