West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-08-03
CHAPTER XVII.
OF TO the Fair.


train bound for the fair. IL
~ was packed with jolly crowd
OF visitors for the same destination.
"Oh, by the way, father will meet
us there! said Tom Ralston Joyfully.
II wired him last week we would leave
today. He said last spring he wanted
to see the fair and would try to get
down I'm time, so heard from him yes
terday. He's already there and has
engaged quarters for us ut the hotel"
"Ill be mighty glad to see him." said
Joe. And i guess It's good thing he
has rooms for us / saw In the paper
that there was such crowd I'm town
that all the places were filed up and
folks were sleeping I'm chairs in the
hotel lobbies."
I'm glad he's fixed II, too" said Mr..
Weston. ~ amt much on this chair
snoozin'. Every time l go to sleep In
my chair It gives me crick I'm my
neck"
They arrived mt the capital city bit
before noon. Streets and stores were
gay with banners and bunting, bands
were parading, and an excited, eager
stream OF people extended from the
depot, where several excursion trains
were discharging their loads.
Mr.. Ralston was watching for the
party and seized on them at once, shak-
ing hands jubilantly.
my, my; It's sight for sore eyes to
see you! I've been here n day and a
half, and. say. this fair is great! It's
n liberal education to see 1t. I'm COM
ing every year. And such stock!
Why, l never saw the like OF fine
cows
ANY muley black ones?" innocently
inquired Tom. His father gulped, be-
gan to turn red and grinned sheep
ishly.
"Now. Tom; now, Tom" he began
pleadingly.
II Just wanted 10 know. / think the
muley ones are the safest. They can't
hook-only butt" said Tom demurely.
Mr.. Ralston grlnned.
Eyes, / suppose so, and If we ever
buy any more cows I'm strong for the
muley kind" he said.
Look here, what's the joker" de
manded Joe Weston
'Oh, just little private one between
u.s." said Tom. II can't give II away
yet"
Come on up to our rooms and wash
up. Wen get some dinner first, then
40 to the fair afterward. We can get
supper there" suggested Mr.. Ralston.
He had got two handsome adjoinsng
rooms, and after the dust OF travel had
been removed from the new arrivals
Mr. ROIqfnn hOnHaH hA
paper.
"They are expecting you, joe" he
said. big writeup Of the Corn club
contest, and you seem to be considered
the man they've all got to beat. It's
the field against you" Joe saw his
name in big type in the headlines.
81 think I've got 'em tied out" he
said confidently, as he showed Mr..
Ralston the record
why, gee whiz. you are as certain
TO win on this showing as we are TO GO
downstairs the manufacturer eXulted
That's fine. And I'm going to send
Tom along with you, If you don't mind,
for year at that school"
Suits me all right. IL will be just
fine" heartily agreed Joe Weston
II looked into the matter OF the
prize" said Mr.. Weston. THAT schol.
arsbip is with $500. The fair manage
ment got Il for less on account OF the
advertising, but If you want they'll
commute Il for $500 cash. That's what
they are actually TO pay for Il, under.
stand"
"No. sir; If win want that scholar.
ship" said Joe.
Eyes, that's with more than the
money, by heap" agreed Mr.. Weston
"All right, let's go down and eat"
suggested their host and led the way
TO the crowded dining room
The four were seated ne a table nlac
ed close 10 another one. At the next
table were three men, and one with
his back 20 them was talking. Evil
IDENTIFY, from his conversation. he was
county superintendent OF education
from somewhere in the state. lie talk.
ed In rather n loud voice. and every
word Of what lac said was audible.
what ! am afraid or" said he. '.s
that Joe Weston. the state champion
OF last year, Will enter" The men.
ton OF JOe's name made his party
prick up their ears
'If Joe Weston amt I'm It think
my boy will win tho prize. and am
dreadfully anxious for him TO. never
did have my heart so set on anything"
he continued.
ANY special reasOnf' said one OF
the men at his table, helping himself
90 stalk Of celery and munobing idly
away on II.
Yes. there S." asserted the school.
teacher earnestly. "The most urgent
reasons. You zee, THIS boy I am in.
terested in r. only fifteen years old
He's the eldest Of four children. all
three considerably younger than he f..
His mother s. q widow been 50 for
four years now Her husband was n
trihing drunkard who mistreated them
and died. leaving them absolutely des
utute and on the hands Of charity. And
this boy has been the man Of the fam
ily ever since"
TOO bad, too bad said the other OF
the listeners.
They moved out in the edge OF
town on this little patch Of ground
and I'm n tumble down cabin. The
church ladies helped them out that
first year. The mother took IN sew.
ing The children gathered dandellon
greens and pokeberry shoots for salad
and biackberrics. The Lord only
knows how they got through that nrst
year. Then n good hearted man gave
them a COW, and the ladies gave 8
few chickens. They sold mix and
eggs. ana that helped"
II don't reckon anybody could get
closer 10 bedrock poverty than that"