Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-05-02

ly. impreSsively. and then through
habit called upon his daughter for
veriication. Didn't 1. PaIOmaT
Miss PalOma'S answer was unexpect-
ed, and came with equal emphasis:
"NO, you didn't, father. The miserable
thing lost money"
Blaze was only mOmentariE dis
mayed. Then he joined his visitors
laughter. How can a man get along
without the cooperation of his own
householder" he inquired naively. May
be 1t was next year | was thinking
about" Thereafter he confined him
self to statements which required no
cOrrObOratiOn.
Dave had long since learned that to
hold Blaze Jonss - } strict eecOnnt-
ability with fact was to rJb MS Sc
ciety of Its greatest charm. A slavish
accuracy in figures, an arid lack OF
imagination, reduces conversation 10
the insipidness of fiat wine, anG
Blaze's talk was never dull He YVES n
keen, shrewd, practical man, but sCfue-
where in his being there was c'H'
cealed tremendous, lcpsded sefSe
of humor which took the form of d
bewildering imagery. An attentive Hh.
dience was enough for him, and once
his fancy was In full swinE. there wts
no limit to his outrageous exaggerr-
tons. A light Of credullfy In a hear,
er's eye filled him with prodigious
mirth, and it is doubtful II his listeD-
90 h.
amusement from his fabric- tons that
he himself enjoyed. Palo-1a's spirit
of contradiction was the rnly fly in
his ointment; now that hit daughter
was old enough to keep cooks" on
him, much of the story-teller"s JOY was
denied him.
OF course his proclivities OCCASION
ally led to misapprehensiODs; chance
acquaintances who recognized him as
an artful romancer were liable to con-
slider him generally untruthful. But
even In this misconceptiOn Blaze took
quiet delight, secure in the knowl-
edge that all who knew him well re-
garded him as a rock of integrity. AS
a matter of fact, his genuine exploits
were quite as sensational as those Of
his manufacture.
When, after supper, Blaze had
hitched pair of driving mules to his
blackboard, preparatory to showing his
guest the glories Of Jonesville, Dave
said:
"Paloma's getting mighty pretty"
"She's as pretty as blue-bOnnet
flower" he father agreed. sand she
runs me around something scandalous
l amt got the freedom Of a peon."
Blaze sighed and shook his shaggy |
head. "YOu know me, Dave; I never
used to be scared Of nobody. Well, it's
diferont now. She rides me with a
spanish hit, and my soul amt my
own With sudden tightening 81 his
gloom, he added: Say, you're going to
stay right here with US as long as
you're In town; want you to see how
l cringe."
In spite of Blaze's pIaintive tone 1t
was patent that he was Unfortunately
proud of PalOma and well content with
his serfdOm.
JOnesville proved to be typical
Texas town Of the modern variety, and
different to the pictured
frontier village. All In all, the. effect
was much like that Of a prosperous.
orderly northern farming town. To its
happy founder 1t seemed well-nigh per-
feet, and Its destiny reused his mad.
dest enthusiasm. He pointed out the
Odd Fellows hall, the Palace Picture
theater, with is glazing orange lights
and discordant electric piano; he con-
1ucted Law to the First National
bank, OF which Blaze was a proud hut
somewhat ornamental director; then
20 the sugar mill, the Ice plant and
'ther points Of equally novel interest.
Everywhere he went Jones was
nailed by friends, for everybody
seemed to know him and to want to
hake his hand.
"Sonie town and some body Of men,
hr he inquired, finally. and Dave
greed:
Eyes. She's got grand framework,
Blaze. She'll be most as big as Fort
Worth when you fotten her up"
Jones waved his buggy whip in a
vide circle that took In the miles Of
evel prairie on all sides. "We've got
he whole blamed state to grow In.
nd. Dave, haven't got an enemy In
ne place! 1t wasn't many years ago
nat certain people allowed I'D never
We to raise this town. Why, It used
} be that nobody dared ride with
Paloma, and she used to
eep with shotgun at her bedside"
"YOu sure have been a responsible
y to her."
"But I'm as safe now as If l was in
1urch."