The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-05
Afternoon---By ELLIS PARKER BUTLER

he entered, 'sbe you satisfied with the
way the bunco-business has been goin' to-
day?"
Fair to middIin'. Ma, fair to middlin'?"
said MI, Bunker as he removed his shoes
Things is workin' along. as you might
say. Tain't no use complainin'. nohow.
Seems like I was gettin' ahead all the
while I got down nigh to Wall Street
today.
"wen. now. that's real nice" said
Grandma Bunker. wall Street sounds
| real high-tonec."
$50 1t does! So 1t dccsr' said Grandpa
Bunker. putting as he stopped to draw
his carpet slippers from under the bed.
Ma. I guess were gettin' UP in the
world when We git down to Wall Street
Seems like we'd ought to be gittin' into
society and all that Ma. 1 want you
should have some pleasure out o. life.
now that I'm gettin' nigh to Wall Street.
want you should give party or some
thing"
ooh. Jabexr exclaimed Mrs. Bunker.
| her dear old face lighting with Joy.
You can, just as wells not" said ia
bez. "Doughnuts. and sliced smoked
beef. and lemon pie-like them nice par
ties you used to give out to Oroduna-
Wen show EN-! None O. these cup O
/ tea and couple o sandwiches cut with
smoothin' plane. No. ma'am! A real.
| hearty old Oroduna party! Saturday.
Saturday? Oh. Jabezr' exclaimed
Grandma, her eyes beamtng.
Yes. ma'am!" said Jabez. heartily.
| "Ialf-pas' two o'clock. Saturday after
noon, an hang the expense You get the
loan Of Mrs. Winners front parlor, and
invite all the boarders and some of them
folks that is SO nice to you at DR.. Holyer's
church. Maybe Mr.. Prellick will come"
And fried chicken! And bakin'-pow-
der biscuits!' said Mrs. Bunker. like one
In q trance.
Mrs WINNER was glad to help Mrs
Bunker with the arrangements for the
party. About q dozen of the members
of DR.. Holyers church accepted the in
vitatfons. and not one of the lady board
ers at Mrs. Winners refused. The prep
arations went on apace. and the under
| taker sent in twenty folding chairs (for
| a dollar) and six small tables (for another
| dollar). The only unfortunate matter
seemed to be that Mr.. Prellick felt 1t
impossible to attend. OF the party. 1t
must be said. Mr.. Pre1lick knew nothing
whatever. but both Mrs. WINNER and
Mr.. Bunker said it would be best not
to invite him. Grandma Bunker. how
| ever, learned that Mr.. Prellick would be
| at the house to arrange for room at
three o'clock Saturday and she Allied a
| tin buiscuit-box with doughnuts and asked
1 Jabez to see that Mr.. Prellick got them
when he came to the house. Mr.. Bunker
accepted tho tin box with a gentle
| chuckle.
| Mr.. Bunker was fond Of doughnuts.
| ana MIS-. Bunker loved 10 udfo Cds
| them. but she woul1 have been not lit
tie displeased If. late FRIDAY night when
she was already asleep, she could have
seen Jabez slide cautiously out of bed
and open Mr.. PreIlicks box OF dough
nuts. Seating himself in tho darkest
corner of the room. Mr.. Bunker ate MT
Prellick's doughnuts to the last crumb
There were many Of them. and toward
the last he ate slowly and without the
eager appetite he had showed when he
began. In fact, he had to force the last
three down his throat almost by main
force. When the last crumb had disap-
peared. Mr.. Bunker slipped quietly into
the small ballroom that was part Of the
Bunker domain. and when he returned,
the tin box was almost as heavy as II
:: had been. before, and was tied tightly
| with the shoe-lace with which Grandma
had originally bound It The next morn
Ing Grandma conf1ded the box to Mrs.
| Winners own hands to be given to Mr..
Prellick when he should arrive at three
to'clock.
| The party began promptly on time.
| Dear old Grandma Bunker, in her best
| flounces and fluffles, stood at the door
OF Mrs. Winners front parlor and well
| coined the ladies as they come. At five
minutes of three, Mr.. Bunker stood by
one of the tables and raped on it with
his plump knuckles.
well. folks" he said when there was
] silence. Il reckon everybody u Eoin'