The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-05

you and Ma started you steam-cauiope
war-whoops down here. that I'd ought to
do something about Mr.. Prellick- guess
maybe see my way clear to do 1t now. !"
"Jabez," said Mrs. Bunker. putting her
hand on her husbands arm in the az
fectionate manner she often used, i've
said it before, hope to live to say II
many a time more-you're good man.
Wet, I guess I amt no wuss than
lot of others,' said Mr.. Bunker philo-
sophically.
When they reached their room, Mr..
Bunker stepped out of his carpet slippers
and pushed them under tho bed and dre"
his shoes over his blue yarn socks II
was not his habit to put on his shoes 10
go down to the dining-room to luncneon'
and Grandma noticed this.
you goin' out. Jabez7" she asked
'welI, Ma" he said. IT reckon I been
loaf1n' round the house about long enough
I fsser a man that's in the 6unco ousi-
ness ought to git out and BUNK once IN d
while, A confidence-man has got 10 ao
business now and agin or he loses con-
hdonce In himself. been readin' In THIS
.xfne Of Grafters' book, tryin' to nEger
ou+ . good graft, until my mind Is all
hailed M like q mares hoof IN damp
snow. but guess I've got notion now
that I can figger on
NJ, bunker kissed the top Of Ids pink.
bald head
.rhat.. right, Jabex." she said lovingly
"1t amt right for man to Idle TOO
much: tho devil always finds WORK 1oi
idle hands to do. When you're OUT "a
she added, "mightn't you sort OF stop Ii
and sec Mr. Prelick and tell him we
amt zoin. to act as II we never wanted
| to have anything to do with him again
.~vThv. YES. Mar said Mr.. Bunker. with
hi. cheerful, innocent. babylike smile
.~vs., vax nxserin' on dem that very
| thing rnyself!''
And this was true. It Is wrong to neg
I lect a friend merely because he Is In
trouble. and Mr.. Bunker had no inten-
ton of neglecting Mr.. Prellick Tor that
reason. It was because Mr.. Prellick wa
| in trouble, and because Of the particular
kind Of trouble Mr.. PrelAck was In. that
Mr.. Bunker meant to sec him
After the light luncheon Mrs. WINNER
PROVIDED pOo&0SAa "AAASAA "s 49,
the nature of a souvenir. OF memory, OF
dinners that had gone before. and an ex-
ceIlent meal for stout women who wished
to lessen their weight, Mr.. Bunker took
the subway and was soon in front OF the
enormous building known as the Stupen-
dous in which were tho offices of that
great financial institution. the stupendous
Trust Company. Inside the building he
was obliged to wait some time before he
was ushered into Mr.. Prellick's particular
sanctum. He was told that Mr. Prellick
was .-in conference which was true,
for Mr.. Prellick was standing before the
desk of the president OF the company in
the attitude Of a naughty schoolboy be-
fore the principal OF his school,
ST take it for granted, Mr.. Prellick."
said the president. that there Is nothing
whatever in this story about Miss
prusc that saw in the morning paper"
Nothing whatever" declared Mr.. Prel-
lick.
"Just so!" said the president. "And it
does not matter to US whether there is
or not. Buy her OF and end this news
paper talk"
..She-She won't be bought or" STAN
mered Mr.. Prellick. IT tried to buy her
Of Right at first I knew 1t was black
mail, and refused to have anything to