The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-03
} II.-TF1E AIR TAPPER--By ELLIS P

In Calamus Township, east of Oroduna. be
you"
Grandma Bunker laid her hand on Mrs.
lmmen's arm
I'VE nights well go inside" she said.
PAS goin' to talk business to the gen
tleman. I guess
mot Prelk-Prelk" said Mr.. Prellick
kindly. NO. there is none of our branch
OF the family in the West. No. none in
Iowa No, no! No. none at all"
It's great State said Mr.. Bunker.
Too bad none of ye ever went there
It's the great wheat State. isn't it?"
said Mr.. Prellick
NO. that's Minnesoty," said Mr..
Bunker. '1owa's corn. Not but what
we grow wheat My cousin James
James Bunker-out at Colfax, don't
grow nothin' but wheat I reckon that
my cousin James
Mr.. Prellick stepped forward to well
come familiar face. and not until he
returned from the interior Of the
church was he able to hear more about
Mr.. Bunker's cousin James The con-
versation was interesting to both Mr..
CAlASh anu bunker ndT 6EctllCA
seemed to know as much about the
European war and the effect of it on
stocks and bonds AS Mr.. Bunker knew
about wheat, and he was oven more
eager. after he had found that Mr..
Bunker was q good listener, to talk.
With the assurance of the talkative
man who knows nothing but his own
business thoroughly, he explained the
European situation in q manner that
would have vastly surprised his excel
lency. woodrow Wilson. He had in
side information; he knew a man who
knew a man who had Just returned
from two weeks in London, and he
knew another man who received let
ters from an aunt in Hamburg. There
was no doubt that Mr.. Pre1lick knew
all about the war and its outcome.
Mr.. Bunker was an earnest listener.
When the congregation began to ar
rive in numbers, Mr.. Prellick left him
to attend to his- usherian duties (ush-
erian Is a good English word; you can
find 1t on page 6e75 of the Century
Dictionary. edition of 1so1). and when
the church was filled and the organ
6CnOcO anu only ldIe arrivals 0IlDDloQ
up to the church. Mr.. Prellick came to
Mr.. Bunker again and tho two men
seated themselves on the steps.
''And that's where the war Is being
! fought" continued Mr.. Prelick in his
most convincing tone: sit is being fought
in the grain-helds and in the money
markets Wheat and cash. those arc the
two weapons that count: cash to turn
into wheat and wheat to turn into men.
Now, you take this country-it's robbing
itself to feed Europe" said Mr.. Pre1lick.
Now, how many bushels of wheat does
this country producer All right it don't
matterI 1t produces it.. don't it7 Now.
suppose the Germans blow up another
ship-say an American ship-say q ship
like the Amatoria, the biggest ship that
flies the Stars and Stripes. Or say the
English do it? What then7 War! And
| then what? You know where our SOL
diers would have to come frona-all the
| city men making munitions. The farmers
would have to be the soldiers, wouldn't
| they7 And then what about wheat?
| Wheat would be worth two dollars. three
dollars, nve dollars . bushel! The min
OIS news C1In0 InAL snip 1lho ING
Anatoria was blown up-hve-dollar
wheati Yes, sir. I've studied this and l
| know!"
Mr.. Bunker gazed at Mr.. Prellick with
! wonder at his wisdom. and then he turn
ed away and his blue eyes sparkled.
IF a man could just know five min
utes in advance Of tho newspapers when
a ship like the Amatoria was sunk and
war inevitable for this country said Mr..
| PreIlick, "he could make more money In
| that I'VE minutes than In all his life!''
Mr.. Bunker. when he was reasonably
sure that his chubby cheeks showed no
and spoke.
"D'you ever study up about this here
wireless telegraphin' % he asked.
| ct? No! why7'
'.Nuthin'i Nuthin'!' said Mr.. Bunker,
hastily. "only-I been sort of lookin'
into 1T Thought maybe I might take it
up as a sort O. amusement"
| Mr.. Prellick. having pretty well talked
himself out arose 1t was nearing the
! time when he must pass the collection
| basket, and he entered the church and
left Mr.. Bunker. When the organ pealed
the occasional Mr.. Bunker arose and
waited for Grandma Bunker. He spoke
half to her and half to Mrs. WINNER.
81 been thinkin." he said. an I reckon,
Ma. we'd better hire on Mrs. WINNER
that there hall bedroom next to our
room. With this here hot weather, an
extra window to leave open would give US
e better circulation Of air, and US farm
folks amt used to bein' shet in so much
| as these city folks"
"Jabez." asked Mrs Bunker when they
dropped behind the more rapid-feoted
Mrs. WINNER and Miss Druse, was you
dom business with Mr.. Prelk7"
mot exactly, Ma said Mr.. Bunker.
Il might hev, but 1t didn't seem cutie
right to bunk a Teller on the Sabbath.