The daily Alaskan., 1919-03-06


 ing:
 q have an idee that Slle Wright will help us--ayesI He's comin' home an you better go down an see him ayesI Hadn't yer"
 ''Bart an I'll go down to-morrer," said Uncle Peabody.
 Some fourteen months before that day my uncle had taken me to Pots- | dam and traded grain and salts for what he called rip rOarin' fine suit l O clothes" with boots and cap and shirt and collar and necktie to match, I having earned them by saving and cordIng wood at three shilllngs a cord. How often we looked back to those better days! The clothes had been too big for me and had had to wait until my growth had taken up the "slack" in my coat and trousers before I could venture out of the nelghborhood. I had tried them on every week or so for 6 long time. Now lny statule filled them handsomely and they filled me with pride and satisfaction which I had never known before.
 GNow may the Lord help ye to be careful-awful, terrible careful O them clothes every minute O this day." Aunt Deel cautioned as she looked at me. Don't git no horse sweat nor wagon, grease on 'em."
 To Aunt Deel wagon grease was the worst enemy of happy and re- ! spectable home.
 We hitched our team to the grass hopper spring wagon and set out on our journey. It was a warm, hay Indlan-summer day in November. As we passed "the mill" we saw the Si- lent Woman looking out of the little window of her room above the black smith shop-a low, Weather-stalned. frame building, hard by the main road, with narrow hanging stair on the side of 1t.
 "She keeps watch by the winder when she aiI't travelin'," said Uncle Peabody. "Knows all that's goin' On-that woman-knows who goes to the village an how long they stay. When Grlmshaw goes by they say she hustles off down the road in her rags. She looks like a sick dog herself, but I've heard that she keeps that room O hers Just as neat as a pin"
 Near the village we passed smart looking buggy, drawn by spry-foot- ed tOrse in shiny harness. Then noticed with a pang that our wagon was covered with dry mud and that our horses were rather bOny and our harness a kind of lead color. So was In an humble state of mind when we entered the village.
 There was crowd of men and women in front of Mir. Wright's office and through it's open door saw many of his fellow townsmen. We waited at the door for few minutes. l crowded in while Uncle Peabody stood talk ing to a ylllager. The Senator caught sight of me and came to my side and put his hand on my head and said:
 Hello, Bart How you've grown! ! and how handsome You look! Where's your unclef"
 Hes there by the door," l an swered.
 "Well, les go and see him." NIT. Wright was stouter and grayer and grander than when I had seen him last. He was dressed In black broadcloth anl wore a big beaver hat and high collar and his hair was al- most white. I remember yiyldly his clear, kindly, gray eyes and ruddy cheeks.
 "Baynes, I'm glad to see you," he said heartily. "Did ye bring me any jerked meat|
 "Dldn't think of it," said Uncle Peabody. "But I've got nice young doe all jerked an, if you're fond O jerk I'll bring ye down some tO-mor- rer."
 "Pd like to take some to Washing ton, but l wouldn't have you bring it so far"
 "Td like to bring it-I want a chance to talk with ye for half an hour or such a matter" said my un- cle. i've got a little trouble on my hands"
 The Senator took us into his office and introduced us to the leading men of the county.
 Here" said the Senator as he put his hand on my head, "is a coming man in the Democratic party"
 The great men laughed at my blushes and we came away with a deep sense of pride in us. At last I felt equal to the ordeal of meeting the DunkelbergS. My uncle must have shared my feeling, for, to my delight, he went straight to the basement store above which was the modest sign: "H. Dunkelberg, Produce"
 "Well I swan" said the merchant In the treble voice which remem- bered so well. "This Is Bart and Pea