The Meeker herald., 1920-12-25
The Strange
: Guest
., PxAcrvAL BROOKS
"a 1859. wsstsr. Newspaper Usssa !,

II Come home.S wrote Walter Dunn'S
truly loving wife. 1--WE miss you.
Never mind a. to your failure In bet.
tering thInss-they are good enough
A. they are. n long % We are to-
Iether."
Dear little womanl" enthused the
recipient Of the letter and bis heart
warmed and home. poor ~ II was.
seemed Q 3ns beckming haven ut that
moment
Hard A. Nellie and be had worked
On the little ten-acre patch Of ground
at the limits Of Weston, hey wound
up at the end Of every year In debt.
They had enough to eat and that was
about all. There were two little chill.
dren. however. Father and mother
did not mind wearing old mended
clothes. but they deplored their In
ability to dress their children a. those
Of their neiEhbors were attired.
five only had 4 little capital to
invest 10 fertilizers and the machinery
to do real farming. wouldn't call
the king my brother" walter had A.
serted strenuously. "Why. the old
stumps and rocks rooted out and q
year given to preparing the land for
real cultivation. and I'd show you
resulta."
Bot they never yet had ths money
OF the time to carry out Walters plan.
II was certainly practicable. for 9TH
err With money had made grand sue
ceases. 30. burdened with debt snd
the prospect ahead more fosiorn and
unpromising than ever, Walter had
held serious consultation with Nellie.
n know no trade" he confessed.
The city Il probably crowded with
Just such unsuccessful and disappoint.
Cd fellows - myself, but II must offer
SONG opportunities TO . willing man."
He had come to Alton. . thriving
little city. to Try his luck. Three
weekS earnest effort to secure work
went for practically nothing. He grew
homesick for the wife and the little
ones. He wrote 20 to Nellie. The
answer to his letter decided him. He
spent two hours at dusk stroiling
about the streets thinking It all over
and decided to start back for homo
the next morning. There came Q slight
sprinkle Of rain and. a. he wore his
best suit Of clothing. Walter stepped
back into the entrance Of q broad
doorway inst above q fashionable res
taurant Supper rooms upstairs." no
read on an Illuminating globe and II
made him think Of home, for his prov.
ender for the day had been light
He had but two dollars IN his pocket
and was saving Of that for Il would
take him oaiy two-thisds Of the way
home.
A. Walter stood Under shelter q
middls-agsd man, opulencs prevailing
in dress, manner and ornament came
down the stairs, glanced along ths
street. then into the lower restaurant
shd then CHANGED to take walter with.
IN his vision. He wore q light over.
coat Of peculiar pattern and this hs
removed A. be re-entered the arch
way. half halted. studied Walter close
~ and then approached him.
young man." he spoke. have you
the time and inclination to partaks
Of a very princeiy support"
why" replied Walter. smiling At
the oddly Of the circumstances, II
scarcely understand you
.ve,v we'll som. sr,scAs ara
s.the,sd for . i,ttis hanouet. o<h.rs
s.nectsd hsvs not .rrivs6 ". ~
ina. th,rteen a. ~ n. ana III. suner,
stit,ons ones von.t ~ Aovn MIN vs
have n,,ed The Sour4eeoth ehsi,w
.I sh.lI h. v,.a n ~ ~ ,ou, ..,v.
,c.~ ..,a W.it.r .smn,, ana . ssv
minute. I...r scr,A h;,...,e o,s - .
n.r+y =, men who sm,,s.t.S IAN.
n,.nt .na vss,,h n. ~ hsS ,r,st.A
him spoks "a oec, sionsi vord Ia rim
hut walter ala nh intrude nnon the
general conversation.
.s,,,, . 49,, ~ ~. ..,a N.u,. .r.
v.rd and aid ~ ~ hims.is ror two
hours a. . trulv hungry man waiter
rsv.,sA ~ !. t.h,s ~ irrr,v .nd
rIsnt. a. .h.nssd .hs nan ~. h.d
;nyitsd him whsn he rsnsst -. orer