The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1921-12-08
HAAKON COUNTY TYPES
(The Distinguished Visitor)

He had not been in town an hour
before everyone was aware that he
was distinguished visitor. He was
a man out of the ordinary and en-
tirely like none of the rest Of us.
A casual look told you that. He
stepped about with a sprightly air
as if there were something more
than rubber in his heels. He held
his bead high and his chin stuck
out like a chin of distinction.
But you did not need to see him
to realize his Importance. The in
habitants could. feel that in the
very air. 1t was as if more genial
sun had risen on the dreariness
of our poverty-striken days, and
everyone marked him and his pre-
sence.
The school children gathered in
groups on the brow of the hill to
discuss the stranger and his af-
fairs. The business mems associa-
tion considered the advisibility of
holding mass meeting to invite
our guest to remain with us per-
manently. 1t was not known just
what occupation he would care to
follow, should he decide to become
fixture and an armament in oul
community, but he could do some
thing. If nothing else offered ne
could start another newspaper.
That would at least keep his mind
occupied whether it required the
expenditure Of any of his capital
or not.
Eeven if the visitor would not
stay he could be invited to address
the association, and resolutions
could be adopted expressing in a
suitable manner our deep sense OF
his worth and the distinction he
had brought to the town by his
brief stay among US.
At first it was not clearly under
stood wherein the strangers dis
tinction lay. 1t was merely realiz-
ed that he was different. Then the
mystery was uncovered, and the
news of it swept through the town
like a fire through a prairie. He
was the Man Who Had A Dollar.
Not dollar he had borrowed from
the bank, not dollar he had kept
back from the groceryman; but a
dollar all his own, above all his
just debts and liabilities. A dollar
he might spend openly, in the pre-
sence of all men, without any Gre
ditors to step forward and stay
his hand. A dollar left even after
his taxes were paid, and likewise
the interest on his rural credit
loan.
When the real distinction of our
friend was learned, there was a
rush to grasp him by the hand
Everyone of us was glad to slap
him on the back and boisterously
call him friend. There is no esti-
mating what noble help a Man
Who Has a Dollar may render in
days like these. He might be will
ing to sign your new note as an
endorser when the old one comes
due at the bank and cannot be
paid. He might marry your daugh-
ter and pass his wealth on to your
grand children. So we were all
glad to join the circle of his adj
mirers. And we are sorry to say
that with it all there was not a
little good natured scheming to
the end that it might be taken
away from him and divided up
among the rest Of us.
Then the star fell. When they
picked him up out of the bushes
along Bad River wandering like
one who had lost his reason, it was
plain that he was changed man.
All his distinction was gone, and
he looked dirty and wrung out like
the rest of us.
| We stood him against conven-
lent wire fence, and, after shiver-
ing minute, he found his lost
voice and said:
L lied to you people; | made a
mistake; no think / lied; / did
pay my taxes. And / did pay my
interest. / did pay all my creditors
but one creditor, / did not pay
left him until last, as is the Gus
tom of the world. Then ] lied to
you. Oh, j did not pay for my
local newspaper" I"
His voice became choked, appar-
emily with sobs of remorse, and
| it was several minutes before he
could go on. But finally he man
aged to say:
My conscience haunted me tho,
and | could no longer live the lie.
So / paid that dollar on my sub
scription. and now | am not worth