Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-12-09

Mrs. Kelso laughed. "It's funny to
hear a baby talking like that" she
said. 1--WE don't know this young man.
He's probably only fooling, anyway"
BIN went often to the little tavern
after that. OF those meetings little is
known, save that, with all the pretty
arts of the cavalier, unknown to Harry
Needles. the handsome youth fattered
and delighted the girl. This went on
day by day for a fortnight. The eve
ming before Biggs was to leave for his
home, BIN went over to eat supper
with Ann at the tavern.
1t happened that Jack Kelso had
found Abe sitting alone with his
Blackstone in Offut's store that after
noon.
"Mr. Kelso, did you ever hear what
Eb Zane said about the general sub
iect of sons-in-law?" Abe asked.
"Never-but / reckon 1t would be
wise and possibly apropos," said
Kelso.
"He said that a son-ln-law was a
curious kind o. property" Abe began.
aye know says Eb, If We have Q
boss that's tricky an dangerous an
with less than nothin', We can give
him away er kill him, but If We have
a son-in-law that's wuthless, nobody
else will have him an it's ag'in' the
law to kill him. Fust We know we've
got a critter on yer hands that kicks
an won't work an has to be fed an
liquored three times a day an is
with a million dollars less than
nothin'.'"
There was a moment of silence.
"When a man is fgurin' his assets,
it's better TO add ten dollars than to
subtract a Million" said Abe. That's
about as simple as adding up the
weight o. three small hogs"
"What a well Of wisdom you are,
Abe p said Kelso. "Do you know any
thing about this young Missourian
who is shining up to Bim?
81 only know that he was a drink
ing man up to the time he landed here
and that he threatened Traylor with
his whip and got thrown against the
side of a barn-plenty hard. He's a
kind of American king, and / don't
like kings. They're nice to look at,
but generally those that have married
'em have had one hi of a time"
Kelso rose and went home to sup
per.
Soon after the supper dishes had
peer laid away in the Kelso cabin,
young Mr.. Biggs raped on its loo
and pulled the latchstring and entered
and sat down with Mr.. and Mrs. KEEL
so at the f1reside.
81 have come to ask for your daugh-
ter's hand" he said, as soon as they
were seated. 81 know it will seem
sudden. but she har pens to be the girl
I want. I've had her picture in my
heart always. 1 love your daughter.
1 can give her a handsome home and
everything she could desire"
Kelso answered promptly: 1--WE are
glad to welcome you here. but we can
not entertain such a proposal, f1atter-
ing as it is. Our daughter is too
young to think of marriage. Then,
sir, we know very little about you,
and may 1 be pardoned if I add that
it does not recommend your
The young man was surprised. He
had not expected such talk from a
ladder climber. He looked at Kelso.
cropping for an answer. Then
perhaps not" said he. II have
been a little wild, but that is all in
the past. You can learn about me
and my family from anyone in st.
Louis. l am not ashamed of anything
l have done. May 1 not hope that you
will change your mind?'
"Not at present. Let the future
take care Of itself"
81 generally get what I want" said
the young nan.
"And now and her something that
you don't want" said Kelso, a bit net
tied by his persistence.
"You ought to think of her happi-
ness. She is too sweet and beautiful
for a home like this"
There was an awkward moment of
silence. The young man said good
night and opened the door.
"Pl go with you," said Kelso.
He vent with Mr.. Biggs to the tav-
ern and got his daughter and returned
home with her.
Mrs. Kelso chided her husband for
being hard on Mr.. Biggs.
HE has had his lesson, perhaps he
will turn over a new leaf" she said.
81 fear there isn't a new leaf in his
| book" said Kelso. They're all dirty"
He told his wife what Abe had said
In the store.
1.-THE wisdom of the common folk is
in that b~eardless young giant" he
| said. 1T is the wisdom of many gen
erations gathered in the hard school
of bitter experience. I wonder where
1t is going to lead him."
AS Eliphalet Biggs was going down
the south road next morning he met