Connecticut western news., 1922-02-23
2 COpY RTGHT7

''Henry Brimstead," the stranger whispered
 ''Son of Elijah Brimstead?"
 ''Yes, sir" Samson took his hand and shook it warmly. Well, I declarer he ex. claimed. "Elijah Brimstead was c friend O my father" e-
 "Who are youT" Brimstead asked.
 I'm one O the Traylors O 'Vergen, nes." t5. s.t< x -s'1 #
 My father used to buy cattle of Henry Taylor
 Henry was my father Haven't you let 'em know about your bad luck?'' t .t7.
 The man resumed his tone of con- fdence. Say, I'll tell ye,'' he an- swered. IA man that's as big a fool as I am ought not to advertise it. A brain that has treated its owner as shameful as mine has treated me should be compelled to do its own thinkin' rfjdie. I've invented some things that may sell. I've been hop in my luck would turn" .r
 It'll turn when you turn it," Sam son assured him. ta L-r
 Brimstead leaned close to Samson's ear and said in tone scarcely aud ible: .... '."
 My brother Robert has his own idiot asylum. It's real handsome one an he has made it pay, but I wouldn't swap with him."
 Go ,Aox.s %1oA Robert had liquor store. Look here, Henry Brimstead, we're hungry" he said. If ye furnish the water, we'll skirmish around for bread and give ye as good a dinner as ye ever had in yer life"
 Henry took the horses to his barn and watered and fed them. Then he brought two pails of water from the spring. Meanwhile Samson started a fire in a grove of small poplars by the, roadside and began broiling veni- son, and Sarah got out the bread board and the flour and the rolling-pin and the teapot. AS she waited for the water she called the three strange children to her side. The oldest was
 
 refined and attractive. In spite of her threadbare clothes, she had a neat and .cleanly look and gentle man. ners. The youngest was a boy of four. They were a pathetic trio
 Where's your motherT Sarah asked of the ten-year-old girl.
 Dead. Died when my little brother was born." ..
 "Who takes care of youT
 Father and-God. Father says God does most of It."
 "Oh dearv' Sarah exclaimed, with look of pity. r.a
 They had a good dinner of fresh biscuits and honey and venison and eggs and tea. While they were eating Samson told Brimstead of the land of plenty. .ss.
 After dinner, while Brimstead was bringing the team, one of his chill dren, the blonde, pale, tattered little girl of six, climbed into the wagon seat and sat holding small rag doll, which Sarah had given her. When. they were ready, to go she stubbornly refused to get down. =..'
 "Pm goin' away" she said. ''Pm goin' aw-a-ay off to find my mother. I don't like this place. There ain't no Santa Claus here. Pm goin' away"
 She clung to the wagon seat and cried loudly when her father took her down. .A
 "Ain't that enough to break mans .lo !, f,I Oly
 Then Samson turned to Brimstead and asked:
 Look here, Henry Brimstead, are you a drinking man? Honor bright now" ..a
 "Never drink a'thing but water and tea"
 "Do you know anybody who'll give
 "There's a man in the next town who offered me three hundred and, fifty dollars for my interest"
 Come along with us and get the money if you can. Pll help ye fit up and. go where ye can earn liv- ing"
 "Pd like to, but my horse is, lame anu l Iuu lLlC "Put lem right ain this wagon and come on. If there's a livery in the place. I'll send ye home."
 So the children rode in the wagon and Samson and Brimstead walked, while Sarah drove the team to the next village. There the good woman bought new clothes for the whole Brimstead family and Brimstead sold his interest in the sand plains and bought a good pair Of horses, with harness and some cloth for a wagon cover, and had fifty dollars in his pocket and a new look in his face. He put his children on the backs of the horses and led them to his old home, with a sack of provisions on his shoulder. He was to take the track of the Traylors next day and