Abilene weekly reflector., 1922-01-19
II 44&eAtAeA&<A . <As
HIS DARKNESS is LIGHT g


The early morning train slipped
into solomon. Kan. ahead OF the
sunrise. Solomon is on the main
line OF the Union Pacific and the
single traveller who stepped on the
train was expecting wait OF a rev
hours for the Accommodation" to
take him OH to Minneapolis (also In
Kansas). A nearby restaurant pro-
yided an early breakfast, but the pro-
prietress could not change the 20 Dill
offered by the stranger.
snow II you mink I'm honest" he
yentured. "TIl step out and get this
changed and bring you back your
money"
"Sure." said the lady Just go
over to DobsOn's grocery. He's proba-
bly, up by this time"
The stranger had noticed an elder
ly man with coal black hair, setting
out some display boxes In front OF
the store. As he opened the door the
man was counting out change for the
davis business. He was greeted by a
cheerful Good morning" from be-
hind the counter. without any inter-
ruption to the clinking coins.
"Can you change a $5 bill for
me?" inquired the traveller
"Glad to-" responded Mr.. Dobson; +;
counted out the money ana then
looked ND for the first time.
He was blind!
jGreets Customer BY Name
The stranger was so taken aback
be couldn't speak. "That's right. isn't
it?" Mr.. Dobson asked smiling.
"why, yes, but I didn't know you
were blind" stammreed the VISITOR.
"You must be stranger In these
parts" suggested the grocer. Il nave
pever seen you before"
"Seen me-" exclaimed the mysu-
fed traveller.
"Well, you nderstand, have
way of looking over my customers
lust as you do" answered the store
keeper "Walk. voice words. move
ments. all mean something to me.
At this point Mr.. Dobson walked
over TO the stove. lifted the lid ana
nut in coal. poked the fire and theh
turned to another customer VINO
opencd the door with a hearty. Good
morning. Doc" Gan the "old-tim-
ers" call him Doco
"Morning. Harry" was the IN
stant response Then the stranger
learned that Mr.. DObson calls all MS
visitors by name, supplies their
wants. takes their money and, ap-
parently without noticing 1t, drops II
into the drawer. His l6-year-oid
helps him part OF the
time, but only as any clerk would
for he seems to be wholly self-re-
liant. He puts up his own express
packages and takes them In MS httle
cart across the tracks to the station.
He knows train times as well as the
agent.
His memory for names and voices
or "pers0nality" Is remarkable. Al
tbe first sound Of a voice he speaks
tbe person's name and even that Is
not needed for his wife ana step
daughter. as he can tell their walk.
One man who had been gone ten
wears, ON his return just called out
4Hello Doc" and doc" spoke MS
name at once. On another occasion
an old friend who had been away
for about five years stepped into the
store and accidentally coughed. Ihat
was enough for DobsOn he; greeted
him before the man had time to
speak.
PenniIess When Stricken
The appelation doc" is the key TO
his remarkable story. He became
suddenly blind through the growth
Of a cataract when he was % years
old. At that time he was working
for an electric company. but hadn't
saved a cent. He worked at odd jobs
for a while but finally borrowed $lO
and bought a stock Of medicines. lie
soon built up good trade in the
locality. bought a team and wagon
hired a little boy to drive and went
about the entire valley as II he had