The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1922-01-26
AN EASY OLD GINK'
sy GAIL wHlrEHoUsE.

The habby-faced young man gazed
with gloomy Indifference at the straw
hat floating in the mud puddle. Pres
emily. AS he observed from the corner
Of his left eye the approach Of q
bare-headed. elderly gentleman. an ex-
preston almost Of Intelligence dawned
upon his doughlike features.
Then. as II performing a rite. he
bent above the puddle. tenderly re-
moving the hat, he wiped II carefully
with sky-blue handkerchief AS the
gentleman drew up smiling and puff
hng, he presented the hat with grave
ceremony.
Course, II it hadn't been for me,
NE suggested, tentatively
The elderly gentleman chuckled,
funbled through his trousers pockets
and brought to light few pieces of
silver and a crumpled bill. He passed
the bill to the youth:
"Here, SON" Smiling cordially he
pulled the hat more firmly over the
ears and turned in the direction of
the square. "Nice lad" he told him
self. Nice and accommodating.
The iabby-faced young man eyed
the bill, thrust 1t carelessly into a
convenient pocket and again sought
the telegraph pole with his spinal col
umn.
Easy old glnk." he mumbled.
At the edge of the square the elder
ly gentleman paused, then proceeded
toward the nearest bench, one end Of
which was occupied by small, black
haired child and a jaded doll.
The child noted his approach with
sullen eyes. Thoughtfully she grasped
the doll and gave 1t little shove
along the bench.
'Hello, mister"
his round face beaming with good hu-
NOR.
"Well, good afternoon, sister. Going
to let me sit beside you, ehf'
The child nodded gravely.
The elderly gentleman seated him
self m the indicated spot, only to sud
denly rise again, a puzzled expression
on his good-natured face.
"Bless my soul ~ he CALCULATED.
With convincing wall the child
grabbed up the doll.
saw. mister. you squashed heri"
"Now, that's too bad" sympathized
the elderly gentleman, thrusting his
hand into a trousers pocket.
The child watched furtively for the
temperance of the hand SAN she
cost two dollars" she gesticulated
'tragically.
"Never you mind" soothed the ell
dery gentleman. drawing forth the
contents of his pockets (there was no
bill In evidence this time). He count
ed out four 50-cent pieces. Here you
are. try brunette one this timer
They're said to er
wear better than blonds."
The child pOcketed the money, stared
blankly at the whimsical face of him
whom she afterward termed "de cas-
lest gink | ever ruined up against
and sprinted down the path.
BLESS my soul r. murmured the ell
derby gentleman. "What a funny lit
tie kid What a nice little kid r'
A few feet down from the path in
an artificial pond band Of green
necked ducks, gave utterance to a Sc
ries of loud quacks.
Again the elderly gentleman crossed
back to Main street and turned In at
the little delicatessen on the corner
"Got anything nice for hungry
ducksr he greeted the marcelled
lady across the counter.
"You en- get canary seed In the drug
store acrosst," she mumbled gloonnly
His attention centered on a pile OF
currant buns. "Well. now, think I'll
have a dozen of those"
The lady across the counter count
ed out ten buns, dropped them into
a paper bag and watched the elderly
gentleman depart with 1t.
"Aln't he the easy old ginkT she
remarked absently to her reflection
opposite.
And the elderly gentleman, hasten
ing back to the square, chuckled in
wardly Canary seed What
nice, witty, young lady. Canary seed r.
He carried the buns down to the
water and watched happily while an
occasional duck pecked mildly at his
offerings. Being somewhat near
sighted he was unaware that eight of
the ten buns sank untouched and un-
desired into the muddy bottom of the
pond.
AS he passed down Main street the
marcelled lady watched him languid-
ly through the win6ow Of the deli
catessen shop. A dark-haired child.
carrying dllapidated blond doll.
chewed half-heartedly at a cream pun
and stared at him with sullen eyes.
A nabby-faced young man spat gloom
lly into a mud puddle and greeted
him with feeble, "Evening, Mr.. Per
kins."
And the elderly gentleman. MUNICH
ing at the third peppermint drop.
climbed 70 his neat little hall room