Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1922-01-05
AN EASY OLD GINK'
BY GAIL WHlTEHoUsE.

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 a
bare-headed, elderly gentleman, an ex-
preston almost of intelligence dawned
upon his doughlike features.
Then, as If performing a rite, he
bent above the puddle, tenderly re-
moving the hat, he wiped 1t carefully
with a sky-blue handkerchief. As the
gentleman drew up smiling and puff
1ng, he presented the hat with grave
ceremony.
Course, If it hadn't been for me-"
he suggested, tentatively.
The elderly gentleman chuckled,
fumbled through his trousers pockets
and brought to light a 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. mice and accommodating"
The fiabby-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 gink," 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 a small, black
haired child and a jaded doll.
The child noted his approach with
sullen eyes. Thoughtfully she grasped
the doll and gave 1t a little shove
along the bench.
Hello, mister"
The elderly gentleman peered down,
his round face beaming with good hui
nor.
swell, good afternoon, sister. Going
to let me sit beside you, eh?"
The child nodded gravely.
The elderly gentleman seated him.
self in the indicated spot, only to sud-
denly rise again, a puzzled expression
on his good-natured face.
"Bless my soull' he calculated.
With a convincing wall the child
grabbed up the doll.
saw, mister, you Squashed herl'
Nov, 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. "An' she
cost two dollars" she gesticulated
t%ragically.
'Never you mind" soothed the ell
derby gentleman, drawing forth the
contents of his pockets (there was nc
bill in evidence this time). He count
ed out four 50-cent pieces. Here you
are, try a brunette one this timei
They're said to r
wear better than bonds"
The child pocketed the money, stared
blankly at the whimsical face Of him
whom she afterward termed "de cas-
lest gink 1 ever ruined up against
and sprinted down the path.
"Bless my SOUL" murmured the ell
derby gentleman. "What a funny lit
tie kid. What a nice little kidd"
A few feet down from the path In
an artificial pond a 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 al
the little delicatessen on the corner
"Got anything nice for hungry
ducks" he greeted the marcelled
lady across the counter.
"You en- get canary seed in the drus
store acrosst," she mumbled gloomily
His attention conferred on a pile o.
currant buns. swell, now, I think II
have a dozen Of those"
The lady across the counter count
ed out ten buns, dropped them int
a paper bag and watched the elderly
gentleman depart with 1t.
"Ain't he the easy old ginkr" sh,
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! 7
He carried the buns down to tn,
water and watched happily while al
occasional duck pecked mildly at hi
offerings. Being somewhat near
sighted he was unaware that eight O
the ten buns sank untouched and un
desired into the muddy bottom Of tn
pond.
AS he passed down Main street TIL,
marcelled lady watched him languid
ly through the window of the dell
~catessen shop. A ~dark-haired child
carrying a dilapidated blond dol
chewed half heartedly at a cream put
and stared at him with sullen eyes
A fabby-faced young man spat gloon
lily into a mud puddle and greete'
him with a feeble, Evening, Mr.. Pei
kins."
And the elderly gentleman, MUNICH
ing at the third peppermint dror
climbed to his neat little hall room
AS he turned the key in the lock h
chuckled reminiscently: "Weren'
-