The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-11-17

Aaron Sandni!lcr came 10 NaFoto"H
: unanncunCed and made no EFFORTS ior
place IN the life of the town. Instead
he established himself with Captain. IN
an abandoned barn near the OUTSKIRTS
and prepared for the winter. Captain
WAS Il moHgrel dog.
ITS like this" said Aaron to Captain
: on the first evening in their new nome.
w are UP against the proposition Oh
p long cold spell and we are not pro-
v.dcd. II it Vas only summer might
get 4 few lawns 10 NOV, Shoveilns
snow never seems TO appeal TO ME ex-
ccpt In summer.
Captain listened attentively AMI
waggcd s;umpy tail against the moor
The old man counted his slender assets
and sighed.
Il always did play in hard luck. Cap
tain. There was the time. for instance
when ] shot myself in the shoulder
and was accused of seeking sympathy
by a fake suicide. There wasn't any,
body who would believe the trigger was
caught In the string on my tobacco sack
and when l pulled the thing out the gun
went of. 1t all goes TO show. Captain
you never want TO carry a revolver IN
your pocket with your tobacco"
u NCAN az oNf ~ ~
Ing over TO the old man and putting his
muzzle on a thin and threadbare knee.
This winter. oIdtlmer, you and l
gottcr work 10 keep out OF the poor
house. wonder what sort OF meals
the country is putting up, for mar and
beast"
Aaron made efforts TO find odd Jobs
about the town and was rewarded. now
and then. by the chance to make enough
money 10 postpone the line when ne
would have to consider charity. He was
n kindly old man ana the town took all
interest in him. When it grew colder,
il was decided. something would have
20 he done. for the barn could not ar
ford a proper shelter. More II more
the old man lived in the past.
Maybe ] never told you, Captain.
of the time | got a small start as a
stocking peddicr? Well. ! had an auto
mobile in those days and Just enough
gas 10 run 1t. There came a period or
business crisis. like there does To all
ventures, when | had a half tank or
gas and eighteen cents as resources and
was wondering whether ! would sell
the ear and quit or continue as n sales
man of hosiery. ! thpuEht OF Tipping
a coin. but the ink decided II for me.
W SGG, ] / II VI ~ 81 i"'A'
ton came into effect and. like the gen.
ilcman YOU have always found me 10
be. | threw my corkscrew away-ao-
campaigning the act, you may be sure,
! with most appropriate remarks. When
I drove back that way | ran over the
thing and punctured my tire. That's
when | quit the stocking business"
For hours the old man talked TO the
, dog, drawing out Of his past and his
| fancy. and often the boys OF Ward
town, young md older. would press
heir ears against the cracks or the
barn. outside. to hear the stories. Then
the SHOWS came and il was decided the
county must take a hand.
Go to the ~puorhOuse?" asked Aaron,
! facing the inevitable with AN air OF
, bravery. AOh to he sure. I've paid
taxes in my day and il isn't mooching'
IS it? Captain. YOU and l are going to
he guests 81 the public. 1t isn't like
We were ramps
They broke The news to Aaron that
! du.S were not allowed at the poorhousc
and that if he went there he would
have 70 stay.
Go way with YOU" was all he said.
I'll talk plans over with Captain"
"Wha,eycr happens. and M matter
: what anybody says" and Aaron regard
Il the dog seriously. don't ever believe
we are tramps. We are gentlemen
down on our luck. that's all. And look
here. Cap. if we are separated for a
while. You stick around. I'll be oach.
Next day Aaron was ready.
If WAS to Depart ffu;r Ihis-ei,
residence for a spell. say VI 81 str!nt,