San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-21
The train rolled away. down. the

The train rolled away down. the
track faster and faster.
The figures on the observation
platform became invisible to the eyes
of the watchers around the station. Joe
drew a long breath, looked down at
the bills in his hand, folded them
and showed them into his pocket.
He looked about him and became
aware that he was standing alone
in the. center of a circle formed by
silent, awed residents of Millertown. A
voice from the outer edge of the circle
terminated the silence.
"Well, I'll be damned - It said soft
ly.
And then Joe heard Jenny Potter.
She was CRASHING her uncle by his
coat lapels with frantic fingers and
shouting into his face. AZ told you"
she said Historically. 81 told you !!
Didn't I tell you? / told you'll"
Brubaker, the grocer for whom Joe
was working, stepped forward, abash-
ed, and extended his hand. "I'm sorry,
joe" he said awkwardly. II kind O.
had a suspicion all the time you was
tellin' the TRUTH"
Henry Stonington. the local banker,
was next in line. He took Joe by the
arm and spoke to him in low voice.
1--WE all owe you an apology, Mr..
Kelly" he said solemnly. "We are
mighty glad to have you here in
town. If you'd consider opening a
photographers shop here in Miller
town, Mr.. Kelly, I'm sure we could
arrange to let you have the money for
it. We ought to have photographer
here. We're big enough. And man
like you, a man with your experience
and reputation"
Joe raised his eyes and looked at
the banker. "You take your hands off
my arm," he said in a level voice. "You
low-down. corn-fed, hay-pitchin' piker,
you! Take your hand off my arm an
get out o. reach o. me, or I'll hang
one on your jaw that'll bend you lop-
sided"
As the banker backed away, Mr.. Pot
ter approached. grinning, nervous,
conciliatory. well, Joe" he began
in fawning tone and got no further.
Joe reached into his pocket, brought
forth the money the manager had left
him, peeled off several bills crumpled
and flung it in Potter's face. "That's
al Il O"C iOu. thCu HC
ed. "If you think I'm grateful to you,
you're crazyi You let me into your
house when I was all busted up be-
cause Jenny talked you into it, an
you let me stay there because she
promised to take care O. me, while she
was doin' all the rest of the dirty work
around your place for nothin' but n
lot O. cross words an mean looks! ]
lan1N - - IL
in the snoot; and if you don't back
away from me quick, I'll pay you
that!"
He spoke. then, to the crowd in gen.
eral. you're a bunch o. hicks. he
said scornfully. II come into your
town down an out an all busted up,
and you give me the horse laugh. Well,
here's the horse laugh back at you.
I'm goin' back home where / come
from. Back to my old job. an back
there the only place where we ever
see people like you is in the funny
papers. Funny! That's what you
are, the whole bunch o you. Just
funnyi" ..
He searched the crowd with his eye
and he found Jenny Potter, walked
over to her and took her by the arm.
Come on, kid he said grandly.
"You're the only regular guy in town
Come on up with me to your uncle's
dirty old barn that he calls a house,
while ! pack up my stuff"
Together they walked up the street
as conspicuous as a pair of white sea-
gulls among a flock of crows.
II knew you'd show EN-" Jenny
Potter exultcd as she stood by while
Joe packed his meager effects. "And
you'reN goin' back to Europe, amt
your" She was ecstatic with excite
ment.
"You amt bad kid" said Joe
patronizingly. "You been good to me.
all right. Say listen, kid You lead