Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-02-16

he had been feeling so suspicious Of q
fellow man and tried to atone by
being as friendly as possible
"Was you ever to New York. Mis-
ter?'
Eyes"
"Thats a place I never seen. But
my brother he was always set Oh
SEEM this here New York oncet, that
you can read so much about In the
papers. So at last MS missus she says
to him. she says. Pop she says, you're
gettin' on in life and If you don't
go soon to this here New York. you'll
be too old to CO. So. then, he said
he'd go oncet. So she helped him get
ready and start off. Now, mind you.
write she says to him. and tell me
how you like it, So after a couple
Of days she got such a pitcher post
card from him and he'd wrote on it.
Nom, vi, vi, VI, vi! Pop"
Again their joint laughter seemed
to bring them sympathetically close
Since leaving the lighted town, the
road had been very dark, for the
night was cloudy and starless.
"Where do you want out stranger?"
Mr.. Schwenckton presently inquired
AS he spoke, he took his hand from
the steering wheel to have glance
at his watch-and as he did so. the
man beside him gave an uneasy start
With a shock of some horror. Mr.
SchwencktOn's fingers found an empty
pocket where his watch should have
been! Instantly he stopped his car
and jerked out his revolver. "Now,
then, you hand out that there watch
and then you run for your life!" he
shouted
The man obeyed with alacrity,
thrusting the watch into the farmers
outstretched hand, leaping from the
car and disappearing in the blackness
Of the road
Mr.. Schwenckton. greatly shaken
by so narrowly escaping being man.
handled by thug. his soul heavy with
sadness at the desperate wickedness
Of man, went on his solitary way,
musing on his own folly in having let
his kindness of heart get the better
Of his prudence.
ut amt safe to take up strangers
these days-that It amt! And me,
was always too trusting that way!
Well, this here's certainly a lesson to
me! Be kind to your fellah-creatures,
yes-up to the danger point. That's
all the further a fellah darst be Q
Christian these dayS!"
His despair over the perfidy of our
human nature deepened as he reflect.
ed upon the "gentility" of the thief:
his mice" voice, his educated"
speech, his polite manners"-what
with his BEG PARDON" "Thank you
very much"
"A slick one, he was! I can't never
trust no ones appearances again !"
thought Mr. Schwenckton with a sor.
rowful shake of his head. "Thats the
worst harm crook does-he spreads
abroad a mistrust of man made In the
image Of Gawd"
Fifteen minutes later Mr.. Schwenck.
ton, usually the most placid Of men,
confronted his family in the kitchen,
looking so white and agitated that
Nicely and Nettie sprang up greatly
startled, and even Susie looked at him
inquiringly.
81 was held up and robbedl" he
announced. "NOt two mile up the
road yet"
"Achl Was you hurt?" cried Net.
tie in a fright, running to him.
mo, I amt hurt. And l amt lost
nothin' neitherl I held the crook up
and got back what was stole off of
me! That's what l donew
Zach. Pop!" Nettie gasped in min.
gled terror and admiration.
"Good thing took my revolver
with It amt safe, these rough times.
to travel at night without a gun
along!"
his hat, coat and gloves, just what
happened-giving his story a dra.
matte climax "'Now, them says to
him, you hand out that there watch
and then you run for your lifep
says. And he did! With that there
revolver of mine in his face, he done
what l toll him and pretty quick
about 1t too! Yes, and l guess he's
runnin' yeti"
Eyes, we'll, but" Susie stolidly
spoke to him over her shoulder, you
didn't take your watch along. You
let it at home. You forgot it. There
1t lays" She thrust her thumb back
ward toward a small shelf which held
q convenient comb and brush for fam.
lily use.
Her husband stared at her incredu
lousy as she calmly rocked her sleep.
ing infant-then. desperately hoping
to prove her words false. he fearfully
drew from his pocket the watch he de-
manded from the stranger. and slowly,
reluctantly. he let his eyes fall upon it
It was not hisl
Such q watch It was as he could
never hope, nor even wish. to own
Gold, jeweled. initiated.
In a stride he stood before the shelf
and beheld his own accusing watch.
- L.