The Finest W r i t e r »
.Semi T h e i r Stories
t irat to l lir lllu »
trateil F e a t u r e
Set lion
•* r /iir i
• It'sthaiH Iti . i hi' i|4
A 4 «'M U *«g II < pi » . m i « l •»• •
* C o m in g Stories by *
^
O
th v
^
D o rn
o th
y W
W # e *>
it
*
Edward W orthy
*
E d w a r d L a w so n ‘ J
|
J. A . R o y e r »
The: A d voca te
T IIK II.U STR ATK I) FEATURE SECTION
Mar, h 12 . I!*.i 2
O B A D I A H P A Y S UP
l III
S T O R Y
<>l
S T IN G Y
MAN
H r T a lk r d M o n ry and Interest in H is S leep and
O n e D a y H e W a k e d U p.
a « (.r o ttn e
, t»g iw u u * ik o u t 1
Hr licurtt the legs of the chair
We don t need no teptetry for that » r racking leaned forward and kicked
w «'l
cronKrd Obutlitii to tlU wife, hu ic*» aiul recovered hla balance.
• an I I aim going to |*y for it no-j
What % the idea »mac king my head
h o*’
He leaned bark in Id* rhalr. nx* that?” he growled a* he turnr<1
• « " • « « hla f " •
i I .
bumi U I
L ih * ^ , hall a
| i l . t a n d hooked hla heel« on the |IMf violently, aa If »hr had left It In
edge of It
| A hurry
■ Now, Obadlah Walkln*.’* tx'ttan
Ohadlah Watkliiit I done »marked
Lut
Uiopping her jo *wing to Iter lap vou good!" laughed a »harp voice, no
en«l looking over her apectaclea at !otnlrr Mum the Mjuewking of a niou»e
I»mi
(lie tapestry waa given to the
He »wimg hla feet from the mantel«
church bmtnur and aiictionest off
I piece turned In hla chair and glanced
w*« (lie highest bidder and got it' tround the mom
N ow
•
T in right here?'* pl|M*d the squeaky
t h in il.id blaniesi w>Hiieii» k n o «e l \«»lee. ‘C ant you see me?”
Obadiah bent forward In hU chair
liow to bid It up 'cause they know»
l.m rich'* cut in Otwdiah angrily. md hi» eye* roundeo with ainaxe-
i
merit
as he »fared ut a tiny man, no
"And I aln t going to give no »evenly
dollar ch , k to pay fat tt • ** He taller than one of Obadiah’« cigar»,
lighted A iig*»r. nipped the match Into and the same color. He was »landing
III* gtale flic and tilted back ill hla with feet far apart, trying to keep his
• balance on the arm of the rocking
Chair
III» suit WUa a gray tVM I
I m won led a heap about you 1 chan
Hi* hat,
Obadlah *• 1 ucy alghed aa »he t*xjk actly like Obadiah » suit
vhuea.
gray
gaiter» and even his liny
oft her »| m *< ta< lea and gated Into hi»
j
Ivory-headed
cane,
no
bigger
thanj
face
’ Uh woman, what a you got to .» fine cambric needle, matched Oba-
! ’ w*» a* if bg wm% koofcmc
worry about me g o -lo n g f iw* grunt­
j through the large end of a teleacope i
ed »arcaatlcally
• Heapa to worry about! All you' 1 at htmwlf dminken a thousand
talk« u money! Talka money at your times, until he was about four inchea
tlie hearth
Hope It knocked out
Htiui up'" si is plied In Conscience, years! That s so loollsli—"
nieal« breakfast dinner and «upper' 'all
Obadiah Watkins took hi* cigar slabbing Obadiah behind the ear
Shut your old head?" roared C ou -, some of the fool!"
1 «!k i money and bonda. and intenwt
He threw his arms around her and
with the lllile cane
' You didn't silence. All wives likes Ihetr hus­
In your alrcp! l»ove for money ha» ft.>iu In* mouth, glanced at the ttny
shove him oil - Oh. no! You old bands to pet them—what's thirty kissed her a dozen times She laughed
done put wrinkle» in your fane and one. lasted with laughter and then
and
pushed him away, then took his
chilled
-steeled
money
grabber!
Bui
years to love!"
heart. and done ahrunk your conaci« »a ut.
Funny-looking. I ain’t never seen you »Upped thst grafting scaffold in -
' She » always been been a might) fare between her hand* and kissed
ro o t till It am t no bigger than that
spector tlliy dollar* to pass that faul-l flne gal to ine! Gosh. If I last her!" him and said.
qua'ah cigar you a got at tick between nothing so small- nww-suh!”
'Thirty years marled and still
‘ Shut you face?” commanded the, ly scaffold with the platform boards
your atore-teeth—you heard
me.
"Look again?" Conscience tempted sweethearts—I sure loves my wrin­
tiny one. br and idling hla cane, "It » a foot a part. Down Joe went, sixty
tnaii '••
Obsdiah turned sgalu and saw Pas­ kled bald-headed boy' Go-long man
your dad blamed neglect that’s made leel Hr * passed through the circles
Course I wanta money, woman!
Hr* wife and kiddles In tor Roberta In the happy crowd He with your fooling!"
OHadiah exclaimed. *‘ l waiiU all 1 can me small' Huh. some folks in this of hell'
was
patting the head* of the kiddles
He pranced around the room, rub­
wahl'
You
should
pay
him
full
lime
ole New OiI an» town, done reckons
to te -
Iron] the day he fell until he's well! ' around him He raised hts hand and bing his head He chiicklr.1. took out
Il»e iiiuip you totea," broke in Lu­ vou"» »mailer than me'
his pen and check book, signed a
Ha ha
giggled Obadiah. slap­ lie Jabbed Obadiah with the cane said.
cy her eyra rounded.
the moie
"I'm so pleased lo tell you-all, that (heck, ripped it out and gave It to
atlngineaa you totea with It! Cogl- ping hu leg» la got to laugh!” and He winced
her.
he did
Please excuse me. funny lit-
"Look again, skinflint." Conscience we now have two hundred dollars for '
ta'«« : 11 4»t u n l
"Fill In the amount yourself, old
the poor, and thgt's not Including the
ordered
HUnglneah’
b l u r t e d Obadiah, ' |g m ill »lit
"Dial s your Ignorance laughs at
•
Obadiah turned and stared at the seventy dollars for the tapestry our sweetheart!" he laughed, "And wait
ull
voa are the cheek I'm giving lo
am t you got fine clothe»? Ain't you what you don t understand!”
oh! frame rliurrli. tie knew so well ' beloved sister. Mrs. Lucy Watkins'
Joe Ranee' Then two thousand to
" Who is you. pee wee?”
g>K the beat radio, aewtng machine
H ie -.11 chimney was out of plumb bought "
the pastor!"
*
D ie be»t part of you skinflint' and the bricks loose He lowered hts
- am t you got a big Bible with real
"Two hundred dollars am pretty
He slapped on hts hat. took hts cane
S«Nn«* men tote» me .»mailer than I is eyes Ui the basement doors
The good'" exclaimed Obadiah
gold edgi
Ain’t I
and started toward the door
U«ed up llila here living room with now' Sometimes I tote* men and laprstrv moved back and shut out
Go-long, you old money-hugger!"j
Man. ..where's you going?" site
I the ylslon
new furniture and thick rug? Lucy control» th em - they "a darn few'
sneered Conscience. "You could give asked, her eyes wide
Walkin', you * done gut a heap more .«in t a f«- trad >f M man I ain't I
Obadiah Watkins" began the Iwo thousand and never nnss It' Look
'T o the bank to git a pocketful of
I has don«* made kings, tyrant*, swell- stinging voire of Conscience, "a month there again?"
than m«»at white womfna—Mingyf**
quartahs and dimes and let the kid­
"Y o u » atire good to me man—uh- beaded politician*, murderers, and ago you promised the pastor to fix
Obadiah heard a noise like distant dles scramble for them I feel like a
Lilli! I'm a» fat and »Irek a.» a }K*ltcd even a few lawyers, listen to me and that rlilmiiey and the furnace Prom­
man that's been let outta prison Into
liou-v* tabby!
tlli-huh. man!
Bui go to church the next day If more ised al the same time, you would thunder and then he . s i the base­
sunshine' I'm going to tell a lot of
Obadiah, I amt got no real happl- n»ei» would listen to my wee voice- send one of your carprnters to tlx ment begin to nil with heavy, yellow
old
geezers I know, to take a wallop
smoke
iieaa in my hravlivcaa! I'm sorry for and don't reckon I'm Just alluding to those doors' You know that the build­
"The wind blew down the chimney,' irom Conscience and be young again!
• • • -
Old Man Depn iloy .» democrat*, republican* and prohibi­ ing Inspector told the pastor that the
Whoopee!"
giippmg and »queezlnc all the hope tionist* ’cause I ain’t why then tha uoors iou . i open oalwsrd! That the Conscience sobbed, "and the brick
world would be belter! Obadiah Wat­ door between the stairway of the sa-; filled up the turnace flue Now It's
from their heart*!”
What a ua giK to do with It? Ain’t kins. I ’m Conscience!”
rrlty and basement, must br a swing­ vomiting out gas and thick smoke In­
to the basement! Look'"
Obadiah'* eye* dilated, hi* mouth ing dooi they are fire-traps!
you proud, woman, to hear folk.» say
I in rich and aucccaaful? When ua «.|M'itml and he rubbed the back of his
'T was very busy—*
The frightened women and children
wa» thirty didn't have a thin dime! Lead and whispered. "Conscience,
' Ohmtgosh
wot
a
whopper!"' were pushing and crowding against
in twenty five yeni • i dong mtM my you'* .''lire small, but you tote* an, squeaked Conscience. If you tole that (he big doors even the young men
aelf from a bilrkliiyer to one of the awful wallop! My h ade hurt* where lo u mole, lied kirk your brains out! were ( l ightened and excited The pas­
lug builder* In tin* here New O il air. you done smacked me one!” He You can't wrestle with me and truth, tor was trying (o (lull the women from j
town'
O olong woman, with your! straightened and bowed, “ Now go-j IJIol' You was watt mg (or the church the doors—they fought him. scream­ Send your Euihorrairiag Votneai
long, you funny-looking, and don’t to Rlt some money lo pny you!"
moaning'
ing with terror Lucy, a baby In her
lo (Tie C d ilo r u id U U ill b *
pester me? I ain’t done nothing I
But folk•••«. nay* vou's stingy. Oli.i
arms, staggered toward the crowd I
"Conscience I'm sure .sorry!"
DUbllrhrd.
di.ih I know* you know*, the church ain’t !”
#
' ?el your Conscience show you this. title (ell lo her knees, glanced at the |
A Slip of the Tongue
’ I know* you ain’t ! ” sneered Con ( Obadiah Watkins' 1
chimney nrocl* rebuilding The fur-|
baby tu her arms, snatched up a (old- j
Anv woman ran readily appreciate
mice done smoke *o that the congre-, .science, and that » why I ’m with you»,
The tapestry folded buck.
ud newspaper from the Poor and fa n -,
g it Ions all weepa smoky tear.» ” Bin* look at that tapestry on the wall.” | Obtulluh leaned forward and stared, ned the smoke trom Its face. She the blavknrsr ot my most embai ras­
ing moment. A friend whom I bad
ilghed.
La»t Sunday, some o ld 1 hr pointed to It with hi* canr.| Into the basement of the church H e 1 gus,H'd and collapsed to the floor
not seen for years, telephoned that
meany. done flipped a lend dollar In- j Whiit a seventy smacker* to a rich always liked the pretty Kiris of the!
"They're trapped!" whimpered Oba- j she was ill town We made an ap­
to the contribution plate— Uh-hiihf «•Id gee/vr like you Is! You refused, church Now the basement was crowd­ distil
pointment for luncheon downtown I
*
•fil'd ‘bout us good as that puaaou’a j ti pay for it' A |>u tot al, too! Ain’t ed with (hem. All shapes, sizes unci
"Your neglect set the trap." accused saw mv frl'n d before she saw me and
was terribly surprised that she had
Jake piety!”
I right’ "
colors, from pure black to chinkapin-' Conscience
Pon t ‘lude. woman? Weren’t me!” 1 • Well I reckon* you » right, Con­ brown. Many of the girls had Pat
'1 ucy! My
Lucy!" sobbed Oba- aged so I knew that she had pars’d
through a distressing series ot mis­
science " admitted Obadiah
Mtapiird Obadiah
baskets, filled with rakes, camber r.nd, dlnh, trying to rise (ruin the chair, j fortunes
but. at that. I could hardly
Nlie ighed. glanced at him. hinooth- ' "Watch It now?" whispered Con-. toys. Several had grab-bags.
Ho j "Honey-boy, is you all right?" cooed, reconcile this almost aged looking
rd her apron and .smiled and said,1 science
could hear their trilling laughter as Lucy's soft voice, close to his car. | person with tire young woman I d
' Obadluh, can't us pet the furnace I Obadiah »aw the tapestry, on the they peddled their dainties
“You'» boon squirming like a speared known a few years before As I ap-
wall between the windows, draw aside j ' He, lie," chuckled Obadiah, "It am 1 call"
and church chimney fixed?”
pr ached her I noticed^ how beauti­
.She ganped, leaned and put hei ! Into folds until It was hanging 1» one' the church bazaar! T h ere» my Lucy
He opened his eyes and looked up fully groomed she wasVlust'lhc la-t
word
In smartness, so. naturally,
1 .11 *;.• I,ild. He gasped In ustoiilh-j lo the lent. She's telling the fortunes into hers- lie was lying Hat an bis,
i ind on h
houldt i
i •» \ m in
she .»aid. "Don’t lean *o fat back In me]it he was slat Ilia Into the ward of the lioys and girls. Everybody loves liark, Ills load «lose lo (lie white hot, wanting to say something pleasant.
n«v first Irnpuls- was to sav. after the
that chair? If the leg* should break, of a hospital, and at a hla man In a' Lucy she loves everybody!"
inals In the grate. Hr glanced at the greeting was over "My dear, how
you'd smack your lie-ad against the bed. Ills strong face twisted with pain,
"You're a miser with your love and i lisir near him—bath rear legs were nice you are looking!
I t. cant it so
floor and break my new chair, too!” his thin Angers picking at the coun­ with your money I" accused Consci­ broken off. He got on his feet, rub­ sincerely that I would, of course, have
“ I ain’t doing no work In the church terpane.
ence. " t t ’a mighty long lime since bed the bark of his head and gamed put a great deal c( zest Into It. but
lty me forever when I tell you that
"T h a i-* the wreck of wliat was Illg you done (Hit your arm around her. Into Lucy's smiling eyes
and wait, for my money, Mr*. Lucy
Joe ltanre, one of your best orna­ pressed your cheek against tiers and
Watkins! It** slow pay and—”
"Done tole you not to Iran bark In ! looked at her sweetly and said with
much
feeling "My dear, how old you
“Stop leaning *o far back?” she mental plasterers,- sobbed Conscience called her your ritar old sweetheart — Iliat chair?" *hr admonished, smiling
are looking!” The old subconscious
warned again, “ And yon’s scratching
"1 didn't shove Mm oil the scaf­ you love dodger I"
It bruk and smacked that turnip will have Its say!
*.l»e varnish off the mantel with you fold !" whimpered Obadiah
Hut us dots- been married thirty you calls a head, against the tiles of i
m c h ku
i . i i h i k i
Embarrassing
Moments
f