She couldn't never understand Jim. He was kind of
rough, but a good fella at heart.
Him and Hod had all kinds of sport with Milt Sheppard.
I don't suppose you've seen Milt. Well, he's got an
Adam's apple that looks more like a mushmelon. So
I'd be shavin' Milt and when I'd start to shave down
here on his neck, Hod would holler, "Hey, Whitey, wait a
minute! Before you cut into it, let's make up a pool and
see who can guess closest to the number of seeds."
And Jim would say, "If Milt hadn't of been so hoggish,
he'd of ordered a half a cantaloupe instead of a whole
one and it might not of stuck in his throat."
All the boys would roar at this and Milt himself would
force a smile, though the joke was on him. Jim certainly
was a card! There's his shavin' mug, settin' on the shelf,
right next to Charley Vail's. "Charles M. Vail." That's the
druggist. He comes in regular for his shave, three times
a week. And Jim's is the cup next to Charley's. "James
H. Kendall." Jim won't need no shavin' mug no more,
but I'll leave it there just the same for old time's sake.
Jim certainly was a character!
Years ago, Jim used to travel for a canned goods
concern over in Carterville. They sold canned goods.
Jim had the whole northern half of the State and was
on the road five days out of every week. He'd drop in
here Saturdays and tell his experiences for that week.
It was rich.
HYLAND
