The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-09-05
\ Frontier BulldOzer.

The proprietor is not hard to suit, |
said to the foreman that evening, rs be
gan business.
"Why do you think so!"
because he engaged me at once | re
piled.
The foreman laughed.
That's because he thinks you won't
last more than Il day or two. They new
er do"
"Who."
THE editors-get cleaned out, you
know; knocked in the head, shot to
pieces-busted. Some of 'em leave the
first day, others hang on week or more,
then We carry 'em to the hill you see
over there and plant EN-. There's row
of local editors over there half a mile
long, and all died with their boots on"
Truly this was not very encouraging,
but | did not believe half of it.
ITS fact though" declared the fore
man. This town amt like other places,
and this is high pressure newspaper. If
you wish to be popular you must pitch
into the people like blazes. Those fell
lows over on the hill were popular"
sand that's why they got killed, sup
pose3" said.
81 reckon so; at any rate they axe dead;
Joe Hodges killed them"
"Joe Hodsesl"
YES"
"Who is he, prayl"
"The town bully; the masher of the
village; genuine, double back-action
rough. Better not say anything about
t. hn1 al -, nd nsb
into a jelly in no time. Very particular
is Joe about newspaper notices"
Then he shall have none in this pa
per-" SAID determindly.
"Oh, but that won't do exclaimed
the foreman "Joc is that sort of fell
low that won't be slighted-nothing he
hates SO as neglect; and then he is mixed
up in every row, so you'll have to men
ton him. In fact, Joe Hodges is on
the fight worse than any man ever
knew
Copy" yelled out one of the COM
positors.
The forman cleaned the hook and
rushed into the composing room.
"Ill fix Joe Hodges said to my
self, when the man had gone. "The first
blow is the best, SO here goes"
seized my pencil and wrote Il little
notice comparing Joe Hodges with a
mule, and saying that, according to all
accounts, he was a drunken rascal, unfit
for human association.
The notice was put in type Mt once,
and appeared in the paper the next morn
ing along with the other locals, and that
afternoon Joe Hodges called.
was busy writing when he came in,
and looked up when hurried glance
told me who he was.
A short, heavyset, swarthy, lov-
browcd rascal, with black hair and eyes,
a..d red shrt-that was Joe Hodges.
Take IL seat" said, and we on
writing.
Ina half drunken way he houndered
into chair
Joe Hodges
dashed it down on Il broad piece of
blank paper on the table.
"Iow old are your
"Forty-two,n with a surprised look.
dashed that down in the same way.
"Your birth place.
Missouri" with still more surprise.
put it down, and then reached for a
heavy revolver, which | cooked and laid
on the table.
Are you marriedl' | asked with II
quiet look at the astonished man.
NO." he replied staring wildly.
put the answer down.
"What is your businessf
a blacksmith
made record of the fact, and then
looked up to ask another question when
saw that the bully had risen and
stood glaring at me, with his hand on
the door.
"What in thunder are you writing!'
he yelled, his face almost purple.
IAN obituary.
whose
yours
He may have had urgent business
down on the street; | do not know; at
any rate he suddenly withdrew from my
presence aud never bothered me any
ore.-.Stl,cted.
\ SHARP RoBBERY.-A fasAionably-
dressed man went into Hunt u Roskell's
large icwelry store in Bond street, Lon
dos, selected articles worth $4,000, and