St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-04

oiO uuShJ WlAtoW lOOkcQ over Inc
river.
| 'Tll strike glim,'' said the convert
and he lit bit of spluttering candle
that showed dimly one broken backed
chair and a rough table, on which stood
an empty beer mug and the remains OF
some bread and cheese on q cracked
plate.
"Sit down there" said the convert.
And Higgins sat down. The convert
put the candle down on the table and
glared across at his guest.
Now he began, "talkin's your lay
an workin's mine. What you're u
talkin' of be a practicin' of. An
what's the odds? Where's the differ
ence? They puts the irons on me an
puts me in quod, they does
"Have you been put in jail?" cried
Higgins, indignantly. ''Why didn't
you let the secretary know and we
| would have helped you with the fund. ~
"No, you wouldn' t; cause why? You
as does the talkin' looks down on us as
| does The practicin'.'
ooh, not at al" cried Higgins. III
| assure you that
"But says ye docs, do. Now,
| some blokes has one argument an some
has another. Talks yours; here's
mine. -
The convert took from his pocket a
short implement loaded with lead at
the end, and with this he raped omi-
nously on the table.
"You argify an Il man answers We.
| give him one on his mob an e never
says word back, e don't. You says
we're brothers, an so says I. Now,
brother, | says, divide"
Whats that?"
Il said divide, / said. Why should
you have a watch when [ amt got
none? Why should you have good
buds when / amt got mono? You
works for EN-, eh? says Bah. An
what's more, says divide"
II don t understand you"
''Then your eds thick, saysI. Come,
off with that coat and put it OIL this ere
table," The convert raped again with
his bludgeon and Higgins took off his
coat.
'.Now, my mate, off goes my coat.
Now off with that 'ere>veskut. Leave
that ere watch where it is Now off
goes mig veskut. Now off with the
rest"
''Then you are thief said Hig-
gins.
"Some of 'em calls it that-some
calls it diwidin'.''
While Higgins was forced to put on
the discarded apparel of the convert
the other quickly got into the clothes
of the Socialist. He put his hands in
his new pockets and counted with great
satisfaction FL IS I'd.
'I'll call the police said the in
dignant Higgins as he looked at him
self in the battered garments of the
convert
''Oh, WiN YEP" cried the other.
Now you call" He went to the win
dow and threw it up. 'Call, and |
per'aps that bargeman on the other
side will ear We an per'aps e won't.
Then gives ye one on the mob and |
down you goes into the water. They
picks ye mp down Grinnage way an
there amt no papers to iden 'ify We.
Then they buries you sommers. Are
We going to call the police; fur the
night airs bad an don want to keep
the winder open.''
NO murmured Higgins, II will
not CALL
''Jess as you please, mate. Now we
goes down together. We walks along
like. You open your guz-
zle, an that mint you gets one on the
mob. De- We 'ear?''
81 hear. !"
.'Will you do it?"
Il will not speak if you let me get
safely out Of this.
VERY good, mate, very good"
The convert walked him down the
stairs and out into the court, hurrying
lim along SO that he could not rccog-
lize the place if he felt inclined AFTER
Virus W spIlG on Hfate, as tnat
gentleman put it. Having thoroughly
mixed him up in the matter of locality
he thief suddenly darted down dark
ane, and that was the last Mr.. Hig-
,yer saw of his convert.
Mr. Hiram Higgins did not speak at
he open air meeting in Hammersmith
he next Sunday. Luke Sharp, in De
rot Free Press.
. 49,