The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-01-21


 on 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 a talkin' of I 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'."
 "Oh, not at all," cried Higgins. q assure you that"
 "But says ye does, I do. Now, some blokes has one argument an some has another. Talks yours; here's mine."
 The convert took from his pocket short implement loaded with lead at the end, and with this he rapped ominously on the table.
 "You argify an man answers ye l 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"
 "What's that?"
 'I said divide, said. Why should you have watch when I ain't got none? Why should you have good duds when I ain't got none? You works for 'em, eh? says Bah An what's more, says divide"
 "I don't understand you"
 "Then your 'ed's thick, says I. Come off with that coat and put it on this ere table," The convert rapped 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 my veskut. Now off with the rest"
 "Then you are thief" said Hig- gins.
 "Some of lem calls it that-some calls it diwidin'."
 While Higgins was forced to put on the discarded apparel of the con- vert the other quickly got into the clothes of the Socialist He put his hands in his new pockets and counted with great satisfaction 1 pound, 8 shillings, pence.
 "Pll call the police," said the indig- nant Higgins as he looked at himself in the tattered garments of the con- vert.
 "Oh, will ye?" cried the other. "Now you call" He went to the window and threw it up. "Call, an peraps that bargeman on the other side will 'ear ye an per'aps e won't. Then gives ye one on the mob and down you goes into the water. They picks yc up down Grinnage way an there ain't no papers to idn'ify ye. Then they buries ye sommers. Are ye goin' to call the police? fur the night airs bad an' I don't want to keep the winder open."
 "No," murmured Higgins, "I will not call"
 "Jess as you please, mate. Now we goes down together. We walks along respectable like. You open your guggle, an that mint you gets one on the mob. De- yer 'ear?"
 "I hear"
 "Will ye do it?"
 "I will not speak if you will let me get safely out of this"
 "Werry good, mate, werry good"
 The convert walked him down the stairs and out into the court, hurry ing him along so that he could not recognize the place if he felt inclined afterwards to "split on a mate," as that gentleman put it. Having thor oughly mixed him up in the matter of locality the thief suddenly darted down dark lane, and that was the last MT. Higgins ever saw of his con- vert.
 MT. Hiram Higgins did not speak at the open air meeting in Hammer smith then next Sunday.-Detron Free Press.
 $5oo Reward.