Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-05-24
JOE'S STORY.
nY FRANK II. CONVERSE.

hS V "uoi OUC DclO0HCQ TO tncn.
SO mad to hustle for myself, like most
oil us newspaper chaps have to. l hadn't
any reg lar Place to sleep, but it comm
on summer / dn't care so much, 'cept
ing, Of course, when it rained. Then n
fellow an generally find cover some
where, if it isn't so nice.
But this night I'm going to tell of was
pleasant and warm. The ''cop" didn't
drive me off my private settce in Central
Park till nigh one in the morning. Guess
he oversight himself.
when I'm reused up that way, 1 gen
orally make Morrison's, way down town,
my headquarters. It's a high toned
place, SO it's cheaper for me to stop out
SIDE. But there's the light from the
windows, and every time the big doors
swing open fellow can see, Just for
minute, eating and drinking going on,
and If he imagines good deal, why it's
almost ms good as being inside.
Three swell looking chaps was stand
ing outside when got there. Not for
the same reason was, though. They'd
been to the theater, or somewhere's else.
and as heard one of 'em say, it was too
early in the evening to think of going TO
bed.
1t was Jack NIcagher said that.
Handsome Jack, - they used to call him
IN our ward, where he was raised. All
us fellows know Handsome Jack" by
sight. Though you'd never think he
come from any such low down place us
Water street, to look at his swell rig and
hear him talk
But they say he's one of them kind
that catches on easy to real gentlemen's
ways. And he's great on faro and poker,
nf I,ns, -
chaps that's trying to see life through n
club winder.
Now, though it's me says it, I've q bit
of a voice of my own, wherever got it.
For spell J. was choir boy at st.
Alichacl's, with white surplus and all
that sort of thing. But the others chaiTed
me about not having any shirt, so left
so sometimes, when | was stuck on
papers CT c ira hard up, used to sing
for n:ckels front of Morrison's Just about
this time of night-the "catchy" songs
that happens to be going, such as We
chaps pick up on the street.
So when Handsome lack" secs me
he calls out:
boy that sings" And nothing 81 to do
but the three of 'em must take me inside
for song.
There was another one of the party I
knowed by sight. He used to buy m
pcrs of me regular, one time. I heard
'em say his folks left him pile of money
and he was gettin' through it as fast as
Handsome Jack" and such as he, could
help him. But l amt givin' no one
away in this story. Pm not one of that
sort. l amt Now York reporter, and
don't you forget it. So this man was
Smith. ohm Smith. P'raps you've
heard the name, but it isn't the same
man-it's second cousin of his. But
it was him that set me down to one of
the little tables with a plate of sand
wichcs
After We once got inside, Smith didn't
seem to have much to say to the others,
or to anybody else, for that matter. He
stood leaning up against the bar counter
with cigar in his mouth, but l see he'd
forgot to light it. Some of the young
lellers he knew joked him bit, but he
didn't seem to notice it much And 1
kind of wondered what allied him good
looking, plenty of money, and all the
rest of it,
Handsome jack" with friend of
his, sat dawn to the table nigh mine,
with the drinks between 'em. I've got a
Ps''' ". S'oi Il SdAS WI Ohn, HcurQ
the other one say:
Smiths about squeezed dry, eb.
Jack"
Eyes, poor fool" Jack says, as easy
as you please. nothing mere to be got
from him. If he wants to borrow any,
thing, just give him the cold shake.
That's just what shall do A fellows
got to look out for number one in this
world"
The man with lack nodded. And |
remember thinking what healthy lot
OF trends Smiths money had bought
him.
Well. after got through, I stood up
like little man to pay for what I'd had
in my way. 1 sung 'cm two or three
of the things that was popularest then,
but somehow they didn't seem tc take.
"Can't you give us something differ.
ent from those stale chestnuts?" some
one says, and / pulled up short Twas
going to leave them then and there, but
Smith it was who stopped me-
'tNever mind 'em, . oe,n he says kind
of low like; cant you think OF some
thing little something none
of us have heard"
Whatever made me do it / don't know
TO this day. It was what they used to
sing ut st. aIichacl's. Just one verse
Tas all could remember them
Il was not always thus, nor prayed that
Thou
Shouldst lead me on:
loved to chose and sec my path. Rnt now
Lead Thou me on;
loved the garish day. and spite Of tears,
Iride ruled my heart Remsmber not past
years"
Of course haven't got learning, ',ept
such kind as n fellow picks up in the
street. And | never used to sense the
meaning of the church music, like did
the tunes. And when got through
wondered what made it so still in the
room for minute.
Smith was the first one spoke. Not
spoke exactly, for it was kind of
groan. Then he yanked his hat over his
eyes and went out.
"Gucss you needn't go on, Joe," says
Handsome Jack, looking UP; ''you'vo
drove one man off already"
"Too rich for Smiths blood, - another
one laughed, and so they were going on,