The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-04-10
JOE'S STORY.
BY FRANK II. CONVERSE.

ofuSnewspaper chaps have to. hadn'
any lar place to sleep, but it comm
on summer [ didn't care so much. 'ccpt-
ing, of course, when it rained. Then
fellow can generally find cover some
where, if it isn't so nice.
But this night I'm going to tell of wa
pleasant and warm. The "cop" didn'
drive me off my private settce in Centra
Park till nigh one in the morning. Cues!
he oversight himself.
When I'm reused up that way, gen
orally make Morrison's, way down town,
my headquarters. It's a high-toneo
place, so it's cheaper for me to stop out.
side. But there's the light from the
windows, and every time the big door:
swing open a fellow can see, just for 6
minute, eating and drinking going on,
and if he imagines good deal, why it's
almost as good as being inside.
Three swell looking chaps was stand
ing outside when l got there. Not for
the same reason was, though. They'd
been to the theater, or somewhere's else,
and as heard Que of 'em say, it was toe
early in the evening to think of going to
bed.
It was Jack Meagher 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 as
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,
so of course he's hand and glove with
chaps that's trying to see life through a
club winder.
Now, though it's me says it. I've bit
of a voice ofmy own, wherever got 1t.
For spell ! was choir boy at St;
Michael's, with white surplus and all
that sort of thing. But the others chatfed
me about not having any shirt, so l left.
sosometimes, when l was stuck on
papers or extra hard up, I used to slug
for nickels 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 "Han dsome lack" sees me
he calls out:
"Hello," he says, "here's Joe, the
boy that sings" And nothing to do
but the three of 'em must take me inside
for song.
There was another one of the party
knowed by sight. He used to buy pa
pers 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 New York reporter, and
don't you forget it. So this man was
Snith-.!ohn 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 ot
the little tables with plate of sand
wiches.
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 I see he'd
forgot to light it. Some of the young
fellers he knew joked him bit, but he
didn't seem to notice it much. And
kind of wondered what allied him - good
looking, plenty of money, and all the
rest of it.
Handsome Jack" with q friend oi
his, sat dawn to the table nigh mine,
with the drinks between 'em. I've got 6
pair of sharp ears of my own, and heard
the other one say:
"Smith's about squeezed dry, eh,
Jack"
''les, 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 I shall do. A fellows
got to look out for number one in this
world"
The man with Jack nodded. And
remember thinking what healthy lot
of friends Smiths money had bought
him.
Well. after I got through, I stood ur
like little man to pay for what I'd had
in my way. I sung 'em 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 I pulled up short. wa:
going to leave them then and there, but
Smith it was who stopped me.
''Never mind 'em, .'oe,' he says kind
of low like: cant you think of some,
thing little Notwithstanding none
of US have heard"
Whatever made me do it I don't know
to tbs day. 1t was what they used tc
sing at st. Aiichaels. Just one verse
was all could remember then:
" was not always thus, nor prayed that
Thou
Shoulist lead ME on:
loved to chose and see my path. But now
Lead Thou me on:
loved the gariSh day, and spite Of tears
Frde ruled my heart. Remember not past
years"
Of course haven't got learning, 'cept
such kind as fellow picks up in the
street. And 1 never used to sense the
meaning of the church music, like 1 did
the tunes. And when I got through !
wondered what made it so still in the
room for a minute.
Smith was the first one spoke. Not
spoke exactly, for it was kind of g
groan. Then he yanked his hat over his
eyes and went out.
"Guess you needn't go on, joe" say:
"Haadsome Jack, looking up; 'you'vt
drove one man of already"
"Too rich for Smiths blood, another
enc laughed, and so they were going on,