Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-08
HIS LAST BLUE CHIP.

The tramp Who Had Been Trained for
| Journalism Works a New Scheme.
Tie tramp was a very seedy individual al
| together, tall and angular with a woebegone,
Ratchet faced, and a general air Of disrepu-
liability about his make up His shoes were
ragged, so was his sack coat; his trousers
were patched, and he had no necktie Ho
might have been an ill starred actor or q dog
fighter gone to seed, or tramp printer. But,
none the less, it was a graceful attitude that
he struck before the door of the cottage as
1.-THE lady of tho house" appeared.
Madam" he said, 'you see before you the
wreck of one of tho grandest chicken handlers
that ever opened game soiree in New
Orleans parlor. Do you follow me, madam"
The woman replied that she knew nothing
Of chicken lighting or of Louisiana society.
We'll, madam, let me put it in another
form. represent the remains of Chicago's
noblest work of art-an untamed bunco.
have numbered among my patrons the fore
most men in America. Why, it seems but
yesterday that met General Booth and in
troduced myself to him as the son of his old
friend and playmate, the president of the Ske-
daddels bank. An madam, if l could touch
every one meet as touched General Booth
for double X, would not be here cringing
before your lovely face and binding beauty.
Do-er--do you yet size me upi'
The woman thought she didn't, hut wasn't
quite sure
HE jacet sweiterkaser as Napoleon said
when he threw his last dollar on the seven
teen. Have you ever noticed an actor
madam, when the fretful babble of society's
pampered favorites is hushed by the force of
his magnificent impersonationf Such was
once, years ago, ere l sank beneath the
| sings and arrows of outrageous fortune ;
You seer you parlez vous!n
The woman was growing restless. IF you
want to sell pcter book or new double
| back action can opener, young man." she
said sharply, "show yer samples. Don't
keep a body here IN the cold"
| We'll madam, | am n ruined man, ire
| trievahiy ruined. You see | studied Jour
nalism at college and thought myself another
Dana. l was full of hope when | first set
| foot III New York and set about creating a
sensation. | imagined myself city editsr,
then managing editor saw myself obliter-
ating the Old style of journalism and msll-
gurating a new school Ny name was heard
everywhere. Ii was blazoned ON the musty
scroll of history and sent forever down the
future years. Well, didn't make much SEN
sation or money, and in an evil moment |
| took to writing verses, hoping to supplement-
my small weekly salary. Don't shudder so;
| have paid in full the penalty of my wrong
doing"
He pulled out the tenpenny nail that served
for button III his coat, and, thrusting his
bony fingers into an inner pocket, produced
greasy, much crrmpled sheet of paper
II call this nv last blue chip, madam, be-
cause have played il in every newspaper
Office east of the Rockies 1t is one of those
little poems that men OF genius toss OFF in
leisure moments. never could bring myself
to part with it, When ] have shown it to nv
brother journalists they have praised it.
They did not offer to buy it lest they might
injure my sensitive feelings But on the
strength of this poem they blow me Off to a
square meal and give me list of the deserted
barns for the next five miles, or tell me the
lay of the most vicious dogs in their neigh
borhood. Today, as l was passing your
house, / saw your lovely face at the window
and"--
Why don't you show your poem to the
woman over in that red housel"
''Oh madam, she is not like YOU Pardon
my bluntness, but Us l saw her sitting on the
back veranda she seemed as homely as "a wire
fence. She must be n very ordinary person.
l think. No, below tine average, for she
wears wig But in your face saw the an
gelic temperament, the refined simplicity
that would havo turned Pope's cynical shafts
upon man and away from woman"
Il think can give you something to eat,
sir, if you will step III the dining room" said
the woman; hut can't buy your poem"
After he had eaten a meal that would have
! staggered tho giant of travelling circus, lie
bowed himself out anil started away on his
Tf,,SI ,.lr 81.
he stretched himself out on a Fat shelf Of
rock and, Lighting a pipe, Gazeh up at a win
try sky.
Originality is Us good as money" he said
aloud. When spent those six months ct
Sing Sing thought it was clear waste OF
time. But this little blue chip scheme con
cocted up there is a dandy. When wander
toward the lilacs Of Louisiana for my lungs
sake I'll try TO eel it to some Of the bows on
the grand southern tour Texas Siftings.