The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-10-17
WHY he WAS LEAVING THE TOWN.
An Under1 lker Explains How Ungrateful
Soma People Can BE.


An Undera lker Explains How Ungratefu1
Some People Can Be.
81 remember, y said the colonel, when the
party reached the end Of good dinner,
and the walters stood behind the chairs
with lighted matches, Il remember an in
cident which stamped upon my mind the
fact that when man has an eye for bust
ness he has eyes for nothing else.
The colonel tells story we'll, and paused
here, waiting for the cigars to be lighted
and for the inspiring fragrance OF the
Havanas
II shall not tell you how long ago it
was, for | am getting too old to speak
lightly of decades. But when l first set
foot-and it was tender foot, let me say
in Hugo, Colo. at once conceived a great
respect for man named Higgins. could
not help feeling reverence for Higgins.
Higgins was an undertaken. He was the
only undertaken within hundred miles,
and he was getting rich. Never day
passed but my friend Higgins had a funeral
on hand. He was the most cheerful un-
dertaker, perhaps, that ever fourished.
81 remember well the day that babe
Higgins good-by. He was as light spirited
as grasshopper, and thousand times ex-
pressed his regret that was going into
the interior until l felt clammy lest he
might be grieved at the thought that some
one else might have the profitable job of
burying me.
when next saw Higgins it was after
a two years. experience of chasing wild
steers. l was glad to see him. he was such
jolly old undertaken.
"'Hello, Higginsr l said cheerfully
when l walked into his establishment.
How are you. old man?'
Higgins shook his head mournfully,
and then l stopped short in amazement,
for saw that he was mailing down boxes
and packing up his stock.
you aren't going to move, are your
cried in surprise, but he only jammed a
roll of Grape into dry goods box and
went on with his work. -
I" See here, Higgins, cried. what's the
trouble? Tell me about it.
'"The old man turned on me wrathfully.
"'Ain't l been one o. Hugo's best citi-
zens?' he asked sternly.
"'You have, Higgins
Amt paid my taxes?'
"'You have, my friend
"'Didn't l organize board of educa-
tions'
GU UlQ.
wasn't it's presidents!
"'You certainly were and a good one.
although we haven't any school yet
"'Didn't head Ia citizens movement
for law and order?
"'You did, Higgins
"'Well, that's all. Now, how do you
think this pesky town has treated it's fore
' "'T cline me-. Higgins. You have my sym.
pathy.'
"'Well, was maxim decent livin'. |
let out contracts for the only brick build
ing in the town.
eyes
"1 was goin' to call it the Higgins block
was goin' to let the volunteer fire depart
ment have rooms in my block for nothin'
proposed to have temperance union in
the town. hoped to have free library
You know Pm progressive citizen, don't
you?'
"'You are, Higgins
"'Well, what do you think this town has
done to me?'
"'Surely nothing bad, Higgins
"'Nothing badp he screamed. DO You
know what they've done? They've lynched
Bill Smith, and if ever there was COW
ardly blow aimed at foremost citizen it
was that
"'But you can bury him, Higgins
"'Bury himp he screamed. Bury HIM
Bury Bill Smith! Why, man, Bill Smith
was maxim a fortune for me- He killed
his man as regular rs the sun went down,
and buried every one of 'em. He was
worth sos a day to me, he was. So Pm
goin' to leave 'em. This town don't offer
no inducements to an honest man like me
Think what I've done for 'em. was go
in to erect a monument to our departed
brothers. And now there won't be death
in this town once month. Poor Bill!
and Higgins seized winding sheet and
tried to stifle his sobs New York Trib