Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-17
He said: ''I have

European Crisis He said: 81 have
took the pledge"
| He made the statement with an air and
with an emphasis that suggested that at
| last matter of vital Importance to both
of us was forever settled.
| 1 found that the paper he had placed
before me was an affidavit stating that
he would not drink any intoxicants for
| year.
"Put her in the safe,'' said Hopkins,
| referring to the affidavit.
| For ten days there were no evidences
/ that he had violated his pledge. During
| the following few days he was absent;
| then he returned to the office IN quite q
| shaky condition, and giving every evil
| dence of having been on a prolonged
| tout. Avoiding me he passed on to the
| book-keeper and said:
''Mao, am going to Father Farley
| to-day to take the pledge. -
'Take the pledge! Why, what's the
use of going to Father Farley? III give
| you the one we have in the safe, said
| the book-keeper.
One of Hopkins peculiarities was that
! he would bet on almost everything, but
1t was noticed on close acquaintance that
these bets were usually led up to and
| suggested by himself.
"Can 1 have some ink?'' he said one
day.
"why, yes, help yourself; you IL find
bottle up there on the mantel-piece. ?"
"There ain It no ink there, - said Hop
| kins.
Now 1 knew that that very morning 1
had filed my table inkstand out of the
bottle and left in it at least u pint of ink,
and elancing at the bottle I saw plainly
that it was half full.
why, certainly said, the bottle
is half full of INK. -
"Bet you $40 there amt any INK in
it, !" said the imperturbable Hopkins.
took the bet. We examined the bot
tie. There wasn't a drop IN it. Mr..
Hopkins had painted it half way up with
black varnish to make it look as if it
contained the ink.
Another time he came to me and said:
eff you give me dollar 1 can save you
S10.' l assured him that was not saw
ing $40 that day and had no desire to do
so. he insisted so much, however, and
stated that while he would make 81.
which would be favor to him, would
make the other nine. Then 1 handed
him over dollar.
81 was about to commit suicide this
morning, - he said. 81 was prepared
and determined to drown myself in the
Colorado river. 1 would certainly have
done so if you hadn't put this dollar in
my hands. Now the sun shines brightly,
the birds sing for me, and further
thoughts of suicide worry me not. 5"
''But where do l save my ten dol
lars?"
'Well, you see IL I had committed
suicide, you being the president of the
have been expected to furnish at least
ten dollars toward the cost Of my obse-
quies. -
When Hopkins was out soliciting sub
soriptions for the paper he sent in every
thing but cash. Silver watches and
Winchester rifles, butter and eggs, fur
keys and other brio-a-brac came to US
with letters stating that these were the
best things he could get in return for
yearly subscriptions. One day he sent
US in live razor back hog In crate. 1t
was accompanied by a bad smell and
statement that this animal covered five
subscriptions at 81 each.
At first we thought this was joke land
we turned the animal loose in the back
yard, but subsequent developments took
all the brightness out of the Jest, and as
the sequel win show, turned the pleas
antry into solemn and gloomy tragedy.
How TO get rid of the hog soon became
matter Of vital importance to his new
owners. he took possession of the yard,
and owing to his belligerent attitude and
demonstrations, kept every one ont of 1t.
a business meeting was called to decide
as to the best means OF dispos-
ing of him. 1t was decid ed tod
offer him to g butcher, and spend the
proceeds OF the sale in riotous living zinr-
ing the Christmas holidays. A butcher
who advertised with us was telephoned
that he could get splendid hog at low