Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-10-29
TIE SLOUGH"

listening TO the frantic attempts OF the frag-
ment OF an orchestra TO catch tune that had
| already eluded them eleven separate and
| distinct times. Mr.. Arthur Lemon, Of Boston,
who had come west with the intention OF
starting bank, and had already made quite
a heavy deposit 10 the pocket OF Pierce Fan
shaw, professional gambler, was DESTROYS of
adding 90 his somewhat limited stock Of in
| formation So the subject Of the recent
running out" was thoroughly ventilated.
The colonel hal been the self elected master
Of ceremonies, and felt elatcd at the success
ful manner in which the programme had been
executed. Eyes, he said. ST went OH beau
tifully, beautifully Nary hitch in the entire
performancen
"But why was he run outr queried Mr.
Arthur Lemon.
"W'yi Because ID had become necessary 70
purge Coyote City nv undesirable persons
those who retarded instead NV promoting its
| prosperity, and whose presence instead NV at
tracing immigration repealed it,
"But was he guilty Of any crimel sup.
/ posed such summary evictious were for per.
Sons engaged la nsfarious practices
$50 they air, an $780,
"Then why does the enforced emigration
stop when the 'souob is run outw
"W'yl Because tnars nobody else that
needs runuin' outr
1T saoms TO me that there are still left sew
eral persons upon whom various crimes have
been proven, as well as that there are yet re-
naming a number Of saloonists, pro- lie
stopped suddenly as q checked by the pres
ence Of Pierce Fanshaw, professional gam
bier.
"And professional gamblers remarked
that gentleman pleasantly, completing the
sentence. "I'll ten YOU, my dear fellow why
we are not ran out but are left to do our
sweet Wills while a more harmless person,
| whose only offense was being 'trifiing,
! worthless, a 'slouch,' WAS given two hours in
| which 10 make himself scarce. The reason Is
| TO be found in the ancient adage that might
makes rightT Thet uHRs-es rs not offenders,
but influential c't.7crsn
II But, GOOD FslVdas,a exploded Col Ben
! 1efsdn, your eastern idees air almost start
lin, Iemoni Might as wen talk NV runnin'
mo out as TO speak Of these we're gents
beini H.
"And Col Henderson could hot be readily
I spared interrupted Pierce Fanshaw's cool
voich, 1.-THE colonel is boomer OF the flrsi
magnitude. and talks boom aud Coyote City.
prosperity from morning till night"
Col. henderson leaned back in his chat
and expanded his chest, like man vel
aware OF his own merit
''rhauks Pierce a thousand thanks. 70
\ do me mighty proud Jim"-to waiter
"the best in the house for my friends al
selfp
!. II Mr.. Arthur Lemon, the "tenderfoot
detected any sarcasm in Fanshaw's laudatio
Of Col. Henderson, he held his peace Nc
= did he make any comment when Fanshaw
soft voice said, almost cooingly;
"Observe how the waiter flies to execu
, tho commission. The colonel is one Of u
: Jumbo's most valupd patrons, far, far diife
Z emit from the SLOUGH, who never treated (
was treated
g. "Thats a fact" agreed Col Benderso
'sThere was nothing NV the gentleman abo
y him. He possessed so little refinement this
when once invited him 70 join me, he n
ne only declined, but added insult to the refus
by saving that be not only did not drink, b
q wished every drop Of the acctysed stuff "
banished from the land rhem's his ve
X words Not only refused TO enjoy himse
IN but wanted the personal liberties NV the M
ions nv people in this great nation abridg'
if not entir ~ taken from them"
The colonel paused, lost in the mental G.
ara temptation OF the seliishness OF the ''slouc
tp- NO AflrlfAftNr ~ u ArAlNANildl ANDNA AAA
he continued, presently. "All slaach."
"But why was he called the 'slouch'r gu
'rs toned Arthur Lemon. II hardly understa
10 itn
- Zone OF the most potent respect bringers
success" said Pierce Fanshaw, "and NAM
- man on the border Is stigmatized Us a slol
~ simply because he is unfortunate Aud
IN was always on the losing side Of every &C
~ sion.n
Tho conversation ceased for a while, as
u fragment Of an orchestra, with a great br
~ Of triumphant sound, overlook and captu
~, the elusive tune.
,,ne In the meanwhile the shutting footstep
the ''slouchr were widening the distance
~ tween himself and unappreciativo Coy
'ey City Bitterness ranked in his heart,
as he strobe along his life rose up, a mel
my panorama before him. He recalled the
afo Of the long ago, when, full Of high hopes
'eo, had left his eastern home 20 find in the v
'eii the el dorado Of prosperity, where fortt
OF were to be had for the grasping. But
so tune had not come TO him; all bis m
CT cherished plans and plots bad turned
empty. fortuncless bubbles and. at last
hAs most giving up the struggle, he had 81
sunk 70 become the "slouch," nameless--s
wn, the "slouchn
OF The beauties 81 the prairie landscape '
s OF unnoticed, as his half mechanical steps pll
81 mile after mile behind him. He did not
and a second glance 20 the placid sea OF br
own grass that stretched away on every h
Here and there the neutral hue OF the o.
is Of grass was blotched by burnt pat
where, shora by fire Of its matted coYerle
nts. brown, the earth YVES green with the 5
}. springing second crop. On each green
the killdees held high carnival and Gale
each other IN their queer, metallic,
uw. musical whoops High above the tire
ger mound that sprung so Unexpectedly from
pley prairie foor a buzzari sailed Close at
as in the wild verbenas bloomed in profusion,
Tork and the smoldering fire Of their crii
been blossoms shone in brilliant contrast {
out brown maturity Of the grass. But
tied "slouch,r busy with his bitter and desI
be ing thoughts, gave no heed TO natures
d IN ties.
will The sun was just dropping from sisl
Per hind the distant mound when tho ''sls
To paused, Just beyond the fence o. barbed
the that surrounded the homestead .clail
other some isolated settler.
,arlo1 ssMebbe he'll let rne stay ali night,
opens erred the ''zlonch, as he strobe acros