The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-03
"FLIMSY JIM"
DY WILLIAM WALLACE Cook.

on In his burst OF confidence, San I've
come all the way from Tacomy-part %
:he time In side door Pullmans part o
the time on trucks, but mostly on leather
.see2" and he showed forward for Blust-
rr's inspection q foot almost entirely
visible through the remains OF shoe.
"I've made every town between here and
the coast, an I've been six months on the
way. i stopped at Occur d'Alene an
tried my luck, but busted fat. Then
went down to Anacondy an worked In
saloon till feller come along one night
an sent the proprietor to kingdom come
with his compliments an six-shooter.
Then ! pulled out an tramped pretty
steady an'-here am. What's the name
Of this burg, strangerr'
Paradise" said Bluster Bluenose.
Paradise, chr Must be a good sort OF
place II that's what you call it. Pretty
well acquainted here?"
"So-so."
"Well, sayi D'you know of an oil fell
ler round here by the name of Benson?
He's bout my size, with long white hair
an whiskers, an he limps little in his
left leg. Don't know such a feller, do
your"
There was an anxious light in the
young fellows faded blue eyes and his
hands trembled as they wandered ner-
vously up and down his tattered coat.
Buster shook his head.
81 know every man in Paradise an fer
ten mile around, an there bain't one in
the hull outfit as limps in either his right
or left leg-nary one."
The stranger sighed heavily.
"That's what I've been told at every
L. r
hain't goin' to give up. I'll find that
oil feller II have to keep trampin' till
doomsday."
"Friend o. your'n9" asked Buster.
EYES," said the young man with en-
phasis; " know'd i'm ever since / was big
enoughto know anybody-an' he useter
be kind an good to me, tool" The hoarse,
rasping voice shook perceptibly and the
stranger ceughed as il to hide the weak
ness. "Say, kunnel, is there any likely
place round here where q poor devil
could get mouthful of vittals an soft
board to sleep ONT I'm powerful hungry
an dead played out.
While Buster Bluenose did not " wear
his heart on his sleeve" be "had 1t in the
right place and he was filed with COM
passion for the miserable object before
him.
"What's yer name, young feller?"
"Flimsy Jim-an' your'n?"
"Bluenose - Bluster Bluenose, but
amt no kernel, an don't you go fer to
call me one agin. II you'll go over to the
pump there, Jest feminist the Cowboys
Rest, an wash yer face, I'll take yer up to
my shack, an eat an sleep ye."
"All right, Buster" and the stranger
proceeded to do as he was told.
There was quite q Transformation when
be again presented himself to Bluenose;
for dash Of water had lifted tho veil to
haggard, frank face, prematurely old but
full OF an indescribable something that
made old Buster Bluenose his Arm friend
at once.
Bluenose was not capable Of reading the
more delicate expressions Of human face
divine and he did not understand that
worship OF O human soul for the good
and the true that ever commands the
homage Of other human souls, but he was
instinctively drawn to Flimsy Jim, and
herein lay the reason.
The tramp slept at Bluster's shack that
night, secured a supper and breakfast,
and then, in the morning, Buster fitted
him out with another pair of shoes, blue
shirt that was altogether too large and q
pair Of jean overalls, after which he con-
Quoted him to the Cowboys Rest, intro
duced him to Mr.. Bin Waller and re-
ouested that gentleman to give Flimsy
Jim show behind the bar.
"He amt put up strong enough" said
Waller, casting his eye over Jim's meager
frame; "he'd play hob runnin' out cow
boys when they get cantankerous,
wouldnt he noW?v
"'Tain't the muscle altogether, Bill
Waller" declared Bluenose, it's the
sandi II he's got ths sand, why, what's
the odds, hey9"
Bill Waller needed bartender and he
decided TO give Flimsy Jim trial. 30
the young fellow with the faded blue
eyes put on white apron, tucked back
the long sleeves OF his shirt and began
dispensing Walters liquors to the thirsty
of Paradise.
"There's somethin' bout that feller I
don't understand" said Waller to Blue
nose one day, after Flimsy Jim had been
working at the Cowboys Rest for about
month.
"What's thatf" asked Bluenose, who
had come to consider Jim his protege and
looked with pride at the honorable rec
ord he was making In Waller's establish
ment.
"He don't seem to nave his heart In his
work. Acts to me jest like he was slingin'
the whiskey cause he had to and not
from ch'ice."
"He's good man, aint hef"
"Bcst ever had"
"Then don't say nothin'," said Blue
nose. "0imme three fingers o. n-juice
with n dash Of syrup, Jim, my boy.
Here's lookin' st yc, Waller-an' sayi
Jim-skoal to you. Don't you drink,
Jimf"
Never took a drink In my life-'causs
I've seen % much Of IL, reckon-kinder
goes agin me-"
"0imme yer hsti You're the boy
hain't he, WaiIer7"
Everybody liked Jim, but he was rid
die to them all. Why didn't he some
times drink the liquor he was forever
drawing outf And why was he always
s,~shinS ,round With Nhosa fadad hius