Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-08-26
PAIRS JONES AND THE OLD FIDDLER
Story OF an Old Man Who Lost his Fid.
die In Missouri Away Back In
the 40's.

II was one of the early days of
November, 1891. Dark, leaden clouds
hung over Blackfoot, and the few
timid fitful snowtakes falling here
and there showed that Old Winter
was testing his machinery for his
coming storms. Ii was chilly, yea,
cold without bat cheerful and warm
within THE NEWS composing room.
The editor sat at his desk and the
compositors were busy at their cases,
when suddenly the front door opened
and in stepped man whose general
makeup indicated that he was wreck
from poverty and hard times, that he
was on the ragged edge.
Not the least obeisanee made he
NOT word Of greeting spoke he,
but topping himself down in a vacant
chair close TO the blazing stove, he
began warming his hands, stifiened
with cold and exposure. The devil
looked over his shoulder in wonder
ment as if the veritable wild man Of
Borneo had come to town.
His sudden entrance, his tattered
garb, his woolly appearance and the
freedom with which he seized the
chair without a word. of introduction
or explanation, brought abouta silence
and still wonderment Of what next.
The editor looked up but said nothing.
The compositors stopped the click Of
the type long enough TO look around
al the silent stranger and then resum-
ed work.
la few moments the poor old man
was enjoying the peaceful sleep Of
the blest The gentle warmth of the
room had penetrated his thin and long
worn garments and reached his weary
body and limbs, and the gentle glow
had brought him sleep and rest.
Poor old man. said the editor, "let
him sleep"
For an hour or more he was obliv-
ious 10 the troubles OF the past and
anxiety for the future lie slept re.
freshingly, but waking suddenly he
seemed bewildered al his strange sur
roundIngs. He tried to collect him
self and account to himself for his
presence in the strange place. When
he had gazed around him time and
again and at the faces new to him he
yentured this explanation for his in
trusion and then following it with a
bit Of his past history
"Gentlcman, said he, II am a
stranger in this town, don't know
anybody here. / travelled yesterday
and last night over the wide desert
between here and the Big Butte. !
am looking for a man.
Away back in the 40's was iid.
dler OF no bad repute. My home was
in Missouri. was counted the best
fiddler in the settlement and owned
a fiddle that | loved as my life. One
evening | loaned my fiddle to a
stranger TO play for neighborhood
dance. That night he skipped out
and started across the plains. When
learned that my fiddle was gone ]
left all and started in pursuit. ]
have been pursuing him ever since.
| went TO California, TO Nevada and
| have been all over the West. Some.
times | thought | almost had him
and then | would lose all trace of him.
They told me down the road that 4
Mr.. Jones lived in this town who
would know IL such man ever struck
the town. They said he was clever
man and would cheerfully give me all
the information | might want, do any
Of you know MIR, Jones?"
EYES," said the devil, quickly,
"pars Jones down the street. He is
one of the best posted men in this
town-never forgets a face or name
J and, il the man who stole your fiddle
ever fell under the eye of him, he car
tell you when and where. Go down
the street to the livery stable and you
, will See large man with big heart
and kind, benignant face--hc is Mr.
| - ....l l.. .,..li all $50, ,l,n,,e ,..N.,,