The herald., 1893-06-16
RAGGLES ON THE SLAB!
A TRArTP's ADVENTURES IN AN
UNDERTAKER'B gHOP.
He Goss to Sleep on the Dead Slab and
wakes Up to Find Himself In
= Comm, Much to His Ter
ror and Disgust.

Weary Raggles and his side-partner
wandered along the streets Tuesday
night disconsolate. Living was hard to
get, and the nose of every dog wrinkled
itself into anything but pleasing
smile as they approached houses in
search of food.
Working was ont of the question.
They were both willing to work in the
effete east, but here in Southern Califor-
MIA work was hardship not TO be enter
tanned by these gentlemen of the road.
They could live On climate, and they in
tenped to do SO; yet, somehow. climate
was very poor feeding, and Raggles
sighed as he drew up his belt one hole
more, and glanced at the next corner to
find il possible some sign left by one Of
his predecessors.
His search was fruitless and not even
a feather from the wings of the angels
who brood over the city dropped to con-
sole him. Matters we're getting desper-
ate, and saying goodbye to his compan-
ion, he started out on a search by him
self, having an idea away down in his
innermoet soul that as last resort there
was cot in the city jail, where he
could sleep aoundly all night and get
bite in the morning. Crossing First
street he stumbled and fell and as he
scrambled to his feet, cursing the weak
ness which had overcome him, there be-
fore his eyes was piece of white metal,
which cleaned and glittered in the rays
descending from an electric light. Weary
RsggeB did not wait to consider wheth-
er it was baee or precious, he grabbed it,
and sauntering up the street with new
hope thrilling through his veins he en-
joyed the suspense as to just what it
was, until the rays of the next lamp en-
veloped him. Then he opened his
grimy hand and fat in its palm cleaned
a bright thew dollar.
Raggles turned it over and then bit it
and after meditating for a second,
struck across the street and entering
dingy, one-storied building soon ex-
changed his bright possession for q
quaff of something which seemed to
hiss as it disappeared.
Rsggles was himself again, he owned
houses and lands and counted,his min
ions by the score, ont Ragges was des-
tined to an awakening which few of us
would desire.
He dallied with "the ruby" until the
last remains OF his lately found treasure
had disappeared, and then going out in
to the damp fog which oyerhung the
city, no wandered aimlessly up the
street. A state of exhileration still pos
sessed him, the ground he walked on
was his own, soon, however, his eyes
began to droop and Rsggles became con-
scious that the goddess of night was
gently touching his eye.lids with her
gentle wand.
An Open door attracted his attention,
and confused as he WAS, he drifted in.
There, spread out before him, was cool
white couch. He stretched himself up
on it and relapsed into dreamless
sleep. Gentle reader, the couch he bad
chosen was the dead slab in D. g. Peck
and company's undertaking establish
ment on Main street
There early yesterday morning weary
Raggles was found sleeping the sleep of
chiidhood, The eTnoloves gently raised
within the confines of collin, awaited
developments.
Towards 10 O'Clock Raggles awoke,
and at first could not understandable
position in which he found himself.
Then realizing the receptacle in which
he was lying and seeing the mortuary
emblems which surrounded him, with O
howl of terror, he sprang from his late
bed and, disappearing through the door,
was soon lost to sight in cloud of dust
down the street.
Where weary Raggles is now, it is
hard to tell, but it is evident that resur-
rection does not agree with him, and
probably his liking for the ruby" may
IN Aop1nnh az daorpaaQd