The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-02

~ IN W - literary.
| ZAgHlEw-rsS To the super
(SMs uNEssa fetal observer
~ ~ 81 c. * * ne was very
m ord n r v
young man who wore his hair cropped
closely and showed taste in the selec-
ton of necl1ties. He had read all the
way from Thucydioes to the Duchess,
and uttered smart phrases which he
thought epigrammatic. Also, he was
addicted to verse writing-bad verse
about death and love which nobody
would read. But his favorite pastime
was the writing of imaginary obituary
notices of himself, made up of glowing
eulogiums of his intellectual achieve
ments, and full of such phrases as the
literary figure Of the century" "a style
peculiarly his own" and so on.
Perhaps it is well to say that his heart
was as tender as a girls when she is
beginning to read the lady novelists
But then he was only twenty-five years
| of age.
Bolter had been doing work for differ
| ent newspapers but had not prospered
/ because hislanguage was too fowery and
| he lacked a certain perception necessa-
| nv to distinguish news from news.
| Finally he found that his services were
| not wanted, but he still haunted the
local rooms, trying to sell his ford
! copy. This was pathetic-since nobody
bought it--but no one had the courage
to tell him that nature had not Sc
l. 70 10 ,
soon joined the money-borrowing horde.
and then his trousers became fringed,
and he had just become familiar street
figure when he dropped Suddenly out OF
sight. At the end of a week he was
forgotten, for just at that time start
ling things happened.
An organized band, among which it
was thought were several notorious
criminals, had been robbing houses in
the western section Of the town, to
the terror of the public and the despair
of the police departments, which had
thus far been unable to obtain tangi-
BILE clew. Indeed, so marked became
their skill in operating under the very
eyes of the law that they were nick
named the slippers" while the author
tiles We're harshly criticised. 1t was
during the disquiet following one Of
their most successful raids that came
upon Bolter. late at night, while smok-
ing my way homeward. He was with
two shabby men, whom he dismissed
with word when he saw me.
Joe" l said, looking at him sharply,
where have you been all this time,
and what have you been doing?"
He glanced over his shoulder nervous
". | fancied, and then looked at me
with weak smile. There was a shifty
look in his eyes that l had never seen
there before
I've been alternating at home try
ing to evolve a masterpiece for poster
ity.'
But the buoyancy was unreal, for MS
lip qulvered. and, with a husky good
night" he left me.
About a week later the Slippers" Sc
]ected Il house az, lssae.aenth street and
stripped it. Excitement ran high. and
the paper became sarcastic anent the
local administration. On q Saturday
night | was sitting in a hotel reading
one of those scornful illusions when
Boiler and a companion entered They
did not perceive NE. but when I saw
them go into the billiard room-which
was frequented mainly by gamblers
and patrons of the turf followed in
sorrow The man with Bolter was
boisterously dressed but dirty individ-
ual. whose general aspect was so uniIn-
pressive that sighed for the boy.
They had stopped near a table and
were talking angrily. As | looked,
Boilers companion made quick move:
ment of menace and I rushed forward
in time to wrest from him cue which
he was excitediv fourishing. Bolter
started back when he saw me and
looked mortified. He was flushed and
warm and there were circles around
his eyes. ] hurried MIN 20 the street and
began TO upbraid him.
Il didn't think it Of you. Joe. to get
into disturbance IN such place. You
haven't been drinking?
No, no. not that, Mr.. Darrell. he
answered. quickly and fervently. Not i
that. for her sale-for the sake Of
He paused and moist Light came (,
into bis eyes
"oh, no. mr. boy" I said, bantering- /
y. then you are in Iove2
He was silent for moment, then be 1
tossed lis mead and said. drylT:
Il have reached that mysterious f
period in an affair Of the heart when /
the tiiv1ne she is beginning 70 exert al .
iuaEenre
AL al o2ce his tone eilanged soone Of +
srbduei intensity. and, Selling my arm, +
he went on hnrT1es1lr
Mr.. Darrell. will ron Do ne favor
It's early, and son have nothing e 90, i
have you? ) want yon 70 cozne ss5fb lie +
Ito see her. WIZ you7 Please
There was note % snsisfence IN his
voice that nss8e me crrsoes and led me
on
20 conducted ne 20 . dlssaal fur
niSbed ro9sn "a the 1ourta foor ~
hcse thai sese{ sees alszrni -. s- - asslisssi
haE8. Ise ruo1ioaed M So elaar snd
sa-aea 40 the amp Azai- E-cz. 80