The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-19

dgSfV-
! Old Man Bangs. viii h studied com
posture. stretched out his hand and took
up the papers on the ii bic. He recog-
nized a note in his own spidery writ
ing, which Jake had PINNED on the top
i kinder told 'em," said Jake, speak
ing with slow insistence, 81 kinder told
'em ez I'd only to take Old Man Bangs
down some native produce and he'd
rear upon end an printtft straight off. u
Old Man Bangs rose W ithout word,
walked to the composing case, and rap
idly began to ''set up the verses which
Jake had brought, his fingers flying
with all the precision Of machinery.
After half an hours hard work he
screwed up the type in a form, took
pull" and brought il to Jake, who
laboriously spelt through the words
still keeping one hand OH his revolver
and criticising the spelling with sub
lime disregard for conventional meth
DDS.
"Will that dor" growlea Old Nan
Bangs. with sullen resenSz1ent at his
enforced labor.
Jake gazed sdmiringly at the poem
so rapidly called into being. ''Sorter
pretty, amt it2 III tell the folks al
the Corners You amt no slaBch when
you do get chance at native produce, -
he added, admiringly.
He tucked the printed paper careful
~ away into his vest pocket and sprang
for the door. Old Man Bangs rushed
for his revolver in the drawer of the
distant table, and, with a dsxterity
acquired by long practice, took a fly
ing shot atJake as he disappeared. then
blew out the light and waited for re-
prisals, but none came
The brown mare scented her master
as he crawled slowly through the dark
ness and hauled himself with difficulty
into the saddle. Gently, Winny,
gently" he said. Guess you'd better
crawl sorter lleerful; GA mans planted
bullet in my arm. Be alters shoots
straight when he's blind drunk"
When they reached the clearing,
Jake slid out of the saddle and crawied
into the hut, leaving his mare standing
at the door. Selling whisky bottle,
he drank. long and eagerly; then
propped himself up on his stool by the
boys bunk, and tighsened his sash.
ITS sorter lucky that old coon missed
the papers" he mutte1,ed, and waited.
I'm all right now, my arms stopped
bleedin'.'
Presently a ray Of sunlight stole into
the hut, and the shadows fed away be-
fore the cheerful singing of the birds.
The boy awoke with glad little cry.
Jake. where are you? Jake, I've had
such a dream"
Something white glistened on the
rude blanket. "Ja-why. snakes alive,
Jake, how did this come here?"
lie fell 10 reading the verses with
delirious enjoyment. 4 soft pink flush
came into his cheek Why. Jake,
they're printed. Song TO Chipmunk,
by our gifted fellow townsman, the
Shelley Of Muskrat swamp
\ fit Of coughing interrupted him.
Jake, leaning back. so that the boy
could not see his face, lied with tran
quill indifference. "Oh, Old Man Bangs
come up after you'd dropped OF"
Yes. Jake, yes?"
He printed en-, an brought EN- over.
and planked down a ten dollar bill.
Here's the money"
The boy gave another CRY.
Jake, Jake, that's fame, That's
fame. Hang the money! No, let me see
1t. Where is it?''
Jake handed him the money with dit-
ficulty. The boy pressed il to his fever
lsh lips Jake, Jake, there's blood on
II, Nha-"