The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-02-23
I"DARvMLE, SOLE
PROPRIETOR
A TAI. 81 =. la..l ana tn. real.

Next to The African porter, the most
annoying thing about American rail.
read travel 4 the washout" The
other day I found myself the victim
of the washout. It was ahead some
where-a oloui.bcrst, probnBly-and
the train would lie for two hours ct
Waterside. walked down the long
street which led from the station. It
would mot take two hours to exhaust
Waterside; must make the most Of
It. A boy came round the corner with
a roll Of hand bills on his arm. For
years I have studied to avoid this
kind of boy, but now walked to-
ward this one with interest and took
his bill eagerly. He went OH while 1
leaned against the fence and read.
Snakes, Snakes, snakes!' the bill
opened in startling capitals. "See the
Wonderful Exhibition of Snak q now
being given in your midst" It con.
ttnued. "A Marvellous, St,pendo,w,
ard Awe-Compelling Display Of the
Clammy Monsters of Mountin, Plain
and SEQ. 1OO-Deadly Serpeuts--lOO.
Handled by Child four years II age
US Mother handles her Bab.! The
greatest sight now before the Aemri-
can people. Admission, ten cents"
Then followed this line, evidently the
prOudest effort Of the OuthOr: Mote
the Ambiguosity and Tautologiness of
our TentatOrial Display" The bill
started to iiutter from MY nedvcleSs
fingerss, when my eye caught the
name at the bottom-Darsille, Sole
Proprietor. dropped the bin aud
became Oblivi0us to my surroundings.
The name Of Darville, though at
tached to q snake charmer's bill,
awakened memories. dismissed the
snake man, and let my mind wander
buck to the days of childhood when
the same name had been familiar to
me. Little Dicky Darville. had not
thought Of him for a long time, but he
came back to me, with his curly head
and blue yes, now as IL welad just
left the game of marbles in response
to the schoOl-bell which for five years
summoned us to study. Dicky had
been my closest early school-day
friend. Then bis parents had moved
away and had lost sight of him, 1
had begun to fear forever. Dicky and
I had been like brothers-mOre, we
had quarreled less than brothrs. 1
loved to quarrel, but Dlcky did not
seem to care for It. l remembered
that his mother and his own inclinn.
lions had destined him for the minis.
try. Personally at that time had de-
cided for piracy-black. unyielding,
10 quarter, cut.and.slash, Wnlk-tlle
plank, long low and rakish freeboOt-
ery-and sighed as I thought of how
rudely I often repealed Dicks entreat-
les to give over my wicked intentions
and join him In the ministry. l had
not yet found my way clear to take
up piracy, but had never doubted
that Dicky had been more fortunate
In his ambitions I had often let my
eye wander over the column of relig-
lOus intelligence for a reference to the
Row. Richard Darville, Rector of Ut.
ChrysostOm's; but SO fur had been un.
rewarded.
had wandered down the street and
turned the corner. My eye was caught
by small round tent on a vacant lot
opposite: A great canvas banner flap
ped beside the door, ON which was
pictured u snake standing I'D like gt-
gantic cOrkscrew. There was some
| glowing language on the banner
which 1 did not read, but ut the bot
tom again saw the words, Darvillc,
Sole Proprietor.
| There was very blond woman,
somewhat the worse for the insidious
hand Of time, sitting by the door Of the
tent. She looked at me encouraging
ly. l am but human man. l paus-
cd. She leaned q little forward in her
chair, and there was a touch of smile
"a slladowy, fiecting, rose-leaf sug-
gestiOn Of smile-upon her Inns, I
went across tho street. put down q
! dime on a little table in front OF the
woman. Insatiate Time! will not man
suffice, that you must strike Mt lovely
woman, too? She handed me a ticket.
started in the tent. She took my
ticket with her left hand I'll speak
to the fellow ut least" 1 Thought.
'nbOut the name." I was inside now.
There was dozen cases with glass
fronts, around the outside. got
confused but sufficient impression of
snakes inside; I am afraid Of snake.
On chair ut the left sat a girl some
seven or eight years old, also with
choppy yellow hair, chewing gum, and
wore a pink dress, trimmed with tin
sci, and black stockings with yellow
clocks. A man stepped from behind
some of the cases and came toward
me. Dicky-none other! plcky with
a parish Of snakes!
BETTER be . little careful, air."
Dicky's voice. al octave lower; that
rattler seems to think he's hungry.
He's a-reaching for your ear" I
Strengthened up. Get up, Zenobla,
and let the gentleman sit down."
took the chair. He brought another
rnd sat down near me.
Its Il warm day." I said, firmly.
| YES" answered the companion of
my boyhood-"yes, but the snakes like
"How's buslness?" continued, in
the tone of q man demanding the yeas
and rays.
pretty poor to-day; too warm. The
snakes like 1t better than we do"
Snakes like wslrm weather, then,
hey?" went on. still speaking as il l
headed grievance committee address
Ing congress assembled.
Yes, they're very fond Of 1t, espec-
tally the rattlers."
Are you Darville, sole proprictor?'
asked I.
Richard Daryilley'
Eyes, sir. I"
Not to weary the reader, will omit
the further details Of the Introduction
to the friend Of my youth.
Remember you, Of e0urse," he said,
warmly, at last. Why, you're tho fel-
low, that coaxed me down to old
Pfaff's to steal watermelons.''
There was reminiscent flavor in
Dicky's blue eyes which / conceived
it best to crush out. 1t suddenly be-
gan to dawn ON me TINT there might
be other forgotten incidents Ut my
youth which 1t We're as we'll not to
drag forth. I would turn the subject.
BY the way" I,.said, tis this girl
Zcnobia, your daughter?' j. ~.
"Er-wily-no, not exactly" he re-
piled. mot my own daughter, you
Know" He hitcfed his chair a little
nearer. She's my wifc's daughter,
you see."
Indeed? The lady at the door?",
Precisely. She was widow when
married her. you understand lie
brought his chair still nearer. Most
remarkable woman" he said, solemn
~.
II kOnw that she Is handsome
woman, II you will allow an old friend
to say so," I answered, looking him
straight in the eye without a tremor,
the old pirate blood stirring in my
veins.
II think SO, and others have said
the same" He rubbed his hands and