Evening star., 1895-06-08
BILL L0CKR|DGE'S PICNIC
BY ALFRED HENRY LEWIS.
Written Exclusively for The Evening Star.

| written Exclusively 1Of Inc Evening star.
Yes" said the old cattleman, as he
munched a meditative Glove, there amt
much paw and below, head-down an tall
up business to a cowboy. Speakin' general.
and not allowin' for them inflooences which
disturbs none, he's passive as fried
fish.
| about sixteen years ago, before I lived
in Wolfville, 1 was pesterin' round Vegas
| with Bill Lockridge, who was workin'
small bunch of '7-bark cattle way over on
the Vermejo. We'd been slashin round
the plaza all day, tindin' fault with the
whisky an amoosin' ourselves at our own
| expense, an along about O'Clock in the
| evenin' Bill allows he's some sick of sech
| reves, an concloods he'll pint up among
the 'dobys explorin of Oldtown a lot. So
We all goes in concert l wasn't frothin'
| at the mouth none to go myself not seem
no relaxation pokin about permiscus
among a passel of Mexicans, an me loath-
IN of EN- nacheral but 1 goes, aimin' to
sorter ride herd on Bill, which his dispisi-
ton is free an various an liable to
mix him into trouble Not that Bill is
| bad; none whatever, but bein seven or
eight drinks ahead of that plaza whisky
| makes him feel gregar'ous and friendly,
an he's cap bic of gon' about a-claimin'
of acquaintance with people he don't know
| stranger has symptoms of doubt.
| so l goes along! Bill a-warblin The
| Dyin' Ranger in several keys.
! The senoras and senoritas a-hearin' of
the would look out an smile, an Bill
would wave his big hat an whoop from
rapture. If he starts toward EN- aimin'
| for poWwoW-which he does frequent,
| bein' a mighty amiable man that away
| they gives a squawk immediate an shets
the aoor Well, Bill goes on. Maybe he
| gives the door kick or two informin EN-
| of his discontent, but that's all All at
| once, while were prowlin' up one of them
| spacious alleys a Mexican thinks is a
street We comes up on a Italian with an
| organ, which he is grindin'. This yere
| organ amt SO bad an I've heeard a heap
| worse strains. AS soon as Bill sees him he
| tries to figser on dance, but no one'H
| dance with him.
=" In which event. says Lockbridge, 1
| plays a lone hand.
so Bill puts up small dance like
| Navajo, acc ,mpanin of himself with
| whoops. But the Dagc can't play Bills
| music so the bale comes to halt
Wv ha tever is the matter with this yere
| tune box, anyhow" says Bill. Gimme the
| music for a green corn dance, an don't
| make delay
This yere man can't play no green
| corn dance l says
." He cant. can't he? says BIZ mighty
scornful. Wait till he tries l know this
| man of yora. l meets him two years ago
| in Druce5 an me an him has quite
| time
| w iJltNSI lS HIS iidlie, L stShS.
"'Antonio Marino.' says the Dago.
| ".Marino.' says Bill; that's right. l re-
| calls it because it makes me think fust
he's sheep man, an 1 gifts quite hostile
~ never see YOU says the Dago.
think you didn't see me, We has drinks
together an goes, out an shoots up the
| town arm an like brothers,
But the Italian insists he never sees
| Bill. This makes Bill ugly lot, an be
fore 1 can get to stop it, he outs with his
These yere tunes l hears so far says
| Bill, is heap too frivolous an l figgers
this oushter inn rove EN-
when Bill shoots the Italian man
| heaves the strap holds him to the or
gan over his head an flies Bill ketches
the music box. keepin it from fallin an
| after a while begins turnin' the crank to
| try it. 1t plays all right, only every now
| and then there's a hole into the melody
| like it had lost TOOTH
| This yere's good enough for a dog
says Bill. a-twistir' away on the organ.
| Where's Merno? Whatever is the matter
| with him? Why don't he stand his hand"
| But Merino amt here no more. So Bill
| allows it's shame to let it go that way,
| an MeXicans sulfern' for music. So he
straps the tune box and goes round
from one DOLBY to another a-turnin' of it
| loose.
".How long did this yere Merino turn out
| his tunes says Bill, before he collects?
| However, l makes new rooleS for the game
| right yere. l plays these cadences for five
, minutes and then l gifts action on EN- for
| five. | splits even with these MeXicans,
| which IS shorely fair
so Bill twists away for five minutes an
| me a-timin' of him. an then leans the
| hewgag up agin a DOLBY an starts to col
lectin.. He'd go up to some household,
a whirlin his gun like pin wheel, and at
the mere sight of him the members gets
that generous they even attempts to
| gotiate loans and give 'em to Bill; they're
| that ambitious to donate.
"One time he runs up on a band of tow
erists. who was sorter trackin' round, an
| lookfh at things; an they comes up an
| listens awhile They was turnin to go
away jest before collectin' time.
Hold on says Sill. pickin up his Colt
! often the top of the organ I've seed peo-
Pile turn that Jack in church. but you bet
you can't jump no game of mine that
| way. So jest you all line up agin' the wall
| until l tucks the blankets n this yere
| outbreak in F fat I'm workin' on, an I'll
be with you
so when Bill winds up he goes along the
line of them tremblin' towerists an col
| lects S11.
They was amin to git away with all
| them nocturnes, an 'peggios, an arias, an
not say nothin',' says Bill. but they can
| come twist like that an me a ridin'
| herd. None whatever
bill carries on this way for three hours:
an what splits an what on bets he
| win he's over hundred dollars ahead.
| But at last he's tired, an allows he'll quit
| an call it a day. SO he lugs the old tom
tom down to Franklin's office. Franklin
is marshal. an Bill turns over the organ
an the money. an tells Franklin to hunt
| up Merno an give him the whole shootin'
| match.
"'Where is this yere Dago? says Frank
| lin.
However do I know?' says Bill Last
I sees him he was a-goin' up the calla like
a jack rabbit.
Just then Mertno comes in view feelin'
some pensive and fearful about that bull
let in his organ; but when he gets Bils
donation his feelin's commences to rise
lot. In fact, he begins to regard it as quite
a scheme.
But you'll have to round up to the
alcalde, Bill says Franklin, I ain shore
none you amt been breakin some law
Bill grumhles an allows Vegas is get
tin heap too reserved for him.
Its eettin' so,' says Bill, "a free Ameri-
can citizen don't get no announcement.
Here l puts in half a day amassin' wealth
for a Dago as is sittin' in bad luck; an ele
vatn' Mexicans who shorely needs it; an,
yere 1 am layed for by the marshal like a
felon.'
WELL we all goes over to Steeles.
Franklin an Bill and old Steele the alcalde,
|