The Anaconda standard., 1895-12-15
MOOCHER HAS A SNAP
BE Completes the Circuit, and Hes
Back Here Again.
THREE DRINKS AND A MEAL
The Star Tourist" Strikes His Old
Standby. the Reporter. Who He
Pulls for Many Warm
Bowls. Then Retires.

Missoula. Dec. 14.-"Say, Jack" 1t
was a familiar voice that hailed the
reporter in this way and a look in the
direction from which the voice came
revealed the figure of the Moocher,
who had partaken of a bowl a week
before at the expense of the newspa-
per man and who under the influence
of the 'slop" and a scoop" which fol-
lowed. had given his companion a
glimpse OF the inside life of a moocher
He looked little more disreputable
than he did the week before and his
nondescript garments. his hands, his
face and his disordered hair showed
evidence of q hard trip somewhere
He didn't need to say that he wanted
the price of er scoff." He looked SO
hungry that the most obtuse observer
could see that he did.
Say. Jack. youse der onliest square
feller I've seen fer er week Since
blew dis town I've been strictly on der
bike. Bum? Well. I should say IL was
bum. It's der toughest layout 1 ever
seen an dat's on der square, see: 1
fought II was on der bike when i was
er comm from der coast but twas
out er sight long side er wot I seen
since den. Say. pard, youse all right
an on der square my t'roat's dusty.
o. same place. OATS good enough fer
me.
We'll. pard. here's how. Say, dere's
er heap er comfort in er good slop.
Now. amt dere? But. say, yer orter
see some er der slop dat dey set up
over der line. Dey tink anyting's good
ernough fer er moocher but I draws
der line on some er der stuff dat / got
dis trip. Say. II was on der bum sure.
Where was at? Well. Ise bean
maxim er record an done II right,
sure. But. say. 1t was on der bike
some er der way. 1t was der dead
toughest layout / ever seen an dat's
on der square. Yer see twas dis way
Mem me pard got over ter Helena on
der rods der night after seen you
Twas dead easy an we had er good
run. But. say, pard, dat Helena is On
der bike sure. She's der bummiest
place dat dere is. Why. dere amt no
show fer er moocher dere. Dey's all
on der bike. OATS straight.
1T didn't take US long ter size up
der burg an we gets ready to jigger-
roo der village. Dere was nuttin dere
fer us an so we shakes der town. Dey
was ten Of us rounded up at der yards
an We set out ter go trough ter Win
nipeg Junction. When we was talkln'
about der run. thinks. Here's er show
ter make er record an yer betcher life
I done It. But. say. II was dead tough
When der passenger pulled outen der
yards dsre was ten of US swung under
Dere was four blanket stiffs In der
gang an dey didn't last no time why,
dey was ditched on der first stop. Say,
pard. o. blanket stiff amt got no busi-
ness wild er moocher. Dey amt in It
estan. An dat's straight.
'"rings was dead easy fer or while.
but der shaoxs begun ter frisk der
rods an dey frisked us ail on but we
climbed to der top and got away wild
der train all right. Dey didn't leave
us erione fer long. dough. an we was
soon frisked on der top. Dey hustled
US all down an when der train pulled
out II was er case sr swing under.
hind end. on top. on der blind. up In
front or any ole place. Dere was some
er der gang dat didn't make Il ertall |
an when we got ter der next stop an |
sized up der gang. dey was only tree |
of der boys left. An. say. dey was ell |
and rode comfortable fer or couple er |
centuries but den one or der boys was /
played out an had ter lay of ter pad. |
Wots dat? Why. Jack. I fought yer |
was on. Pads ter flop. ter sleep. don't |
yer see?
Der udder guy missed der gunneis
IN was all erlone. He got trowed /
pretty bad an fought he was hurted |
hut looked back an he gimme der
sign 20 go erhead, an I hain't seen
him since. I stuck ter der rods, yer
betcher life. an made Il inter Win
nlpeg o. X. DatS der longest ride i |
ever held one train down fer on der
outside. bout twelve hundred miles.
"Yes. made one longer trip dan
dat. All right Here's kindest. Youse
all right. pardner. an dat's good stun,
too. o. bout dat ride. Well, I don't
know how long twas. was locked up
In er box car fer tree days an when
come to I was in er hospital an, say,
but der wheels In my head was er
turnin' both ways. Dat was der tough
est deal I ever struck.
''Wanter scoff? Well. Jack, youse er
mind reader. all right. half? Say,
pard. dat's good. Well. may see you
shootin' round der country some time.
TIL make dat hash joint wish dey had
never went inter der business OATS
right Den I'll have er slop comm wild
der odder two bits. Say. dis IL der
best place / ever seen. II was dead
tough beatin' back from Winnipeg
Dere amt much on der line. tink
I'll winter here. Well. I guess I'll take
er dip an then soon some. Jigger-roo,
Jack"
A BONNER HOLD-UP.