Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-14

outlying parts or the CUR country, "ho'-,
generally speaking, there are always d
few men keeping out OF the way OF the
police, and who are apprehensive on the
approach OF strangers. and make them
selves scarce until they are assured as
to their identity.
Let the reader not put any erroneous
construction upon my conduct when 1
admit sending a certain precociouS iari-
kin. whom l had met before. to MAKE
their minds easy and fetch them pack'
/ could not afford 10 be other than on
good terms with such a crew-horsehesh
was a costly and difficult commodity TO
replace In the Gulf I'm those days.
When entered the rough bar-room. Cas-
sldy the publican, held out his right
hand patronlzingly towards me. and
with his left placed black bottle on the
counter.
| shook hands with him and ex-
changed compliments; for Jack was as
good as his master in the Gulf so not 10
be hail-fellow well-met with every one
argued a sad lack Of policy, and marked
one as the possible victim OF future
misfortune. According TO the custom OF
a stranger when entering bush hotel,
] called upon the bleary-eyed and shaky-
looking devotees Of old Silenus. In the
guise OF several bushmen present, to
breast the bar" This they did with
an alacrlty which. II expended in bet
ter cause, would have been praise
worthy in the extreme. AS soon as
possible, however, / escaped from the
noisy and unpleasantly demonstrative lit
tie crowd. and went outside 10 await
the team. / was selecting spot on
which to halt the wagon, when, from
behind, a huge blood-wood tree, there
came a sound as of some one moaning,
and. going round, / discovered a man
lying on his face, evidently in the
clutches OF that demon OF the Gulf ma
laral-fever He nervously grasped an
empty canvas water-bag in one hand,
and did not seem TO be aware Of my
presence. L appropriated the bag. went
down TO the lagoon. filled It with water,
and came back to him. Tapping him
on the shoulder. 1 said: Here, mate;
have a drink"
Now, no one knows, save those who
have experienced the torrents of the
fierce fever-thirst. what a pleasant salu-
tation this is. When addressed. he rolled
over on his back. and saw his face for
the first time. Having a good memory
for descriptions" | recognized him. He
was Billie Main. a young fellow not yet
"a years OF age, and who had at least
half a dozen warrants out against him
lbI Understanding III Ndtlbuo paris VI
the Coloney. Not utterly bad, however.
or without certain good points. strange
as IL may seem: but, alasl easily led;
one who. from the commission of fool
sh and unprecedented act Of dishonesty.
and the keeping Of bad company had
been led to commit more serious crimes.
until he had cut himself Off from all
chance OF honest employment. and now
led the miserable life Of a hunted wild
animal.
There is little that is in reality at
tractive in the lives OF such as Billie.
in spite OF what certain absurd and
perniclous kind OF literature says, and
which IS generally penned by hose who
know nothing OF the stern and hideous
truth. There was nothing in Biilie's face
that was suggestive OF the criminal and
foolhardy deeds for which he had been
noted. AS II was. l was an utter
stranger TO him. moreover some one
whom he could not exactly make OUT:
SO for the minute he regarded me with
not little apprehension on his face.
and said: Then you're not a trap"
what do you take me for?" / re-
sponded. knowing there was only one
way OF talking To such men. and I con-
fess feeling not a little sorry for him IN
his helpless condition, he looked so ut
terry wretched and neglected you'd
better tdhf n NflNh IKE a Ehbl ltllOW.
And look here; you want To get back 10
the shanty. for there's a thunder etorm
coming up. I'll stow your saddles and
gear under the tarpaulln Of my wagon
when it comes-and here Il Is"
And up numbered the heavily-laden
wagon, with its driver. Outsider" and
twelve horses. / slowed away Billie's
belongings. he all the time watching
me with a strange mixture Of surprise
and curiosity
You're a new chum. s'pose?' he re-
marked al length.
"Well, yes" / answered; don't sup
pose n couple OF years I'm the country
cornts for much But get up; it's going
to rain"
Thought as much as how YOU were a
new chum." he said, paying no attention
20 my last remark. and taking another
drink. when you've been In this coun-
try a little longer you won't trouble
your head bout every poor beggar you
happens to find lying under gum tree,
and whom YOU don't know"
"Well Billie Main" I said. II happen
TO know you: and do not mean TO as
sert that the honor Of your acquaintance
Il such that ia care TO 20 blowing about
IT TO any OF my very particular friends.
! But that has nothing 10 do with H. I've
| had the fever myself. and don't intend TO
let you lie here: so get up. my bold hero.
Here. give me your arm; a drenching in
the state you're in now would just about
fix the business for you"
We'll you are q rum un," he said,
raising himself YEARLY on his hands
| into sitting position. Then looking al
me with a somewhat more treasured
and pleasanter expression on his face, he
added: "S'pose I've got to DO as you
tell me, boss"
His was a pinched pale. weary-ooking
| face-not the kind Of face one would as
ISOLATE with the companIonship Of horse
thieves and, perhaps murderers. His
voice was pitched in that soft. drawing
/ intonation peculiar 20 natives OF New
/ South Wales: and. I'm spite OF the repu-
| tation he bore he could look one squarely
in the eyes. "a good man gone wrong"
| I thought. land neglect end ignorance at
| the bottom Of II all" That his natural
| inclinations were neither OF the migrate
ful nor vicious sort when unlniuenced
by the flash" bad company he had a
/ weakness for. I knew: and despite what
he said believe that Billie would have
been the first man 10 help stranger.
He was weak as a kitten; so. giving
him my arm. ! led him over 10 the shantY.
/ where he muttered a few words-of
| thanks, / suppose-and. ninRing himself
| down on a rude stretcher under the We
randa. lay silent with his head In his
hands. An hour or so later. when the
| fierce and sudden thunderstorm had
/ lifted, we hltched up our team and went
/ out again. But. az for Billie. did not
see him again for two years. Strange
rumors were afoat concerning him in the
mean time, and once he was reported
as having stolen horses al three diff
ferent places. widely apart, at the
same time. which goes 10 prove the truth
! OF the adage; Give a dog bad name