The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-11
DOC, THE MASCOT" +"


the roasted ducks. Six of US boys from the
Louisiana and Texas border had got hold
of a camping outfit and q man 90 lock aft
er the plumber.
Thus tricked out we had left the paterna1
roof, bound to Our Louisiana lakes for
two weeks duck hunt. It was our man
of all work, our Mascot, in whom was
particularly interested. I was one of tho
champers. Doc, the Mascot, was good
workman, one of the best I ever saw.
Whites Yes, white as any of u.s. And as
for his manners and lingo, they left us on
the shady side of the fence.
We could never get Doc to touch gun.
was certain he was a good shot. found
that out one day when we were out hunt-
ing. One of the boys, Allison by name,
sprang into the lake to get a bird he had
vowed to catch. AS he was leaning over
for the duck an alligator bobbed up be-
hind him, prepared to take a bite out Of
his leg Doc was the only one who wit
messed the a1ligat0r's arrival on the scene.
With no seconds hesitation he snatched
my rife and hardly raising 1t TO his
shoulder shot the alligator within three
inches of our friends leg.
We congratulated Doc-said ie was a
better shob than any one Of the crowd
could have Inade-bUt he passed ie on
coolly, claiming it as an accident. We
grew to like the quiet fellow, but even on
our last day we did not know any more
about him. He was simply Doc.
We had been lying around the campfire
telling hunters yarns, each trying to out
lie the other q did not moan that for q
pun), when the ducks were handed around
After we had got to our cigars I remarked;
Say, Doc, try yonr hand. The fellows
are coming Munchausen. Can't you give
US decent lie, one that we can kinder
believer
Doc was staring at the.fre. He was al
calm eyes Of his. The breezy indignation
at my words Gained on his unexpected re-
ply:
II cannot tell you q lie, but I'll try the
other" A minute silence and then:
Perhaps some of you have heard of
Charley Devine, the young fellow who
lived on the border Of Louisiana and Texas
and was reported a good shot?''
Allison answered: why, yes. I've
heard my cousin speak of hi1n-R royal
good fellow plenty Of vim, plenty Of 60,
the best shot in the country and a friend
worth having, l believe he was mixed up
some way with my Cousins death. was
at college and never heard the straight Of
the story. -
A moments pause and Doc continued:
81 know Bevine He was a good sort
of fellow, and you re right about his be-
ing crack shot, mores the pity. As for
friendship, do you boys understand the
meaning of the term? A mutual love for
a girl is test which very few friendships
can stand. To wiring the hand which has
taken from life it's chief incentive with
warm friendly grasp requires a strength
of character of which few men are capable.
Charley Devine was one of the few. This
friend of his was your cousin, Mr.. Allison
''Both boys were fond of sport, and both
belonged to q gun club of which Charley
was the crack shot. One season the turkey
hunting had been especially fine. Devine
had made an appointment with his friend
Sexton to go early one morning on a
hunt. But when the latter stopped for
Devine he refused to go, pleading illness
as an excuse for laziness.
Sexton, not willing to lose the days
hunt, set out alone for the woods. Hall
an hour later DeYine, unable to get TO
sleep, flung on his clothes, took his rifle
and started in search of Sexton. For an
hour or more Charley tramped around the
woods to no purpose. His game bag was
empty nor had he even seen bird. Clear
ly out of humor, Devine was about to
tramp home when at some distance he
heard a turkey S cry. He answered it with
his cat call. You boys know how the
thing is done. Well, be kept up this game
for awhile the turkey calling him and he
returning the call They were creeping
toward each other, the man and his game.
Deyine grew tired, and, after seeing some
dark object move the bushes, lifted his rifle
and fired. Almost instantaneously with
his shot another report and human cry
rang out on the morning air-a sound Of
crashing twigs and a low groan not ten
feet from Devine He dropped his gun and
sprang> forward. Before him stretched on
the ground lay Sexton. Instantly on the
sound of the two reports the boys had
realized what had happened. They had
been calling to one another Devine lifted
his friends head III his arms and tried to
stanch the blood. The sun was begin
ming to spread it's first rosy light under the
branches of the gum and oak. Sexton
smiled family and whispered It was the
wrong turkey, was it not9 I'm glad you
shot first There, Chad, old fellow, don't
do that, laying his hand on the others
bowed head. It doesn't hurt so awfully
much Then he tainted
"Two hours later Devines friend was
dead That 5 all, believe.
Doc had told his story simply; no note
of change in the even monotony of his
voice.
Yet for all that the silence was intense
Nor did any one speak immediately. Each
one was working out the problem for him
self and seemed half prepared for what
followed Then Allison asked as he threw
a chip on the blazing pine What became
of Devine?"
''Deyine? Oh, I believe he went to the
bad. :" Another silence.
How do you know this Of Devine?''
questioned. Doc rose from his sitting pos
ture, stretching his hands to the fire
Then as he walked off to the woods he an
swered: IL ought to know. I'm Char
ley Devine Now Orleans Picayune.
Origin of the Cake walk.
The cake walk proper had its origin
among the French negroes Of Louisiana
moro than a century ago, says an eK-