Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-02-20

family directed at editors In general,
turned and left the office.
At 8 o'clock In the afternoon he came
back. drunk and abusive, and wanted
what money was due him. I tried to
dlssuade him, telling him we wanted
him to stay with the office awhile.
Ut hi with you an tn ofiice!'' he
roared. "Gimme my timer
But the banks closed, BILL" plead.
ed. won't few dollars do until to-
morrow"
"0lve-me-my-time-noww
went out, cashed check with some
difficulty, and came back and gave Bill
his money. He went out growing.
Next morning he came In, showing
the effects Of his debauch, and sat
down by the stove.
Ready to 60 to work, Billw I asked.
mo. I'm goin' { hit tn road," he
said. grufiiy. "C'n yc let me have four
bitsg"
"Grcat Caesar, Bill! You won't quit
rs. with oil those jobs on the bookT'
I cried. In dlsmay.
might rs well. Won't be any good
Of stay" he replied, with considera-
bic flrmness. do git tn four bits
He got II, and after shaking hands
all round, he disappeared In the direc.
ton Of the railway station.
About six months later Bill floated
into the office again. II he had been
sober during the interval, there Ger.
tainly was nothing about his appear
ance to indicate II. have seen al.
most every variety Of bum and tramp.
but In oil my experience cannot recall
meeting one Of such thoroughly un-
wholesome appearance rs old Bill pre-.
scented that morning.
"Wle gents, sonnyf" lie hiccoughed,
checrfully, holding out q dirty paw.
"Kn0w me-"
I surveyed him with ill.conccalcd
disgust, as I remarked:
1T Ii possible that bath and a bar.
Der might disclose the face and form
Of my old friend Bill. But now-great
Scott, Bill! Go and get bath and
haircut"
He took the dollar gave him. chuck.
led hoarsely, and left. to return In
about an hour somewhat improved In
appearance. and ready for work.
Say" he remarked, as he took OF
his coat, "l've got tn best dcrned plot
f'r short story 70 over heard Of. I'll
tell 70 might"
But, alas! It was like all tho others
hc had given me. and quite as value.
less as those he subsequ ently impaired
TO me during his three weeks soj0urn
with us. At the end Of that time. he
departed In much the same manner a.
before. He got drunk. event broke"
borrowed a half.dollar again. and
walked out OF town.
For tho next three years he showed
M Mt intervals Of five or six months
departing as innocent Of means as
when he arrived, always. however.
with a new suit Of clothes. Never did
he fail to announce, upon his arrival,
that he had the "best derncd plot" for
story over heard Of. Aud never did
ono Of his ideas avail mo anything.
A year or 80 after the death of the
always sickly Journal. Of which I had
been editOr.in-chief from the begin.
ming. I met Bill In Chicago. l was
then "d0lng police" on ono of the morn
Ing papers, and 1t was while attending
the Monday roundup mt the old Ar.
mOry station that became aware Of
his presence. A. the police Judge, af.
ter looking at the name on the sheet
before him. remarked something about
"jlm'jams" being more appropriate
name than "Ijams," glanced up. and
there. In the prisoners dock. was old
Bill. looking, oh! 30 tOugh!-but with a
knowing leer on his face as he rccOg-
nixed me.
whispered to the Judge. who grin.
ned. "Old friend, Oh? william. tho
officer says you were drunk and disor-
derby. Saturday night. How about ity"
equity, Judge" said Bill, cheerfully.
"M-hm. Ever been here before.
William?"
mot as many times . I ought Z
BEEN"
Coming again? No? Discharged.
Your friend here wishes to see you.
william"
Bill was entirely unabnshed when
met him Mt the door. and seemed great.
~ amused as my suggestion that no
ought to be ashamed Of himself. II
never thought you'd come to this, lsill,"
! said, severely.
"Fiddle-de-dee, boy! Likewise.
Rats" replied Bill, with coarse dIsre-
gard for the dignity of my official utar.
'Ef had two bits f'r ev'ry time that's
happened, ! wouldn't be tryin' T. bOr-
row a dollar now." he continued.
adroitly.
He got the dollar, and ON the way up
town unfOlded to me one OF the "best
derned plots" for a story he had ever
evolved; but 1t was not good enough to
consider, and my manner told him 10.
III leave ye here" he said abrupt
~. rs we came to Van Buren street. II
look too tough T. 60 uptown with ye.
But looky, sonny. mex time see ye.
I'm sure goln' t give ye a plot that'll
make y'r hair curl. Understandw
We parted, ana Bill made bee. line
for tho nearest place to get an "eye-
opener" That was the last saw of
him for two years.
OF all the ubiquitous individuals I
ever ran across In all sorts Of Out-Of.thu
way places and elsewhere, Bill Ijams
was tho one Oftenest In evidence. The
next time ! saw him he was In New