The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-03-20

awhile.
IA 'sT' deuce with you an tn ofiice!" he
roared. Gimme my time!"
"But the banks closed, Bill" plead,
ed. wont few dollars do until to.
morrow,
"Giye--me-my-time-now!"
Invent 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 go to work, Bill?" 1 asked.
mo. I'm goin' t. hit tn road" he
said, gruffly. ''C'n We let me have four
bits?"
"Great Caesar, Bill! You won't quit
US, with all those jobs on the book %
cried, in dismay.
Might as well. Won't be any good eff
I stay" he replied, with considerable
firmness. "Do git tn four bits?"
He got it, and, after shaking hands all
round, he disappeared in the direction
of the railway station.
About six months later Bill floated
into the Office again. If he had been
sober during the interval, there certain
~ was nothing about his appearance to
indicate it. have seen almost every va
riety of bum and tramp, but in all my
experience / cannot recall meeting one
of such thoroughly unwholesome APP
pearance as Bill presented that morn
ing.
"Wie gents, sonny?" he hiccoughed,
cheerfully, holding out his dirty paw.
'sKnow me?"
/ surveyed him with ill-concealed dis
gust, as l remarked:
1T is 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 a bath and
hair cut"
He took the dollar / gave him,
chuckled hoarsely and left, to return in
about an hour somewhat improved in
appearance and ready for work.
Say" he remarked, as he took off his
coat, I've got tn best derned plot FIR a |
short story We ever heard Of I'll tell We |
t. night"
But alas! it was like all the others he |
had given me, and quite as valueless as
those he subsequently impaired to me
during his three weeks sojouTn with us.
At the end of that time he departed in
much the same manner as before. He
got drunk, went broke" borrowed a
half-dollar again, and walked out of
town.
A year or so after the death of the
always sickly Journal, of which I had
been editor-in-chief from the beginning,
met Bill in Chicago. was then "doing
police" on one of the morning papers
md 1t was while attending the Monday
morning roundup" at the old Armorv
tation that / became aware of his pres
nee. As the police judge, after looking
It the name on the sheet before him,
emarked something about ''jim-iams"
icing a more appropriate name than
ljams," glanced up. and there, in the
risoner's dock was old Bill, looking, s
h! so tough! but with knowing leer /
n his face as he recognized me.
l whispered to the Judge, who I
rinned. "Old friend, Ell? william. the
fiicer says you were drunk and disor-
eriy Saturday night. How about it ?"
Guilty, judge" said Bill, cheerfully. I
"M-hm. Ever been here before, VIII I
amp"
Not as many times IS I ought T. j
Gen." I
Coming again? No? Discharged.
our friend here wishes to see you. VIII Il
am" T
Bill was entirely unabashed when I /,
let him at the door, and seemed greatly +
unused at my suggestion that he ought t.
be ashamed of himself. 81 never
bought you'd come to this, Bill" I ii
lid, severely. i
Fiddle de : dee, boy! Likewise {
ats! replied Bill, with coarse disre- s
lrd for the dignity of my official star. h
Fl had two bits FIR ev'ry-time that's 4
'ppened. would be tryin' t borrow t,
dollar now" he continued, adroitly. b
lie got the dollar and on the way up
'wn unfolded to me one of the chest n
rned plots for story he had ever 81
Owed; but it was not good enough to "
'nsider, and my manner told him so. st
I'll leave We here" he said, abruptly. 81
we came to Van Buren, street. 81 look Il
o tough Z go uptown with We, but 81
oky, sonny, mex time see We. I'm 81
re goin' to give We a plot that III make SC
r hair curl. Understand
We parted and Bill made Decline lie
r the nearest place to get an "eye- Ia
ener.' That was the last saw of h;
m for two years. o,
OF all the ubiquitous individuals / hi
err ran across in all sorts of out-of-
e-way places and elsewhere, Bill IL
ans was the one oftenest in evidence. =.
he next time / saw him was in New
,rk; next, 1 found him officiating as =;