The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-06-02
MES, Sammy, I'm back from the

NJ f-S, odiliny, 1 III Dack from the
war. Don't.o laughing. asking
me how many Spaniards | killed, like
the rest of them. That's mean. You
knew you wanted to 60 just ;s much
as did. Of course, neyer--quii laugh
ing, will you, and Ill tell you all about
it.
Only be fair and honest, Sammy.
You remember how we used to meet
evenings down by fathers sugar shan
ty, and builu a fire and sit round and
talk and read the papers, till we ali
got crazy about Cuba. And don't you
recollect that silly little company of
Cuban Lioerators' we organized. You
ought to, Sammy; you were first lieu
tenant. \ lot of the fellows were in it,
and | don't see how you've got amy call
to kid me just because | was the only
one that had sand enough to start.
Il know, Sammy was the biggest
fool in the gang, and nobody's trying
to deny it; I've learned thing or two
since. I'd saved UP Sll.33 cents, and
thought maybe that would do to begin
on. At first | meant to use part of it
to buy a siX-shooter, but l was afraid
they'd be suspicious at the store, and |
decided to wait till got TO New York.
thought most likely they ID furnish NE
arms and things for nothing when they
found out why I'd come. You see,
h,d notion they were going to see
me. On, yes. it's all right for you to
snicker now.
Il was afraid to get on the train here
Mt home, so | walked over to kilkuck
and got on there--not from the plat
form. either; | climbed up from the
further side of the track for fear some
body would see me. When the con-
ductor came along told him wanted
to go to Cleveland. He looked sur
prised, but when | told him had an
aunt living in Cleveland he said 'all
right Ard SC have, you know. but
l guess it wasn't much different from
lie just the same. and | felt pretty
cheap. /; took a lot of my money, too.
Do you know, Sammy, Sll.33 cents isn't
very much money noWaGayso
ut was night when we got to Cleve-
land. and | had to hang round the big
depot there till morning. | got some
doughnut& to eat. After awhile I got
so tired | crawied in under the iron
arms of the benches and went to sleep.
but fellow with q broom came around
and made me wriggle out. just as
soon as the train was ready | sneaked
on board ana lay down on one of the
seats. Those cushions felt good, | can
tell YOU
When the conductor walked me up.
we were going the fastest ! ever saw
showed him my money aad SAID
was going to New York. He .aid |
hadn't near enough. and his train only
went to Buffalo anyway, Then l said
was going to stop over in Buffalo, and
told him nasty little lie about my
uncle meeting me there. l couldn't
seem to help it. but felt sick; I'd
started out to be patriot and not u
liar. You don't know, Sammy. how
much meanness there is in you till you
begin running away.
At Buffalo | got banana and some
more doughnuts. I don't like bananas
maeh-they taste SO soapy-but
thought Id better be getting used to
1hem. | handn't much money left, but
got on another train.
This time, though, the conductor
wasn't half so goud-natured as those
ethers. When he found | couldn't pay
ne seemed to get pretty mad. l heard
MN say tc the brakeman not to fire
me TIL they got to Rochester. and then
70 put ME N charge Of the police. That
scared me. and | slipped off the cars
~ little bit CT a station, don't know
Just where.
II was dark, and they locked up the
oepot night away. Only oEe man had
got on, and he drove away in wagon.
ihere were hardly any houses. and it
ioeked like rain: but at last found
sIaw stack in q iield. with holes where
tne sheep had eaten in at the bottom.
! srept under anG made q scrt c.