The Portland daily press., 1898-01-19
THE MAN HE NEEDED.
BAD Ed Wanted the Editor Who Wrote
Elm Up.

JNo udy ocOIS0 IIlOy WIN DuUllSuGS d
rery warm paper in damp basement in
Pocatello, was over in the neighborhood
Of Ross Fork when one of the seven men
who had been very intently regarding
him from the front Of the saloon across the
way walked over toward him. In that
part Of tho country, where, owing to the
frequency of reports Of Indian hostilities,
every man went armed lift would have
paid no attention to one revolver and a
winchester, but this man had three pis-
tells hunting knife and thing that
looked like a slunshot, as well as the reg
ularly ordained rife.
Mister" he said addressing lift "the
boy behind the bar says you print the pa
per down at Pocatello."
lone of them," lift answered, wishing
he knew what was about to happen.
"a paper down at Pocatello, " said the
walking artillery battery, some time ago
alluded to me when won't down there as
witness in the court as hayin killed three
men in Texas an as bein wanted by Pin
kertons for various offenses
"When was that?" the editor faltered.
Gin March of last year.
~ came to Pocatello i'll September, ;"
lift said, much relieved.
L lit 1uttll WltA tljC w pCiAo kOOhNN oio7
appointed.
aShucksl' he calculated. "You don't
say Amt that disapp intin now? Sure
you didn't come in February, mister?"
my dear friend, assure you that l
didn't, and in any event should not
have published SUCH
Hold on, mister, hold on. DON'T talk
SO fast A man down in Pocatello who
= ,t,cJIft
and judge
"But surely you don t hold me response
Bile for what libeler and perjurer and
base assassin of character says, do your,
"Mister,' the other said gladly, by
them words I know you're just the man |
want. Now don't git skeered. You don e
understand mo. I'm Ed HAWKINS, an
I've got a reputation as bad man in these
parts.
'sI shouldn't think SO, Mr.. Hawkins
I"-
"Not Mr.. Hawkins, but Ed. Bad Ed,
if you please. Yes, sir, I've got a reputa-
ton fer bein killer, but betwixt you an
me 1 amt Naturally Tn peaceable an
calm, an l wouldn't do nothin serious
ag in the law If was paid fer It, But as
longs I'm Bad Ed I'm an honored citizen
an GU ITG6 llQuOE oil piOeASo AhAAS'
was eittin little bit dubious with me, an
folks was wonderin why didn't do some
shootin awhile ago, but when that Poca-
tello paper came out an said what I'd did
in Texas respect an esteem come back to
me on a gallop. That paper statement OF
my badness has KEEP me goin fer 10
months, but the boys Is kinder worryin
ae'in an intimatin that I never had a
sheriff after me in my life, an that Bill
Pinkerton don't give cuss where am
hidin. Now, sir, If you will kindly step
acrost the way an inform these people that
I am not only what you said year ago
last March
"But I didn't write 1t and''--
s'No, of course not. But blame it all,
man, can t you D tend when another man
happiness is at stake? You say that you
did, an that I am all that you wrote at the
time Of that trial, an that also am the
things you said few minutes ago. Do
it, mister, an patch up my record as a bad
man. An here's So fer your trouble. You
can send me your paper.
So lift went over and rehabilitated Bad
Ed Hawkins character for him, and after
taking one fearful drink with the killer
he broke for his train, which was pulling
in A few minutes later he looked back
from the rear platform and saw Mr.. Haw-
kins violently firing two revolyers and
chasing very small Chinaman down one
street while the townspeople fed for safety,
and he knew that Bad Ed was putting the
finishing touches to a demonstration which
would keep him in honors for at least an
other year.-Chicago Record.