The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-21
JUST AN ALL-WOOL HOODOO. |
THE PRISON SHoEMIHER'S WARNING
TO THE OLD COLONEL.


The "scrunptous sprid' on His Cot Re-
called the Fate of Jack and His Many
Colorod wrap-How = Profitable Bush
ness in "Shaving the Queer" Was Ended.
One afternoon, Donald, the shoemaker came
sneaking up into the prison hospital with pair
OF shoes he had been surrepuuously tapping for
Smithers, the con man. After he had collected
the price agreed on, his sharp little eyes noticed
the old Colonel engaged in writing over in the
corner by his cot lie approached, a broad grin
signifyng his delight and pull at his forelock
his respect
And it is foinc you're lukkin, Colonel" he
began. "a reg lar colt y'are in the thick Of the
clover. Shure II the folks outside knew the healt
inside, they'd be applyin' for commitments as il
TO public sonataarum. so they wud"
The Colonel remarked that he felt he was hold
ing his own.
Then hang on tight to it, Colonel dear" re-
piled Donald when therere so many dub'us
carakters around. BY the way, that's n scrump-
tous sprid you have on your downy. Why a
wrap loike that wud give Sout Sea islander
all the insinsibility to cold of a Esquimoo, so il
wud."
Yes" agreed the Colonel. that afghan was
sent to me from homo and find it very warm and
comfortable"
iocularly watch clus or 1t will he all gan that il
will, he hel must have me Joke you know. out
of grautood for the blessins enjy. Now s'posc
you wouldn't be tradin the spr now wud YER
I've PAIR OF folne top boots got OIL flush dago,
and an umbrilly a visitor left against the boiler
house one day when was passin by"
Under no circumstances could | think of dis
posing Of the article" replied the Colonel some,
what sternly.
"Av coorse you wudn't Colonel Its the asSo.
| Citations now, isn't 1t, that gentleman vallys
above rubies or fone linen
Despite his hearty assent. IT was evident how
ever, that the shoemaker could not abandon his
| designs on the "sprld" He walked around the
cot feeling carefully OF every part of the afghan,
| and holding up hls hands to heavens in mute
admiration Of Its superlative quality. He made
as If he would roll II up and bear II away and then
winked humorously at the Colonel as II recalling
| his urgent need OF his joke Finally he drew up
| stool and sat thereon in the familiar posture
| Of his trade, but now his mouth was drawn down
| as II with sudden apprehension. "Shurc | clean
| forgot" he exclaimed, "th,m things arc the wust
| of bad luck Colonel; why. Joseph's cut of many
| cOlors cudn't compare with that sprd as an all
wool hoodoo"
What makes you think So" asked the Colonel
| laying aside his book with an interested air.
Donald, earnestly; and If you'll lind me your
| attntion for few moments, III spake in para
bic, from me own experience TO illustrate that pint
| 1t was many years ago, when hadn't beenbe
yond the four seas nor in the four prisons all
| but Portsmouth. l think. OF merry old England.
| had u pardner, had. one Jack Spr!ggS; and
| let him work t'roo crowd one way and me the
| tudder. when we met afterwards there WAS a con
cntraton Of all the available wealt at that very
| spot | alus an easy-goin' Teller Colonel
unpretintous willin' to give the par as the Frnch
say To any one so be kept me eye on the main
| chanel but Jack he high fecler and a high
| roller, and VI he wasn't regular r'stocrat it was
! unly becuz that kind Of burd ISN'T gnerally
| born in wuk house hist
"Praps the way Jack started out to make his
| livln' had much TO do with his hoe ter Colonel
| lie was prentiCed n lad TO a habberdasher
| and when he finally took his leave, and the till
| with him, he was a full, regulation sized clark
| capable OF lin his hair and wearin Brummal
| gem dfmond in crimson neckercee with the
| Dist OF them. Why, the fust time he was scrageed
| by the peelers, he was goin' down the Strand at
| 2:4o clip with the hue and cry arter him and a
| good chanel Of escape ahead when he stopped
short and was cotched gain in alteration t'roo
| a show -winder at a dark blue wescut embrdcrcd
| with lilacs.
We'll, Colonel, one day Jack and me was aboard
! a tram, goin' down into the Shires where there
| was good pickin' at the various meets. We was
passin over the fens at lightning rate the car
ridges rockin vilently the trestes settled when
| bang, the metals sprid and over we went squash
| into the mre Talk about Judgment day Colonel
| as l crawled out of the muck and lukked around
at the catastrofe. I'd have willingly answered
here to Gab'rels toot, for it cudn't be no wuss
| What with the pityus cries Of the wounded and
the orrible sight OF the dead, the flames ragin'
and the steam hissin', clean forgot that an
| emergency means a opportunity, and turned TO
| and worked like curatc Jest out of colldge
| "Howsomcdever, | was brought to a realizin'
sinse of me procrastination, by coming acrost
Jack. all spick and span as II collision was no
| more'n sppin' out Of BARRIERS cheer and in
one hand he had Gladstun bag, and in the uddcr
| a roll OF cuts and wraps the outside Of which
was as loike 10 your sprd as a naygcr twin to his
side partner And by the way, Colonel | have
a full rlgged ship made by Billy the sailor, lest
afor he wint of his nut and scofTed hlssef which
| I'll trow in for good missure If you'll change
your mind about the ACCESSIBILITY of a trade"
you must excuse me-" replied the Colonel
"Av coorse must Colonel" concurred the OBJ
sequious Donald "Shure you're too much Of a
| gintleman to give the sprid bad name without
due hearin' had and a determination thereof,
80 I'll g'wan with me story. Stimooated by the
laudable example Of me pal. Z piled me trade with
sech industry, that when Jack and me started
acrost country, the gu'neas were iingltng in our
pockets loike sleigh bells and had more Of
the impideminta Of travel than wud sarve the
| Ryal Family when of for a autumn in the Ugh.
| lands.
I'VE KEN TO a inn, and what with Jack s lordly
air and free hand. we had the hist room in an in
stnck, and the funkes a tumblin' over Tim
selves to bring us a wet Iavn' poured out q
| libration, Colonel, To MuCcury, the tootelary
| divinity OF all dead game sports, examined
our spleS There was gents clothes and livery
| fit for duke and his man; there was about two
hundred punds in sinners there was the bundle
OF wraps and the Gladstun bag. Jack paid
strick attention to the contnts Of the latter Opcnn
and spelin' t'roo package Of letters with cv
dent gustO What's thin, / asst; lovycr's mis-
sles? II so, you'd better rcsarvc thin for some
moment Of rhcumantc leisure, and git down Ia
onCt TO the biz OF equitable divvy Lower $
nothin' he answered these ere is letters of intro
ductOn 10 all the clubs and half the Swells Of
Amcriky, and the owner Of thin was n dashin
young English officer who ID lolkc to LUX loikc,
II he hadn't been 50 Orful dead named Grahame.
1t seems he was about to make visit TO the States