The St. Johns herald., 1901-03-02
How the Old Mans Rosy Prospect Faded.
f fC, PEcKILAT1oN l. all right for

PECKILATION is Ill right for
 them as can see their way out an figger the stages right along" re- marked the old bull whacker. I've known men has got rich by speckiI Ia- aion. I seen Dill here put months wages on the double O cncet an hit shree numbers runnin' in immediately subsekent investments, an he was richer than this here Rockyfeller for three days after. You never seen as afHooent a man as Bill was. But E far's I'm concerned want a sure thing with a rope hitched to it in case of an axle breakin'. used to be sportive like the rest of you, but I hit the ground so hard it jared all my back teeth loose. on the rosiest prospect that ever delooded hard workin' son of toil an made him think that life was going to bc one grand hurdy-gurdy of valley tan an tobacker hencefor- ward an for evermore."
 What was that?" inquired the stock 1endeE- -fs never knowed you to have money enough to buy you a moo soot of clo'es, let alone speckilate."
 ~.An' I've knowed him for clost on to Is years, of an on, but never knowed him any more of sport than he is right aow- He wouldn't play solitaire with himself an stake navy beams on the result of the game" said the stage agent, who, according to his monthly custom. was paying off the oompany's employees with a pack of cards
 s'It's this a-wag." said the old man. s'I don't as a gineral thing take any .galoot into my confidence reSpectin' my financial operations. nor yit the proportions of my bank roll. I don't dress ne slick as might, mebbe. heeuz St -ud embarrass me when fried my sowbeuy to keep the grease spots off'n my panties. an it wouldn't go we'll with the negligee language I've got 1o use to make my team git Gown into the yokes, but don't you forget that I have got enough 10 buy this outfit put down in brine for winter use. Ii ain't no oil stock nor nothin' fancy-jes' P.ain little old government bonds. When get wad that gets too heavy to pack around I buy bond or two an tie it up with the rest of the bundle. kin afford to slouch. When a man is on 6 solid financial basis appearances don't court for nothin' with him. He ain't like you ducks that's skeered somebody will tumble to their state of destitootion all the time an has to wear good clo'es to make a bluff. No, sir! As far as takin' no chances is concerned. why, told you right at the 5ump-away that I wasn't takin' any. Nhet are you goin' to do with your months pay, Samf'
 The stock tender grinned uneasily and locked at the stage agent, who re- fiected the grin.
 4sWeA,," said the agent, tits my luck today. and the next day it may be his. Or might git skinned if tried you whirl for some of them government bonds"
 What was your specialization, Tubbs?" inquired the stock tender. who was evidently anxious to avoid a delicate subject
 Turkeys" replied the old man. "I calculated on a corner in the poultry market an slumped by reason of a odefshunsy of tall timber. 1t looked mighty we'll, though, for quite awhile. n Ut was this way. He an Joe Hill Hard had made e stake out in Califor- mia freightin' an we decided that we swonld see a little of the bright side of life, in pursooance of which object we headed for St. Looey. We arrived there on skedool time more or less an there wasn't anythin' in the burg too good for us. Our blood was in condi- ainn 10 assimilate any quantity of rich