The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-30
Short Stories
 from Real Life.

IniB montgomery paIoiA'"" ''o business. He is familiar with every negro criminal in Middle Alabama and he has collected a small "Togles' gallery or negro crooks. The pictures have been secured in various ways but recently ne hit upon a novel plan to secure the pic- ture of an ex-jail bird and notorious thief
 JIm Thompson, the negro was ioitofihg on North Perry Street He had just re- turned frcre the penitentiary and like ne srees of his class he found much to interest him in loaiing about the streets. An amateur photographer was making views of the streets The photographer arranged his camera. Thompson actvely got out of the way of the focus before his picture was taken along with other parts of the perspective. He knew thins or two about having picture m the ''rogues' gallery and he watched the work of the photographer with great in- terest at a distance.
 Just as the photographer was com ple tins his work. of visw-taking Astute Patrolmau came strofiing through the street. He swung his stick nonchalantly but he was there for purpose.
 Hello Jim," cried Astute Patrolman. Having your picture taken?
 Nav sir. not me-" replied the negro. "I aint gwine hab no picturs took" K, ture taken with me-" said Asute Patrol man making a signal to the photograph er Since you've reformed I'd like to have your picture and mine together.
 "G'long, Mister Tom," laughed the ne- gro. Yer no yer doan' want no nigger's pictur'."
 "Yes, do, honest. I want 1t bad. Come along and let's stand side by side.'
 The idea of having his picture taken t,xrt atA of VI h. pealed strongly to the negro and he yielded
 Astute Patrolman placed the negro by his side. The two looked pleasant and the photographer snapped the button.
 That will do. AIS over," said the photographer.
 Look here, Misterf Tom, whatcher gwine do wid dem picturs?" asked the negro crook, with anxiety, when he real ized that Astute Patrolman had a copy of his physiognomy to carry about with him.
 "Oh, I don't know" replied the officer. "You might get killed some time and as your friend I would identify the body"
 The word identify revealed to the negro the purpose of the patrolman. "Sho nuf Mister Tom," he protested. Yer ain't got no right to dem picturs. I'm gwine tell dat photographer not to | gim 'em to yer"
 .If you do I'll lock you up,'' replied Astute Patrolman sternly. as he walked | away.
 Two excellent likenesses of Jim Thomp- | son adorn the "rogues' gallery" of Astute Patrolman, and Jim Thompson is behav- ing himself in a more circumspect man ner since the ''photograffer" snapped the button in his face.
 Did you ever see drunk gold-fish?" aasked a tall, serious-faced indi Sidual of & companion yesterday afternoon as the | two stood by the fountain railing in Court | Square.
 "Never did" the other answered. Do they drink?"
 Do they drink?' the first repeated in | some surprise Why, man, did you | never hear the expression he drinks like | a fish% Well, it originated from drunk goldfish"
 Get out I don't believe goldfish get | drunk
 1 "Pu just show you about that" the | first speaker replied. You wait here un- l til I go to the drug store for the booze and you'll see something unique.
 He was gone about five minutes and when he returned he had a small pack age done up in blue paper. This he un- | wrapped and his companion saw quan- tity of white bark displayed. The demon- strator selected bit of the bark from l the package and tossed 1t into the basin. A moment later a big gold fish swan out from the depths and circled about the floating bit of bark. Then he went | right up to it and took nibble. He seem ed to like the taste of it for he darted at it again and again, each attack afrording | him a bite from the bark. l The effect of the feast was apparent at once. The fish begaS to make crooked jabs at the floating stick. At times he would 20 at it with rush but would miss it several inches. Then he would | turn about and roll over on his back and wave his fins at the stick
 Flows that for a first-class jag? asked the individual who had made the | fish drunk.
 Hes got a beach, sure.
 Wait until you see the others go against it. Then you will see some fun. l He tossed the remainder of the pack | age into the basin and half dozen fat | fish came up from the bottom. As they | oircled about on tours of investigation
 the fish that had already accumulated load" bumped into them right ana left. Evidently he was blind for he swung about in circles and ran up against everything in his path. He stood on his head and went down, down until he
 damned his nose against the cement bottom. He would come up in great hurry and jump several inches clear ot | the water,
 l In the meantime the others had found solace in the bits of bark floating about | on the surface. One would grab stick and start away with 1t for the bottom, only to be pursued and deprived of 1t by larger fish. Another would get safely | out of the bunch with prize, but a | moment later would reappear hilariously 1 happy. working his mouth in song of | the deep and shaking fins with everything | that crossed his path They collidcd with each other and fought furiously, skipping at antagonists with their tails l Soon every fish in the basin was glori- ously drunk, fact clearly evident to everyone of the dozen spectators who had | gathered about the iron railing to see the l fun.
 Half an hour after the first bit of bark had been tossed into the pool they were all floating aimlessly about on their back or sides, their eyes swollen and | their heads aching, perhaps.
 They will get over it in an hour. eX- | plained the individual who had made the | Ash drunk. The bark loses its power after being in the water a little while. "
 Then they will have nothing to brace up on when they wake up' suggested his companion.
 | The tall individual would not reveal the name of the bark that intoxicated the fish.
 One If tha Mysteries.