Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-08-15
D0F.-.G 1EUs.-.19E-.-I7o8'
I WHACKER
: BILLS
} CONVERSION
BY u. wadsvorth Parker
Copyright. 1909. by
=. Mcclure Company

Inc rev Anhu lthlilNH uiu NNl h"t''
that his wife was holding out his bear.
skin coat with both hands lie con-
tlnucd To- stare into the depths Of the
open fireplace.
The nickel alarm clock licked no,sily
ON the high mantelshelf. the only
sound iu the cabin tucked under
Blgcr's hill The minute hand touch.
ed -. and Mrs Rollins cOurhcd apollo.
gctically.
The Reverend John came out Of his
trance and slipped into the waiting
coat. Ills wife east an adorins look
up az bis square shouldcred six feet
one.
Il hated 10 interrupt your thoughts.
jack. hu' the stage Is due in minute.
Were sou thinking Of your sermon
"Not much. my girl" replied Rollins
81 wa. thinking of that twenty
mile ride with Whackcr B.n II Is
honestly the worst feature ~ this
charge. I like 90 go over t1 Las Vegas
They're a friendly set and they're al
ways rlad 20 sco mo. But The ride
that foul moutlcd Bill with his swear
Ing at every rut be- the r0ud But I'll
cure him set. feel somehow as n
Ia been sent 20 this place 20 save
Wh1cker Bills soul. and I'm going 20
do a."
John Rollins set his month IN th"
firm curve that bis wife could rrmcm-
Der from tho old football days. long Dee
fore De bad taken orders iu the church.
The little woman claspcd aud un-
cluspod her hands ucry0u>ly.
Il hope. Jack dear. youn Do very.
very careful 900 dealing with BIll. Hes
au awful character. they ay-and' a.
eyes he claims To- be- the champion
bal man ~ tie Las Vegas valley. but
yuu remember 20 certain little sling
once did the business with another
burgart aud I'm loading up with
STONES for The same tr.ck
lie smiled checriIy into bis WIGS
anxious face. Kissed her tcuderly and
crossed Co the door
Don't worry. little woman I won't
hrrt him or Day myself liable 20 the
law"
TIE Reverend Rollins threw open the
door ana c7Di down the winding
mountain street The commofion in
front " the postoHire told him that
Tic stage had arrived. lie stalkrd
down tlr flower edged path 10 meet H.
When the stage plunged and swayed
past the cabin Mrs. Rollins waved her
haud to her husband. sitting straight
and smiling beside the rough driver.
T8Hu She ram into the house. where.
hu-y.nc Der face iu her husbands big
chair sIo had % hearty cry.
Ou and on swung the stage BIN
chatting amiably 81 bis former
tr.umphs when the vlg.lantes repre-
seutei the law aud HE was worth llv-
lus Nothing happened % disturb bis
serenity until they bad passed Las
Cruces. when they suddenly came upon
patch uf road that made the stage
ler. and pillow from side 90 side. Ike
o. ship In the teeth OF a gale.
What Whackcr BIll said about the
road commissioners % tbe county
would not bear publication As be
stDrmed and ravod BOO the maddcst 90
profanity the Rev. John Rollins squar-
81 round and looked Whacker BIll fair
~ .u the eye
Herr you triaurulated sine qua non
o. % peambuIgtur. shut up.
RIl stopped ln the middle ~ a
mighty oath and stared at the mis-.
fouIry Boo amazcmout So preachers
lost their temper. and such q quiet
chap ls Preacher Rollins too
EIu forgot the condition ~ the road
while be- rumiua'cd over this fact
Then they struck au ugly stone. q
mailbag Tow through space and RIll
came back to earth boy most profauc
route Rollins held the rclns while
E,' went hatE o. gather up Uncle
sans possessions. The offending bag
went up with % crash and 900 oath. and
Bill was following with ~till mightIcr
accompaniment ~ profanity when be-
fe.y the young mIs,iuuary's grip of
steel uu Doll, wrist
"N1u h.fu-uHrrd rr.smod.ul 90 ue
pin, ultra .ruuuylast stop that noise
aud tend tu business"
Whackcr Bll climbed into the seat
without q word Rollins calmly l.rlr.
eel % cigar aud studied the scenery. aud
they rode five miles iu eloquent silence.
Then E.iI could stand 10 mo- longer
"raulups whar did you rarU it"
AT college" came the trr,r reply.
"LorIy au' I've arCrd 'om called
religious cemeteries" murmurrd B.ll
and silence once more settled between
them.
Rollins was smoking bis third cigar
ssJ rr.llur % bit nervous %, they COW
erred the last two miles into Ia, Vegas
Just os they caught sight of tlr towns
light, tWluklug Boo the mist One of the
lead horses stumbled and tpll. lu ten
seconds There was mad combination
p. Lur,cs. tangled bsruoss and profau.
Ity 900 front ~ the stage when the
damage H1d been repaired 90 n steady
Urr of cu-s words. B.ll returned to his
post swearing as hc mounted tee step.
swearing as be- gathered up his lines.
swearing as De cracked the whip. Then
that calm. even voice zen upon his
ear
s.Tlafss enough from Won. you quad