The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-18

and tried TO nurse him. fearing 20 tell
any OF her neighbors. for she knowed
they had done him up. il us the next
night. while his minds wanderin'. he
got up and run away. His tracks went
riEht down TO the water. and there
wasn't none comm away.
'Peared ike Jeuny'd never Git over u
But by-eu-by sho begun 10 forEit. ike
the best OF US will Take NJ oath. she
most died the first year, but two years
later Eho hitched up with Johnny Rooney,
who'd hllus been tagEin' after her. and
they seemed 20 b Jest about a. happy
as married folks ever git. ~ it's the last
and that bunch OF red-hsadsd kids has
Erowed Up 20 be the finsst IN the bizness
to-day. and has got Kids OF their own
That 'us the beginnlH' OF the great
Rooney family.
Bout twelve. fourteen ysars ago. be-
fore ] KEEP store and Post once IN Mis-
Eury. the shows in winter quarters. and
the old man sent for ne 70 come to see
him. and ! sauntcrcd over.
Hello. Iimpy. y got here quick
says the old man. I want you % hear
what this gentleman says. Mr.-whatd
you sey your name was,
'BsIlister-HsTbsrt Ballister-
MIR. Ballister. this Is Lmpy Haves
best man that ever handled an elephant.
I've brought him here because he's as
good a friend of poor Larry Lannigan as
I was. Jest go ahead and tel him what
you told me-
Why says the Ballistsr fellsr. lam
attorney for General Lannigan's estate
he beln' deceased some six months. and
Mrs IanniEan has Instructed mo to come
20 your employer and ascertain n II was
true that Laurence Lannigan at tho time
OF his death IN Tampa left n widow. and
to see II there were any children. and
what had become OF widow and children.
II any. OF course. there was some slight
feeling between father and son. which the
family regrets, and. therefore, has EN-
powered me to make 4 settlement on the
widow Of a stated income. and II there
are children 10 double the amount
i" Rest easy says the Old man. Larry
didn't have no children. And whatd you
E'pose you'ss agoing TO give herr
well, she could legally get nothing
under the will, but the family IS inclined
to generosity and are willin' 20 give her
four hundred a year
To he'll with your generosity s1ys
the old man She kin earn double ;hst a
month l tell ye right here. pardner, keep
your stingy charity money She won't lose
nothin'. for I'm aEoin' 10 give her Hfy.
more a week from this on. and make yl
tTenty-year contract. Dye hear tsVf.
Llmpyc says he. fetchin' his hrst dof n
with a bang on the table.
Wei, as you want g. says the Nv
yer pullin' up his eyebrows and yankin'
down his mouth. He married FAR bcnehtn
him In choosing wife in your circle OF
life. but / do not think there should be
bitterness after he Is dead
Mister Balhster.' says the Old man.
all OF a sudden. sqJilntin' his eyes ard
pintin' his fingers al the lawyer. how do
you know he is dead2'
say take m oath, that man looked ~
II you could have knocked him down with
a feather. He cleared his throat. Locked
out OF the wlnder. then says kind a
patchey:
why. II made sure q Il on behalf
Of the family. by going % Tampa
What caused you % go % Taui?a.' -
roared the oil man.
'Why-vhy. private advi-es.'
You stinkin' shystsr, You're lyi1' 70
me. and think I don't know g.. Nov. git
out OF here. before I kick you out, end
don't you or none OF your kind ever ic0me