Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-02-21

the astute attorney for the railroad
F'itzaimmons came. The delicate aro-
ma of liquor and TOBACCO came with
him-he was in prime condition, was
Fitzsimmons. But then, he generally
was. The messenger who was sent
for him hac no trouble to find him.
Fitzsimmons day or night could be
found in his private office in the cor
ner of the bar at Steve O'Donnell's.
Il amt no hog" would say Fitzsim-
mons; "just gimme all 1 kin eat an
drink an chew an 1 don't ask no
more. No, sir, An I can't say fairer
than that"
Fitzsimmons strobe into the attor-
ney's office with the peculiar air of
dignity that was his alone
''Fitzsimmons,' said the attorney,
bending his gaze upon the roseate
proboscis of that gentleman, but wait
a minute. What am 1 thinking of?
VIII you come out and wet your
whistler
Fitzsimmcns eyed the attorney stiff
fly. iii so cut an stretch my legs
he conceded. They went out and
came back.
Now, Fitzsimmons," went en- the
lawyer, as he closed and locked the
door, we're in a hole. This man Jen-
kinsol has sued US for heavy damages,
and the case comes up next week He's
the fellow we smashed all to pieces
last summer, you remember" Fitz-
simmons kept on staring out of the
window.
Now" said the attorney, hes got
US dead to rights unless we can prove
just one thing, and that is that he was
drunk. Understand? Now, we have
information that he was. But we've
get no certain proof What we want
is the proof. Now, Fitzsimmons," he
fixed his steady gaze upon Fitzsim-
mons wandering one, you're man
about town-that's what you are, you
knCw-a man about town.
Fttzsimmons suddenly screwed his
face up into remarkable contortions.
There's somethin' the matter with
me legs he complained; they need
stretching, 1 guess. It's the only thing
that keeps 'em Strengthened out, and
that's a fact They were duly
stretched.
Now" finally resumed the attorney,
this thing happened right in front of
Steve O'DonneIl's, at IL o'clock mid
night, of the 18th of June. Under
stand? Well, it's just possible that on
the 18th of June, at midnight, you
were IOOhius out Oh SlSVe " OOQQ0l1 5
window, and saw this thing, or that
you were standing outside, and saw
the man and saw that he was drunk"
With one eye Fitzsimmons gazed
upon the distant landscape. With
the other he steadily regarded the
other man.
"Counselor!" he exclaimed cit is
no doubt at all about it. 1 see the hull
thing in me minds eye. Here's me-
just standing inside the swinging door
ON the night of June the 27th-'
Seventeenth" corrected the attor-
ney.
Seventeenth it isl" went on Fitz-
sin1m ION the night of Tuesday,
the 18th of June
Is. Friday" Interrupted the lawyer
$50 it was" continued Fitz Fri
day, the 18th of June, an me as sober
as judge, not having had drop for
forty eight hours to say the least"
Eight hours would be better"
murmured the lawyer.
"Forty-eight, upon my SOUL insist
ed Fitzsimmons. AN what dye r'fnk?
AS / stand there along comes this man
Peterson-drunk as a JORDAN he not
KNOWN whether he was standin' on
his head or his feet-or whether he
was foot or horseback-an' what dye
t'ink he does walks into the blame
trolley car, yer honor, and smashes it
to bits. On my soul he did. ] saw the
man. continued he, shaking his head
IAN / ought to know. He was drunk
as lord, I'm tellin' you.
Me legs" remarked Fitzsimmons
lis feelin' that weak" Two hours
later FitzsimmoHs left the room, hug
ging a twenty dollar bill close to his
breast.
"A double eagle for me conscience"
murmured Fitzsimmons to himself
AN awful dear at that, it is
Next day he called upon the attor-
ney for the injured man.
Il got bit of news for you," he re-
marked huskily to Jenkinson's lawyer. |
n.