The Western news., 1903-08-05

persistently to her side!
So he ratified his 27 cents, bravely in
his pocket and clambered doggedly
aboard the train. He even squandered
two precious nickels in the purchase
of peanuts, for, thought he, "27 cents
are no more use to me than I. Let me
the fore cultivate . reputation for
liberality."
While the rest were chatting with all
the enthusiasm of care-free youth Old
Slouch sat miserably trying to figure
out some pan of campaign. 1t Wicked
Bill had been in his shoes Old SLOUGH
could have saved him without turning
a hair "At this critical juncture,"
he would have written, "Bill anxiously
thrust his hand into the pocket of his
coat. His index finger discovered
hole in the lining, and at the bottom
of the aperture, he felt some thing fiat
and hard. Breathlessly our hero drew
it forth. 1t was a twenty-dol.ar gold
piece!"
But fertile as Old SLOUGH was in re-
sources for the relief of suffering BAN
dts and imprisoned and impoverished
heroes, he was absolutely barren Off
vention in his own behalf. So dis
turbed was he that when the bright
eyed Tilly turned from the attentive
Tim and called to him across the aisle
he answered her SO abse seftmiude dly
that she was piqued and turned again
to Tim before he could repair his error.
"Tickets.' said the conductor
sharply. The dreaded summers had
come and found him sti. i:nrrtpar,,..
O.d S.auch began to fun.hit through
his pockets. Everybody else t"& 4 h.
ns CT ssary paste boa rds. but @ /. uch
still fumbled, getting redder ard rcd
der every moment. The con;:ucior
looked at him with incre asing stern
ness.
"I-er-I'm afraid" murmured Old
SLOUGH, family. when his search had
obviously become farce, "I'm afraid
I've lost my ticket
"Didn', you drop it on the floor?"
sugge Ted Jake. All hands scrutin-
izs d the floor.
"Wtll. we'll" said the conductor, i'm
patti '.t,y. You'll have to pay your
fare them
''To be sure" said Old Slouch, mis-
erably. and he felt for his " cents.
"Well. declare" he exclaimed in we'll
simulate amazement 81 haven't anv
money
what" roare Tim. Had O,d Slouch
been himself he would have de ;vc;e,.
some thing very like cor>terl i in
his friends tone. AS i; Was. h, ,uw
only riiicu!e and he took a fG:a. , ep.
THAT is to say" he went on. pa
ing himstl If together, nothing but a
$50 bill"
"Oh." said Tim. plainly relieved.
That's all right" said the friendly
Jake. "l'll pay it. Here you are"
And he gave the conductor 40 cents.
lin rose and sauntered up the aisle.
Come and have a smoke?' he said
to Old Slouch. The latter responded
with alacrity. Here was his opportun-
ity at last. But as the door of the
smoker closed on them Tim broke out:
Say, old man, you nearly scared me
into fit. l had only enough to buy
my ticket one way, but l came along
because | knew l could borrow a dol
lar or two from you"
Old Slouch collapsed. 81 near fell
on the floor" his tormentor went on,
when you said you didn't have any
com, but when you mentioned the
fifty, why, knew it was all right"
"But it amt" Old SLOUGH replied,
weakly.
MOP" roared the other.
Not cent said Old SLOUGH, huski-
ly. II was going 10 borrow from YOU"
well" said Tim. when he had par
tally recovered from the blow, you'll
have to touch Jake"
Rather not" said Old SLOUGH, short
ly. "You do it,"
Rather not myself" Here the two
looked in opposite directions.
Zone OF us has got to-" said Tim at
last
match you for it," from the dis
tinguished author. So they matched
and Old Slouch lost.
1t spoiled his day. lilly was dis
posed to be nice to him, but he was
so taciturn. thinking all the while of
the unpleasant task that awaited him,
that she turned in despair to Tim,
who had never been in better spirits
in his life. 1t was a beautiful moon
light night and they planned to re-
turn to the dock in time to catch the
last train for town, which left at ten
o'clock.
They were about mile from shore
when the wind died out. They drfted |
idly for half an hour. Jake looked at |
his watch.
We'll miss the train and have to
stay all night at hotel, if there is |
one in the place" Horrible visions of |
hotel bills crossed Old Slouch's mind. |
Then he had an inspira ton
Lets row for it," he suggested.
And row they did-rowed as they had
nsver rowed before, he and Tim. The
night was warm, and the two oarsmen |
were perspiring and breathless when
he boat finally ran her nose on shore.
At the same moment they heard the
whistle of the approaching train. All