The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-02-24


Stimulating a sudden Illness, but he did
not want to brighten lilly, and then
that scamp of Tim was sticking so
persistently to her side!
So he ratified his 81 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 7. Let me |
liberality."
While the rest were chatting with all |
the enthusiasm of care-free youth Old /
SLOUGH sat miserably trying TO figure
out some pan of campaign. If Wicked |
Bill had been ir 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 a
hole in the lining, and at the bottom
Of the aperture, he felt some thing fat
and hard. Breathlessiy our hero drew
ii forth. 1t was twenty-dol.ar gold
piecel"
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 of in
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 absent-mindedly
that she was piqued and turned again
to Tim before he couldrepair his error.
"Ticketsl" said the conductor,
sharply. The dreaded summons had
come and found him sti1 unprepared.
Old S.ouch began to tumble through
his pockets. Everybody else had the
necessary pasteboards, but Cd SLOUGH
still fumbled, getting redder and red
der every moment. The conductor
looked at him with increasing stern
ness.
"I-er-Im afraid" murmured Old
SLOUGH, family, when his search had
obviously become farce, "rm afraid
I've lost my ticket"
Didn't you drop it on the foor?"
suggested Jake. All hands scrutin-
lied the floor.
"Well, we'll" said the conductor, i'm
patiently. You'll have to pay your
fare then"
ITO be sure" said Old SLOUGH, mis-
erably, and he felt for his II cents.
"Weu, declare" he exclaimed in we'll
simulated amazement. 81 haven't any
money"
What" roared Tim. Had Old SLOUGH
been himself he would have detected
something very like CONSERVATION in
his friends tone. AS it was, he saw
only ridicule and he took fatal step.
That is to say" he went on, pull
ing himself together, nothing but a
$50 bill"
"Ohl" said Tim, plainly relieved.
That's all right" said the friendly
Jake. ''I'll pay it. Here you are"
And he gave the conductor 40 cents.
Tim rose and sauntered up the aisle.
"Come and have a smoker" he said
to Old SLOUGH. 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 a fit. had only enough to buy
my ticket one way, but I came along
because knew could borrow a dol
lar or two from you"
Old SLOUGH collapsed. 81 near fell
on the floor" his tormentor went on,
when you said you didn't have any
| coin, but when you mentioned the
fifty, why, knew it was all right"
"But it amt" Old SLOUGH replied,
weakly.
''No?" roared the other.
Not a cent" said Old SLOUGH, husli-
ly. az was going to 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 SLOUGH 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 ter
o'clock.
They were about a mile from shore
when the wind died out. They drifted
idly for half an hour. Jake looked al
his watch.
wen miss the train and have tc
stay all night at a hotel. if there is
one in the place" Horrible visions OF
hotel bills crossed OLD Slouch's mind
Then he had an inspiration.
Lets row for it," he suggested
And row they did-rowed as they had
never rowed before. he and Tim. The
night was warm, and the two oarsmen
were perspiring and breathless when
the boat finally ran her nose on shore
At the same moment they heard the
vhief1a oS The annroachino train All