The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-08-27
nIETE all have our weaknesses,

nHTE az have our weaknesses,
wv reckon" Simpson was saying
with an easy drawl. "Zilk boosted Of
his, and most of us keep mum ELK
confessed his sins even before he COM
maitted them. Sometimes / think be
was bluffing Dowly all the time and
didn't mean to have things come to a
finish. Anyway, he wasn't bad sort
OF chap, was hep"
That was Simpson to a r.. II he
couldn't say much good of man he
wouldn't say evil. remember reading
somewhere once that man who is a
friend of all men is the friend of none.
MY Eaoralizer goes on to say that a
man with strong likes must perforce
have strong dislikes or be weakling.
His aim is to prove that man inca
pable of intense hatred is incapable of
intense love as well.
Simpson was weakIing according
TO this. Hatred was as foreign to his
nature as craftiness is to the soul of a
nun. He was an easy-going, INDECENT
chap, but there wasn't a man In Creek
er's camp who wouldn't have vouched
for him to the last drop of gin in
Shelters bar, which was pretty good
pledge in the old days.
And Zil1t? Zilk was man after my
znOralistss own heart. He could hate
with hatred that would have inspired
n Poe and driven Kempis to despair
He was as true an example of impulse
run riot as ever expect to see. He
was a great fine animal to look at
muscular. brawny and natural In every
gesture. Whatever his faults, deceit
was not one OF them; he was as frank
with his vices as we were with our
good points Zflk didn't pose as pro-
fessional bad man; he didn't pose as
anything. in fact, for he seemed to
think he was entitled to live without
giving an account of himself or of his
pedigree.
The first tenter who asked him where
he hailed from got stare that sent
him back several PAGES.
whats 1t to your asked Zilk I'm
from Nowhere and I'm bound for the
same place" But the next instant he
reached cut and put a OBTAINING hand
On Che fellows shoulder Look here,
pard, lie said, I'm from Hobbies bot
tom, il you must know, and as for my
movings, / seem to have struck oil just
about here. Back in the country /
come from its dangerous to ask ques-
lions, for the fellows amt trained up
90 lying. They d rather use gun than
an excuse.
No offense meant" said Simpson,
for it was be; and then to square
things he invited the newcomer TO
Bhara u bunk LII his tent.
Its co. zilk said. and may as
well state now that he rewarded simp-
sons generosity as well as he could.
ia left him two blankets, b goodly sup
wv az tobacco and the best pipe that
lad been IN the camp for q score OF
ears,
A little later Zilk confessed, or rather
pasted, that he had been driven ont
his last stopping place ait the muzzle
d six-shooter for conduct unbecom-
g q humanitarian.
ne. I'd rather fight than eat,
1t / like q real one with something
the stake. I'd rather kill jim Dowly
an do most anything and | will
me day, when go. back"
Jim Dowiy was only a name TO ns.
hadn't an idea who he was, and
mt try To fnd out until one night
Shelters. The mugs had been
und three tines and the pipes were
ting empty.
Who's Jim Dowly?H asked Bob
Ands, suddenly. Eiik didn't show
Il, bat answered civiliy enough.
Hes an Irish dog. He's the lowest
God ever made, reckon, except
and I'm not shade worse"
What's your quarrel?" Rounds went
snd To our surprise ELK leaned back
lis seat and grew reminiscent.
had pale brown eyes that looked
w under his tawny lashes. He
ed them wide now, and noticed
thing akin to tenderness in their
sssion
was in love once. fellows" he
re was no rough outbreak in the
For one reason we wanted the
and for another, the miner,
as he is, has good deal of re-
Tor things feminine and likes to
re it Up.
was little silver of q, thing,
emf on, and about al pretty a.
axe EN-, reckon. OF course,
didn't care for great hulk Of 3