St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-09-03
nIKTE all have our weaknesses,
wv reckon" Simpson WAS saYin


w reckon" Simpson was saying,
with an easy drawl. "Zilk boosted Of
his. and most of US keep mum. Zilk
confessed his sins even before he COM
mitted them. Sometimes I think he
was bluffing Dowly all the time and
didn't mean to have things come to
finish. Anyway, he wasn't bad sort
Of chap, was he?"
That was Simpson to T. II he
couldn't say much good of man he
wouldn't say evil remember reading
somewhere once that man who Is
friend of all men is the friend of none.
NY z1oralizer 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 weakling according
10 this. Hatred was as foreign to his
nature as craftiness Is to the soul of
nun. He was an easy-going, indolent
chap, but there wasn't man in Creek
er's camp who wouldn't have vouched
for him to the last drop Of gin in
Shelters bar, which was a pretty good
pledge in the old days.
And Zilk? Zilk was man after my
moralist's own heart. He could hate
with hatred that would have inspired
. 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. Zilk 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 it to yor?" asked Zilk. "I'm
from Nowhere and I'm bound for the
same place." But the next instant he
ON the fellows shoulder. Look here,
pard," he 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 l
come from its dangerous to ask ques-
lions, for the fellows amt trained up
to lying. They'd rather use q gum than
m excuse"
mo offense meant" said Simpson.
Tor it was he; and then to square
things he invited the newcomer to
share bunk in his tent.
"It's co." Zilk said, and I may 40
well state now that he rewarded Simp-
sons generosity as well as he could.
He left him two blankets, q goodly sup
MY Of tobacco and the best pipe that
had been In the camp for score OF
years.
A little lister Zilk confessed, or rather
boasted, that he had been driven out
of his last stopping place at the muzzls
OF q six-shooter for conduct unbecom-
ing humanitarian.
"Just fights" he said. flights all the
time. I'd rather fight than eat,
but l like real one with something
in the stake. I'd rather kill Jim Dowly
than do most anything and Will
some day, when go back"
Jim Dowly was only name to US.
We hadn't an idea who he was, and
didn't try to find out until one night
- Shelters. The mugs had been
around three tines and the pipes were
getting empty.
.tWho's Jim Dowly?" asked Bob
Rounds, suddenly. Zilk didn't show
fght, but answered civilly enough.
.He's an Irish dog. He's the lowest
cuss God ever made, reckon, except
me. and I'm not q shade worse"
..What's your quarrel?" Rounds went
on. and to our surprise ELK leaned back
in his seat and grew reminiscent.
He had pale brown eyes that looked
yellow under his tawny lashes. He
opened them wide now, and ! noticed
something akin to tenderness In their,
expression.
II was in love once, fellows" he
oaid.
There was no rough outbreak In the
circle. For one reason We wanted the
story. and for another, the miner,
rough as he is, has good deal OF re-
spect for things feminine and likes to
treasure itsup
..She was q little silver Of . thing,
Xix went on, land about - pretty ~
they make 'em, reckon. OF coarse.
sha couldn't care for great hulk Ct .