Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-11-20


than probable that the boys intended
ito have fun with him" though bis
talking or. rather, trying to talk. to
a girl that sat opposite him at an cat
ing house table was according to his
ethics plainly none of their business
He knew he wasn't popular since he
had done for Jim kOdney's sheep,
though the crime had never been iaid
at his door officially He had his way
to make. the same as the next one
and. all said and done, the cattlemen
were glad to get Jim Rodney's sheep
off the range. even If they reated him
as Il felon for the part he had played
in their determination
Thus reasoned Simpson. while be
marked with an uneasy eye that tb"
temper of the company had grown de
cidcs!ly prankiSl, With the exit Of the
girl. who, after having caused all the
trouble. had, with an i.rta ting quality
peculiar to her sex, vanished through
the kitchen door
Some three or four of the boys now
ran to Simpsons former seat at the
4 table and rushed toward him with his
/ half eaten breakfast. as if the errand
had been one Of life and death. They
showered him with mock attentions,
waiting on him with an exaggerated
dcferrnce. and the pale. fat man. re-
memhering tho hidcouSness of some of
their manifestations of humor. breathed
hard AMI felt falling off of appetite.
COstgan. the rattleman. strapping
Irish giant was clearing his throat
with ominous sounds that suggested
the tuning up of a bass fiddle
"Sure, Simpson. me lad. if We happen
/ to have a matther av $50, tits mesilf
that can telhye av an jllegint invist-
mint"
{ Simpson looked up warily. but Cos
1 tganS broad countenance did not har
i Dor the wrath Of Il smile What kin
git for fifty chips? 'Tan't much"
unused the p;:riah. with the prompt in
clination to spend that stamps the com
parative stranger to ready money.
''Ye can git Il parrut, mana CRANE
parrut-to kape We coompany While
yere attn y
Simpson interrupted with an oath.
"Don>t ha hard on old Simmy. Re
member he's studied for the ministry
How did ! savey that Simpson aimed
to be il sharp on doctrine?" A COW
puncher With II squint addressed the
table in general. II scents the aroma
of dogma ;lbWlt Simpson in the way
he th:oNed his conversational la:iat
at the yearliny He urbancs at her
and then comes his firstly, it being Z
speculation as to her late grazing
ground which he concludes to be the
east His secondly amt nothing star
Ting. words familiar to us all from our
mothers knee-'nice weather'-the con
gregation amt viSibly moved. His
thirdly is insinuating In it he hints
that it amt good for man to be alone
at meals"
"'fwas the congregation that add
ell the fo.nel;y.' though. before hastily
leaving by the back door, And Cos
tisan slapped his thigh.
''The gentleman in question don't
seem to he maxim much use Of bis
present conversational opportunities.
I'm feelm' kinder turned down my.
self" And the Texan began to hook
over his six shooter.
v The man with the sQHint looked up
and down the board.
"Gentlemen, believe the foregoing
expresses the sentiment. of this COM
pany, which. while it melodies many
foreign and frequent warning elements,
&c hold Inv
natchral tie Of eating.
Thumplng with knife and fork han
dies, stamping of feet. cries of Hear,
hear!' with at least three cowboy
yells, argued we'll for resumption OF
last nights festivities. Simpson glow
cred, but said nothing.
Seems to me you all goin' the wrong
way bout drawin' Mistu' Simpson out
He is shy an' has to he played fO' like {
trout, an heah you all come at hin
like a cattle stampede The big Tex
an leaned toward Simpson. Now
you all watch my methods. Mistu
Simpson, sch, what do YOU think Of tn,
prospects of rain?"
There was a general recommendation
from Simpson that the entire colnpan.
60 to a locality below the rain belt.
A boy. plainly from the east ant
looking as if the ink on his graduatin!
thesis had scarce had time to dry, wa
On his feet staggering He would no
have swapped his newly acquired cam
araderie with these bronzed western
ers for the presidency.
"Gentlemen. you have all heard Sml
son say it is lonesome having no on
to talk to during meals We sympl
thized with him and offered him
choice of subjects. He greets our re
marks by Il conspicuous silence, varie
by profanity. This. gentlemen. reflect
on us and is a matter demanding pu'
lie satisfaction. All who feel that thei
powers as conversationalists have be-.
impugned by the silence OF Smiiso
please say Aye