The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-12-01

Bill Mapes did not belong to the
.upIift." Far from it. Indeed Mapes
was one Of the citizens of the semi
world against whom the very strong
ast anathema of the better classes
we're directed.
Nor was Mapes on cordial terms
with the police. In fact he would go
20 some considerable pains to AVOID
social intercourse with the guardians
Of the law. And by the same token
the blue-coats would move ratner
faster than usual to enjoy the pleasure
Of Mapes' society. But then Bill nao
an innate prejudice against b1ue-
coats and brass-buttons and stars ana
clubs and all that sort of thing. Per
haDs he was not wholly responsible
because the prejudice may have been
| inherited.
It is to be recalled that his father
plug" Mapes was constltutlonally
| opposed to the police before his IN
happy taking-off at the end of a rope
| in quiet jail-yard on one memorable
day after the society of the blue-coats
had been thrust upon him in most
shameless manner.
It is also a matter of history that
the gentlemanly wearers of the blue
gave a great sigh of relief upon this
occasion and congratulated themselves
openly and often until some months
later when it was borne to their IN,
telligence that young Bill Mapes had
succeeded to his respected sire's es.
tate and was following, in no unWor-
thy manner, in the paternal footsteps,
From all of which it may be de,
duced that Bill Mapes lived and
breathed and had his being without
the law of the land and that he would
not have been welcome visitor at
your home at the Witching hour OF
midnight.
Yes. gentle reader, you have guessed
right; Bill Mapes was a burglar, q
thief a crook and earned his bread by
appropriating the product Of the sweat
of the other fellows brow.
And yet Mapes was not a bad sight
to look upon He was a well-built
sturdy, young fellow handling his
splendid strength with marked grace
of action. His features We're rather
welcomed and his eyes clear and
blue and laughing. He was not a fear
some object to look upon-excepting
| when desperate or angry, and then
he was thunderbolt of action and
of passion.
It was inevitable, of course, that
Mapes should occasionally be the
guest of the police, but despite al
their most energetic invitations he
had successfully maintained his mod,
esty and evaded any considerable
strain upon their hospitality.
Upon his every appearance in the
police court, however, there had ap,
peared also most charming feminine
vision-a delicate, modest, =broWn-eyed
girl whose beauty won all hearts and
whose tears moved the sternest police
justice to sympathy. She was mys-
terry to the police court and inspired
more interest than the prisoner in
whom she seemed to have such deep
interest, SO to concern. After full
and free discussion it was duly de-
cided that she was a settlement work
er or something or other of that sort
who was grieyed over Bill Mapes' soul
and was trying to save him.
And while they berated him as a
dog they all bowed before the dainty
brown-eyed divinity.
Now it must be evident to the read
er at this point that Bill Mapes was
not an idea1ist, nor leading citi-
zen, nor a pillar of society, nor any
thing of that sort, but this simple tale
is written to show that every fellow
has his own standards and his own
ideals.
One soft summer evening Mapes ap.
peared at Browns Triangle" rath-
er bad place in a very bad neighbor-
hood-a spot which policemen avoid
ed when on lonesome beat and a
section most prodigiously berated by
the Anti-Crime society. He did not
enter the flat-iron shaped saloon but
going into one of the darkened streets,
emitted a shril1 whistle. Presently
curtain upstairs was cautiously
pulled and a face peered forth. Upon
further signal the curtain dropped
and moment later street-door
opened and Bill faced his brown-eyed
divinity of the police court. Lo and
behold, far from being a settlement
| worker she was only the daughter OF
Ike Brown, the keeper Of the notori
Gus Browns Triangle where, accord
ing to the police, more robberies had
| been planned than in any other spot
in the city.
'Howdy, Man." said Mapes in a voice
somewhat strained with embarrass
ment and taking the girls extended
hands awkWardly. Nice evenin'."
Il didn't expect you,' exclaimed the
girl beaming upon him with the glori
Gus 1ove-light, which, after all, Is ali
| there is in life.
Nav, but I'm here he responded
comfortably.
There were some moments of 81
lence during which Bills reaching
paw accumulated the slender hand
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