Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1906-12-18
A Matter Of Standard.
az LrcaE a1RoMn-


Bill Mapes did not belong to the
'uplift" Far from It. Indeed Mapes
was one of the citizens Of the semi
world against whom the very strong
est anathema Of the better classes
were directed.
Nor was Mapes on cordial terms
with the police. In fact he would go
to some considerable pains to avoid
social intercourse with the guardians
Of the law And by the same token
the blue-coats would move rather
faster than usual to enjoy the pleasure
Of Mapes' society. But then Bill. had
an innate prejudice against blue
coats and brass-bEttons and stars and
clubs and all that sort Of thing. Per
haps he was not wholly responsible
because the prejudice may have been
inherited.
1t is to be recalled that his father
| Plug" Mapes was constitutionally
opposed to the police before his I'M
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.
1t 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, a
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 were rather
well-formed and his eyes clear and
blue and laughing. He was not a fear
some object to look housekeeping
when desperate or angry, and then
he was a thunderbolt of action and
of passion.
It was inevitable, of course, that
Mapes should occasionally be the
| guest of the police, but despite all
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 APP
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 a 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 grieved 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
err at this point that Bill Mapes was
not an idealist. nor a 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 APP
peared at Browns Triangle" rath-
err bad place in very bad neighbor-
hood-a spot which policemen avoid
ed when on a lonesome beat and a
section most prodiglously berated by
the Anti-Crime society. He did not
enter the hat-iron shaped saloon but
| going into one of the darkened streets,
emitted shrill whistle. Presently
a curtain upstairs was cautiously
pulled and a face peered forth. Upon
a further signal the curtain dropped
| and a moment later street-door
opened and Bill faced his brown-eyed
| divinity of the police court. 10 and
behold, far from being 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 voice
somewhat strained with embarrass-
ment and taking the girls extended
hands awkwardly. Mice evenin'"
Il didn't expect you" exclaimed the
girl beaming upon him with the glori-
Gus love-light. which, after all, is all
there is in life.
Nav, but I'm here" he responded,
| comfortably.