The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-08-23


the swinging doors of the Seamans
Glory Saloon, and carac to an I'M
steady halt against the bar. 81 didn't
leave small tin bucket in here, did
-" the newcomer asked of the bar
tender.
This Official cast a bleared eye
upon the questioner, and shook his
head. "Nc, you amt left no such
pail around here, Bill. Maybe it was
at the Bowhead?"
Il just came from there" said the
other, thickly. cit amt there. I do
wonder now what I did with them
there remains" He threw a f1utter-
ing glance at the bartender, and then
dug deep into a pocket. "Lemme
have some gin," he continued, mS-e
briskly.
The barkeeper set the bottle out,
and watched his customer imbibe.
As he put the bottle away again, lie
said: Maybe you'll find 'em at
Smiths. Look there?''
That's so. I may have left them
remains right there" He smiled
family, and wavered on his legs. by
gum, I'll jest bet that's where they
are. I'll go see.' And with labored
gait Bill departed.
"Porr chap" said Twizzle. ''That
misfortune did for Bill"
What misfortune?" I asked.
who's Bill?"
"Bill was terribly unlucky," was
the response. "Bill lost his mother
in-law."
"r don't see how that should af-
fiet him. I retorted.
Twizzle drained his beer glass, and
shook his head with an understand
Ing look a. the bartender. The lat
ter also shook his head, and both
seemed stricken with sad and poig-
ant memoTy. Its terrible mis-
fortune murmured the barkeeper.
."To think" continued Twizzle, "of
what Bill has suffered every night
when he goes home and his wife
says, Bill, where's mother? and Bill
don't know. Awful"
"'Orrible!" assented the other.
"Lost his nother-in-law in tin
bucket" Twizzle went on, raising his
voice.
'sAnd set it down without ever
known where he left it." exclaimed
the bartender.
Awful" doomed Twizzle.
'Orrible!" the bartender respond
ed.
I plucked Twizzle strongly by the
sleeve. Look here" l protested,
I'm all in the dark. Tell me how
Bill lost his nother-in-law. What's
all this nonsense about tin pail?'
'It was an awful misfortune"
Twizzle answered, solemly. "It did
Bill up. He amt never held his head
up since
"sincc what?" cried, in vexation.
"Since he lost his mother-in-law
in a tin bucket" roared Twizzly,
fiercely. What do you suppose I
mean?"
easy now, SAM" urged the bar
tender. ''The gent don't know the
partic'lers.
II DON'T" said I, "and I'm anx-
ious to learn them"
"Why didn't you say so before?"
Twizzle demanded, suspiciously, "and
not go a-doubting Of my wogd?"
NY protestations of credulity near
ly participated another furry on
Twizzle's part, but the bartender
came to my aid, and between us we
soothed I'm into narrative mood.
"Bill was my mate on the Dom
Paul." he explained. "and he got
married to a little woman living on
Russian Hill here in San Francisco.
Bill was terrible pleased. Never
saw such a woman, Cap'n,' says he.
And she and her mother run that
house shipshape as you please
'Mother-in-law living with you?
I asks.
tBill sort of edges away. OF
course, says he. I couldn't expect
Mary to live ell by her lone while I'm
at sea. She needs company
But Bill didn't cotton to that
mother-in-law the way he wanted to.
She sat heavy on his digestion. He
couldn't warm up the way he ought
to and the way his wife thought he
should. But Bill didn't say much ex-
e,pt one day before we got into port
he says, 'Cap'n, I wonder if my moth
er-in-law likes me-
"'Do you like her?' I demands,
real blunt.
81 try to 90 my duty says he.
"'An unpleasant duty?' l sug-
gests.
"'She S. IT'S to sort of hoodoo me,
he blurts out. I'm afraid she'll be
a misfor une % me yet And which
same she was. Poor Bill! he tasted
what was coming.
$50 things went on for voyages
several. Bill he seems sad in his
bosom when he thinks of his wife's
oh NJ