The San Francisco call., 1906-11-25
The Professor Meets an Honest
and Game Miner
~ .Iot,n Hamilton Gilr,our

! nrofessor was fascinated at the spec
I tacle and wondered II it would drop on
by the exercise
well" said the landlord. you ought
to be in an old ladys home, you ought
To think of going into gentlemans
room and disturbing him in his sleep.
HE was in my room" pleaded the
professor.
We'll. he always has that room, and
to think of a gent going TO bed at 10
e. m. 'Tain't moral BilPs Kind OF
alarmed anyway, for some Of those ca
him for bit OF trouble he got into'
and he's dead on the shoot"
/ The professor placed his aching head
between his hands and commenced to
think. Tt was not safe to be out OF
doors, and it was far unsafer to go 70
bed Some other hirsute and armed
creature might be occupying his room
He strolled out of the place feeling
much like forlorn orphan kicked out
of the founding asylum and told 70 90
and make his own living.
The night was luminous with stars
A gentle wind sighed from the north
and barely moved the silvery curls that
! flowed down his neck The sandy
street shone like a Furnished strip
of steel. and from the dark shadows
| hoated the voice of some woman who
was singing some rag-time ditty to
keep the men within doors and to
part with their money. There was a
rattle of coin, but the professor shut
his senses to these sounds and pursued
his way TO the river
He looked down at the majestic.
Colorado slowly flowing to the gulf.
and rejecting on her broad bosom the
/ light of the stars above.
We'll, parson, so here you air" and
strong grasp was placed upon his
/ shoulder.
DO you know me?' asked the appa-
rition.
mo. sir. I do not cried the professor.
He felt his knees sinking beneath him.
Was this tall. thin creature come out
to kill him, to make him vicarious
sacrifice to the peculiar passions OF
Yuma? He felt like praying, but he
Look at me-" demanded the appari-
ton.
'T am Honest John Low. Better
| known as Stats Stats, sir. I am
known all over the territory. all over
California. and you tell me that you
don't know Honey John Low, better
known as Slats?"
The professor raised his eyes tinidly.
They travelled over an exceedingly thin
pair of legs, then over an exceedingly
/ gaunt frame and through his thin shirt
the ribs were plainly discernible- The
/
breath was redolent OF every brew
known to Yuma.
Il am an honest miner. Mining IS
my business cried Stats.
Indeed" said the professor. He
was glad TO find a true son Of toll.
And where do you mine2"
'sWhereT yelled Stats. as he cast
about his long. thin arms and embraced
the entire points of the compass.
There
and you are richg'
"Of course am. Ask anybody if Stats
I get drunk once a year. Just once
'Ah. that's sad" replied the pro-
t.No 'tain't am only drunk for
six weeks at a stretch. and then don't
get drunk again for long time. say
week
And have you mined all your 1ife?'
inquired the professor.
You bet. / have run a blind pig.
too. That was over at Brawiey. Have
you ever run blind pig. parson?'
The professor denied that he had
ever run a blind or a not blind pig
when Stats said it was high time ITO
liquor"
In vain the professor protested.
Stats persisted that he was generous
as we'll as honest and he lifted the
professor up bodily and threw him into
a saloon.
Well" said the landlord next morn
ing to the professor. who had a towel
around his head. you are a nice one.
Well. if you amt the noisiest gent
when you are happy I have ever seen"