The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-04

man he went after, but like as not 1t
! was cayuse or friend or an innocent
! spectator-he was that general and COM
| prehensive when he got settled down to
/ his work. Anyway, the boys didn't lope
around after Rogers much. and one day
when he got them all in Sans place and
said he thought the town needed a mayor,
and that he'd be it. they just naturally
was rude and scornful.
Rogers he didn't say nothing, nor
argue none, but the next day he met one
of the boys ambling along alone, and he
says, handling his armament casual and
lippant: bill, / want to talk to you,
cause I'm sure you've changed your mind
since last night. The span of human life
is some brief and uncertain, and you amt
the kind of man to go out knowing
you amt done your duty BY your town.
or course, there amt no possibility of
you're going out sudden and unexpected"
he says. prodding Bill in the ribs. face
tious like. with his forty-four, but
thought ia just talk to you and see II
you hadn't RECONSTRUCTED. I'd like to be
mayor. Bill" he says. prodding him SUI
pertiuous and familiar. land I'd mighty
like to have your vote. OF course, amt
cling to urge you none, but I'd sure like
to see you come around
"'Bill he reconsldered u minute. and
said he guessed he'd come around all
right, and that there weren't anybody
he'd rather see mayor than Rogera and
Rogers he went along and had little
talk with another one of the boys. When
election day come around Rogers was
sure popular, and there wasn't nobody
voted against him. mono to speak Of
THE mayor looks at Hicks. but Hicks
was grinning. sarcastic, and annoying.
And the mayor resumes, pa.ient and To-
quacious Says he. You all have
heard of old man Jackson. which
was a sure enough cow gentlema.
in lis day but which went out in bed
gradual and unpleasant, before most ot
you drlfted to these parts. Old man jack
son was whole lot ,narred--th. same
having begun when he was Young and
frivolous-and the boys which worked for
hlm-there was eight or nine If I'm re-
Numbering correct--was plumb edited and
encouraged most every day by Tho way old
man Jackson circled the corral when his
wife was feeling like q little diversion.
The old man didn't seem TO mind tho
/, boys knowing about these here little do-
nestle rufhes, but when they got to talk.
Ing to their friends free and entertaining
about the way tho old lady made him
step to music, and how he lodged che
coffee-pot and fiap-jack pan plumb regu-
| lar and expert, he got real peevish and
| lrrltated. But he knew these here COW
| gentlemen which worked for him and he
didn't put up any four flush which
couldn't be played.
"'But couple OF days after he'd heard
| about the way the boys was talking. he
meets one of them drifting along by him
SELF. and he said to him, playing with his
hardware CASUAL and abSent-llke: Jim,
Mrs, J. is some temperous when she's
feeling that way, amt she2"
".Jim cleared his throat q couple OF
times and allowed he hadn't noticed it
himself. but had heard 1t said that she
might be little bit inclined that way.
"'"Pretty flno gift. don't you think
so, Jim?" asks old man Jackson. polk
ing the muzzle Of his Colt, easy and
punctuating, against inns waistband.
"..'It sure Is" says Jim. plumb en-
| thuslnstc and sincere,
"'''I scamper around some playful and
amusing when she's on the warpath
though. don't l. Jlm?" says old man
jackson. amable and grlnning.
''"I sure never noticed It," says Jim
earnest and convincing.
"..''And l can dodge coffee pots and
things plumb cleyer and artistic, can't
| 7. Jm?'' asks old man Jackson, poking
Jim IN The ribs. friendly and intimate,
with his scent sprinkler,
It'''"I amt heard you ever tried re-
spends Jim, sweating free and con-
| .,.uAnd ne ,,n,,rsnl,, ,,,,,. n,a ,,...