The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-06-29
SATISFIED.


~c-~>~~~~~
There are many kersons who never
heard of Columbus, and some-but not
20 many-who do not know who
Thomas A. Edison is But in his own
realm "Bow-legged Bill" Darling II
more famous than either Of them. LIZ
that particular portion Of the Missis
sippi Valley which he freQuents, not
to know Bow-legged Bill would be ar
unwelcome distinction.
: Bill sat one October morning upon
the shady bank Of the bayou, pleasant
" engaged in extracting the lusciouf
pulp from a ripe papaw, q sack Of
which lay At his feet When papaws
are ripe, pecans are dropping and
squirrels are prime. All these things
were In the bayou woods, and Bill was
happy. Half q dozen coon dogs lay
about In expectant attitudes, waiting
for Bill to turn his attention to more
stable viands than fruit, and an an.
Gent muzzle-loading rifle beside a tres
occasionally shared their attention.
Now and then Bill cast a reflective
eye upon a stranger who was watching
him. The stranger was we'll dressed
and we'll fed, Of middle age, but sad
and solemn Of visage.
Look a-yeah, strangeh," said Bill
at last. "You-all amt feelin' right
peart You betteh eat a few of these
yeah papaws. They amt nothin' bet
ten"
| The stranger took one with melan-
choly thanks. As he munched 1t the
sadness gradually faded from his faca
That's something like" he said,
taking another. Like being q boy
Oh, II could get away where no one
knows me, and rest, and rest ~
II don't know you none," said Bill
cheerfully. "Set right down heah and
rest a. long as you-all got a mind tn"
Il want to get out Of the world Of
business, where I'll never hear tho
sound Of my name. I'm sick Of it,"
well, strangeh," said Bill, that
| ought to be easy. 1t amt as II you
was famous, like me. Most everywheh
you go you'll heah my name, but
amt neveh heard yourn, nav, begging
youh pardon, l don't want tn. But ct
you want to git away-why, I'm start
In up the bayou right now, and you
can come with me-"
! Half an hour later they were In
Bills skifr, Tar In the bayou Businesses.
The stranger had begun to drink in
deep breaths Of the free air and to
look about with an amazed interest
He picked up Bills gun and examined
It and sighted it.
| ANY coons round?" he asked.
They disappeared into the woods
that day, and for two weeks Bills ia
vorite resting spot near the mouth Of
the bayou knew him not. At last they
came back, the stranger pulling strong
~ and Bill lounging in the stern over
pile Of pecans and butternuts.
BILL" said the stranger, II haven't
been square with you. I'm a big spec
ulator, Bill, and rich man. want
to give you something's house, Q
cabin-boat a farm-say what you'll
have. You have pulled me through an
awful fit Of the blues"
"Strangeh," drawled Bill, lazily, III
, had cabin-boat I'd have to take
care Of 1t. If had house I'd have
to live In Il. If l had farm I'd have
to live on it. If had new gun I'd
have to lie it and keep it clean. If
owned the biggest business in Sent
Louis I'd have to go to Sent Louis to
run 1t. No, sub. don't want none Of
'em. I've got six coon dogs now, and
couldn't Use anotheh. I don't owe airy
cent for rent, taxes or grub. My hunt.
In license Is perpetooal and automatic,
! and fisbtS' is free. No, sub, misteh,
thankin' you all the same, they amt
nothin' a rich man can do fob me-"