The Cairo bulletin., 1906-01-03
Y AN EDITORIAL
HlGHWAYMAN

In travelling through the state O.
Kansas in pioneer days on horseback
was held up one afternoon by mar
with gun, who not only went through
me IN hrst class shape, but Insisted
that follow him into the woods where
he had his retreat He seemed Of Zero
cious disposition at first. and believed
| he intended 10 murder ne, but in O
| lltt.e time he tli1wed on, and I began
TO see Thar he was not such bad fel-
| low after all.
| When supper had been prepared and
disposed OF he dug among the leaves
and brought out an old satchel. The
| contents consisted OF a dozen copies OF
! the paper which had busted him, lib
| eral supply or print paper for writing
on and half dozen lead pencils. He
| took some of the blank paper and a
| pencil and scrubbed away for a few
minutes and then said
"AlthoughI am out Of the sanctum
the old habit still clings. | want you
to see my style and criticise 1t. Listen
to this: Mr.. Joseph Gillian, our esteem
ed fellow townsrnan, called al this Of
fee yesterday 10 report that while he
was an the highway between Joplin
and Neosba last Tuesday he was sud
denly confronted by a highwayman
armed with "a shotgun, who ordered
him into the woods to be despoiled and
probably murdered. Mr.. Gillian, who
was taken completely by surprise, APP
peared to eheerfully acquiesce, but just
as he entered the woods he quickly
and fired point blank at the daring
burglar. AS soon as he pulled the trig
ger he put spurs TO his horse aud in
the confusion of the moment made good
his escape. The robher fired two
charges Of buckshot at himf'
what do you think Of that?" asked
the editor as he finished reading.
IT'S very fair
But not up and up. It's too heavy
too Shakespearean Our eminent fell
low townsmdn, Mr.. Gillian, would buy
five extra copies of the paper 70 send
away to his relatives, but the article
would not produce widespread interest
That was my failing n0thing wide
spread about my writings ia like TO
see your style. Just dash off some
thing based on the same facts"
| wrote a sid. header about half
the length of his, aud when he had
read il he said;
THAT knocks all my plans in the
head. was going to offer you part
nership in this business, thinking you,
too were also too Shakespearean In
style for this section, but / find I'm
mistaken It's an elegant little article
not word too little or 700 much"
The man had such a queer streak
about him thatI couldn't make up my
mind whether she was a robbeR, as he
claimed, or had gone DAFT over his
troubles and was wandering about as
crazy people often do. There was no
and smoked till late hour and had a
good visit. When morning came aud
we had disposed of breakfast, he urged
me TO accept 500 as Il present. and
when | firmly refused he wanted me
TO take gold watch IN those dnysa |
tramp printer with 81 ahead OF the |
game was ii millionaire. Ny refusal |
seemed TO hurt his feelings. but he
lhook hands heartily ON parting and
wished me all sorts of good luck In
lue time | reached Acosho, went from
here TO Fayetteville. Ozark and
1larksville and about the middle OF
December brought up at Van Buren,.
me day | was sent over TO Fort Smith
o interview q man who was TO be
anged ten days later. When admitted
o the presence Of the condemned /
Tas almost paralyzed TO discover in
i'm the whllom editor of the Echo. His
urprise was likewise great, but as
o)n as he had rallied little his face {
airly beaIned With smiles as he said:
What godsend Why. my dear {
oy. I'd rather see you than any other
IAN on earth. 1t wasn't an hour ago
lat was saying Id give day off
lie few left me 10 see you. You have
,me 10 interview me:'
And what has happened:" | asked.
Gun accidentally Went OF and Killed
man. Pure accident, but | couldn't
axe en- believe it. | am TO be hung
/ the 10Th ZOO bad. OF course, but
3 too late for lamentation. You've
zen sent over today 10 get prelim.
the condemned looks and
els--no hope OF reprieve- going TO
g gallows like brave man. and 50
rth and SO oni"
That's ii.
All right You can do yourself
oud on that. Make about column A
ID pui on three scare heads. all full
&c caps. And now about the other
G actual event There won't be much
it. Don't try pad in IT, You can't
AXE over half a column of loaded ,r
Mon without padding. The salient "a
itures will be: Reading the death =,
Irrant, coolness Of the condemned. j.
lPch TO the scaffold. ringing down the =,
rtain See? Don't attempt anything ~
akespearean, Make IL all meat" =.
III do my best" >,
I'm sure you will. And one thing -
re. You are the only living man -,
10 knows used to fll an editorial "
lir or tried TO. I think you had bet %