The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-06-29
SATISFIED.


There are many persons who never
heard Of Columbus, and some-but NOT
10 many-whoydo not know who
Thomas A. Edison Is. But In his own
realm "Bow-legged Bill" Darling 10
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 upo,
the shady bank Of the bayou, pleasant
ly engaged in extracting the luscious
pulp from a ripe papaw, a 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 a dozen coon dogs lay
about in expeetant attitudes, waiting
for Bill to turn his attention to more
stable viands than fruit and an an
cient muzzle-loading rifle beside a tree
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 well 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 few of these
yeah papaws. They amt nothin' bet
ten"
The stranger took one with melan-
choly thanks. As he munched it the
sadness gradually faded from his face
That's something like" he said.
taking another. Like being a boy
Oh, If 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 as long as you-all got n mind tn"
II want to get out of the world of
business, where I'll never hear the
sound Of my name I'm sick of it!'
well, stranger" said Bill, "that
ought to be easy. 1t amt as If you
was famous. like me. Most everywheh
you go you'll heah my name, but I
amt neveh heard yourn, nav, begging
youth pardon, I don't want tn. But et
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 skiff, far in the bayou Businesses,
The stranger had begun to drink in
ieep breaths of the free air and to
look about with an amazed interest
He picked up Bills gun and examined
t and sighted it.
Amy coons round?" he asked.
They disappeared into the woods
hat day, and for two weeks Bills ia
Vorite resting spot near the mouth Of
he bayou knew him not At last they
'ame back, the stranger pulling strong
y and Bill lounging in the stern over
4 pile Of pecans and butternuts.
BILL" said the stranger, II haven't
been square with you. I'm a big spec
1lator, Bill, and a rich man. want
70 give you something's house, Q
a farm-say what you'll
have. You have pulled me through an
awful fit of the blues"
"StrangeA" drawled Bill, lazily, "if
had cabin-boat I'd have to take
are Of 1t. If had a house I'd have
70 live In It If had a farm I'd have
70 live on It If had new gun 70
have to lie it and keep 1t clean. IF
,wned the biggest business in Sent
Louis I'd have to go to Sent Louis to
'un it No, sub, don't want none Of
EN-. I've got six. coon dogs now, and
couldn't use another. l don't owe airy
,ent for rent taxes or grub. My hunt
n license Is perpetooal and automatic.
Ind fsbhA' Is free. No, sub, misteh,
hankin' you all the same, they ain't
aothin' a rich man can do fob me-"