The Washington times., 1906-06-10

naTlE striking to the optic
nerve was this notorious
marauder. His personality secured
him the title of BLACK Eagle. the
Terror Of the Border" Many fearsome
tales are of record concerning the
doings OF him and his followers. Sud
denly, in the space of a single min
ute. Black Eagle vanished from earth.
He was never heard of again. His own
band never even guessed the mystery
of his disappearance. The border
ranches and settlements feared he
would come again TO ride and ravage
the mesquite fats. He never will 1t
is to disclose the fate of Black Eagle
that this narrative is published.
The initial movement Of the story is
furnished by the foot of bartender in
St. Louis. His discerning eye fell upon
the form of Chicken Ruggles as he
pecked with avidity at the free lunch.
Chicken WAS a hobo" He had a long
nose like the bill of a fowl. an in
ordinate appetite for poultry. and a
habit of gratifying 1t without expense.
which accounts for the name given
him by his fellow-va grants.
Physicians agree that the partakinS
of liquids at meal times is not a
healthy practice. The hygiene Of the
saloon promulgates the opposite.
Chicken had neglected to purchase a
drink TO accompany his meal. The
bartender rounded the counter, caught
the injudicious dinner by the ear with
a lemon squeezer, led him 10 the door
and kicked him into the street
Thus the mind of Chicken was
brought TO realize the signs of coming
winter. The night was cold: the stars
shone with unkindly brilliancy; people
were hurrying along the streets in two
egotistic, jostling streams Men had
dOnned their overcoats. and Chicken
knew to an exact percentage the in
creased difficulty Of coaXing dimes
from those buttoned-in vest pockets.
The time had come for his annual
exodus 10 the South.
A little boy, five or six years old,
stood. looking with covetous eyes in a
confectioner window. In one small
hand he held an empty two-ounce vial;
In the other he grasped tightly some
thing fat and round with a shining
milled edge. The scene presented a
field Of operations commensurate TO
Chickens talents and daring. After
sweeping the horizon TO make sure
that no official tug was cruising near.
he insidiously accosted his prey. The
boy, having been early taught by his
household 10 regard altruistic advances
with extreme suspicion, received the
overtures coldly.
Then Chicken knew that he must
make one Of those desperate. nerve
shattering plunges into speculation
that fortune sometimes requires of
those who would win her favor. Five
cents was his capital. and this he
must risk against the chance of win
ming what lay within the close grasp
of the youngsters chubby hand 1t
was A fearful lottery, Chicken knew
But he must accomplish his end by
strategy, since he had wholesome
terror Of plundering infants by force
Once. in a park, driven by hunger, he
had committed an onslaught upon A
bottle Of peptonized infants food In
the possession Of an occupant Of a
baby carriage. The outraged infant
had so promptly opened its mouth
and pressed the button that communi-
Gated with the welkin that help ar
rived. and Chicken did his thirty
days and" in a snug coop. Wherefore
he was. as he said. '1eary Of kids"
Beginning artfully to question the
bov concerning his choice of sweets,
he gradually drew out the informa-
ton he wanted. Mamma said he was
TO ask the drug store man for 10
cents worth Of paregoric in the bottle:
he was to keep his hand shut tight
over the dollar. he must not stop to
talk 10 anyone in the streets; he must
ask the drug store man to wrap up
the change and put IL in the pocket
Of his trousers. Indeed. they had
pockets-two Of them! And he liked
chocolate creams best.
Chicken went into the store and
turned plunger. He invested his En-
tire capital in c A y. D. I stocks,
simply 10 pave he way 10 the greater
risk following
He gave the sweets to the young
ster. and had the satisfaction Of per-
ceivinE that confidence was establish
ed. After that il was easy 10 obtain
leadership OF the expedition; 10 take
the investment by the hand and lead
II to nice drug store he knew OF in
the same block. There Chicken. with
a parental air, passed over the dollar
and called for the medicine. while the
boy crunched his candy. glad TO be
relieved OF the responsibility of the
purchase. And then the successful in
Vestor, searching his pockets. found an
overcoat button-the extent Of his win
ter trousseau-and. wrapping it care
fully. placed the ostens-o.e change in
the pocket Of conhding juvenility Set
ting the youngsters face homeward.
and patting him benevolently on the
back-for Chickens heart was as soft
as those OF his feathered namesakes-
the speculator quit the market with A
profit of 100 per cent on his invested
capital
Two hours later an Iron Mountain
freight engine pulled out OF the railroad
yards. Texas bound with a string Of
empties. In one Of the cattle cars.
half buried in straw. Chicken Law at
ease. Beside him in his nest was a
quart bottle of very poor whisky and
A paper bag Of bread and cheese. Mr..
Rugsles. in his private car. was on
his trip south for the winter season
For a week that car was trundled
southwark, shifted. laid over and
manipulated after the manner of roll
ing stock, but Chicken stuck to it,
leaving il only at necessary times to
satisfy his hunger and thirst. He
knew it must go down 10 the cattle
frzv md Co..,