Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1906-11-30

-uDllIl. fdf from IL. JlueSl Mdpe'
was one OF the citizepa of .he semi
world against whom tie very strong
est anathema Of the pettSr classeA
were directed
.sor was Mepgs ch cordial terms
with the police. In fact he would 60
to some considerable pains to avoid
social intercourse with the gDardjan.s
of the law And by the same token
the oiue-coats would move rather
faster than usual to enjoy the pleasure
OF Mapes' society But then Bill had
an innate prejudice against blue
coats and brass-buttons and stars and
clubs and all that sort of thing. Per-
haps he was not wholly responsible
because the prejudice may have besn
inherited
II is to be recalled that his father
plug" Mapes was constitutionally
opposed to the police before his I'M
happy taking-on at the end OF rope
in a quiet jail-yard on one memorable
day after the society Of the blue-coats
had been thrust upon him in a most
shameless manner.
1t Is also matter of history that
the gentlemanly wearers of the blue
gave a great sigh of relief upon this
occasion and congratulated themselves
openly and often until some months
later when il was borne to their In
telligence that young Bill Mapes had
succeeded to his respected sire's es-
tate and was following, In no unwor-
thy manner, in the paternal footsteps.
From all of which it may be de-
duced that Bill Mapes lived and
breathed and had his being without
the law of the land and that he would
not have been a welcome visitor at
your home at the witching hour Of
midnight
Yes, gentle reader, you have guessed !
right: Bill Mapes was a burglar, a
thief. a crook and earned his bread by !
appropriating the product of the sweat |
of the other fellows brow.
And yet Mapes was not bad sight |
to look upon. He was well-built,
sturdy. young fellow handling his /
splendid strength with marked grace
of action His features were rather
wellformed and his eyes clear and
blue and laughing. He was not fear
some object to look upon-excepting
when desperate or angry and then
he was a thunderbolt of action and
of passion.
II was inevitable. of course, that
Mapes should occasionally be the
guest of the police. but despite all
their most energetic invitations he
had successfully maintained his mod
esty and evaded any considerable
strain upon their hospitality.
Upon his every appearance In the
police court, however. there had APP
peared also a most charming feminine
vision-a delicate. modest brown-eyed
girl whose beauty won all hearts and
whose tears moved the sternest police
Justice to sympathy. She was mys-
cry to the police court and inspired
more interest than the prisoner In
whom she seemed to have such deep !,
interest. so to concern. After full !
md free discussion it was duly de-
ided that she was settlement work
II or something or other of that sort
Who was grieved over Bill Mapes' soul
nd was trying to save him.
And while they berated him as
og they all bowed before the dainty
divinity. =
Now IL must be evident to the read y
r at this point that Bill Mapes was IL
OF an idealist, nor leading citi-
en-. nor a pillar of society, nor any
hing OF that sort, but this simple tale u
, written to show that every fellow II
as his own standards and his own
leals -
One soft summer evening Mapes APP a.
cared at Browns Triangle" rath-
r bad place In a very bad neighbor ia
ood-a spot which policemen avoid p'
/ when on a lonesome beat and -
,ction most prodigiously berated by
lie Anti-Crime society He did not u
nter the flat-iron shaped saloon bat IN
Ding into one of the darkened streets, o'
nitted a shrill whistle. Presently
curtain upstairs was cautiously '"
illed and face peered forth. Upon p
further signal the curtain dropped
I'd a moment later street-door ~
,ened and Bill faced his brown-eyed
vinity of the police court. Lo and -
hold, far from being a settlement o.
orker she was only the daughter of pr
e Brown. the keeper of the notori- ie'
S Browns Triangle" where. accord M
z to the police. more robberies had
EN- planned than in any other spot ne
the city.
"Howdy, Nan" said Mapes in voice 20
strained with embarrass- vi
mt and taking the girls extended ~
nds awkwardly. Mice evenin'" ~
Il didn't expect you" exclaimed the ~
1 beaming upon him with the glorl-
lI..l.a nh .l. M Ill L LII