St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-06-15

| ''Slinky Bills" Revenge
By Hugh Pendexter
A'"s~~0Nesa~~'aA~sa-ps'2eess-a~2Aesaaauq
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles)

Mr.. William Bilks, alias "slinky
Bill" swarthy of countenance and re-
pellant Of face, paused at the corner
and loked back after the slouching fig
ure OF a man in a red sweater. He
knew 1t was "Hunch" Bugan, and yet
IL puzzled him that "Hunch" should be
SOBER. He even forgot for the moment
tnat ne ought to be angry with his
former pal, when he remembered the
scene up in Monroe county, where
lunch" turned states evidence, and
only escaped Auburn prison by send
ing his mates there for long terms.
Mr. Bilks had always treasured the re-
membrance in his mind and had sworn
tnat once free, and wise enough to
keep away from the banks that are
under the protection of the American
Bankers Protective association and
pollced by the Pinkertons, he would
md time to locate "Hunch" and even
up the score. But the spectacle of
lunch" sober and evidently intent
on business eliminated all thoughts of
vengeance for the moment, and it was
only as the sweater threatened to be
iost IN turning corner that Mr. Bilks
remembered and quickly logged the
sottfooted renegade until the chase
ended In a tall tenement house.
L1Vin' up here, eh?" growled Me.
Bllks, as he passed the building and
noted the number. TITS long time
since | done that dip, but 'Hunch,' I
has long mem'ry tank heavens! An
ives soin' ter settle dat little account
afore youse leave old New York. Now
Wot has that bloke under his hat? So
Der? An in de mornin'? He must have
a fat lay, an / reckon he'll stand fer
a pipe"
A casual mingling in Steinheimer's
saloon on the corner brought forth
the information that "Hunch" had
been hiding up in that vicinity for
several days and incidentally eschew-
ing the strong waters. This settled
Slinby Bills determination, and as he
mad no immediate job in sight he en-
gagged room in nearby lodging
house and allowed his beard to grow
until he looked like a cross between
an anarchist and hedge fence. In
this way he came to learn of all the
sXlcs and entrances of his quondam
pal, and from several trips in his
wake, to certain section of the Long
island shore, he decided some game
was on, whereby a summer home was
scheduled to wake up and find the
larger portion Of it's furnishings miss
ing. One day "Hunch" drove out
among the back alleys and kitchen ap-
proaches on meat cart, after toast
ing the driver into an acute state of
insensibility, and it needed no second
sight to tell Mr.. Bilks that the land
was being spied out in the old ap-
proved style.
Once ''Hunch's" hunting grounds
had been located Slipky Bill was con-
tent to remain unseen but where he
could observe his enemy's comings
and goings, knowing instinctively the
hour of the killing had not yet arrived.
The long, spring-night vigils reminded
Slinky of his youth and his trust in
"Hunch;" of the time when he thought
it the correct thing to hunt in pairs
and have abiding trust in his mate.
The belief of those days had been des-
troyed by the one act of the erring
one up in Monroe county, and now
Slinky followed the moonlit trails
alone, with no one to call on him for
a share of the loot, with none to play
him double. If the memories sad
dened the old craftsman it in no way
weakened his purpose to have an ac-
counting with his false comrade. If |
it intensified his desire, al |
belt, he had grace to regret that the |
honorable calling in which he was
numbered bright light should be
disrupted by private hate. lie appre-
ciated that "Hunch" was playing an |
emiuently legitimate game in warning |
upon organized society, yet those four |
years in Auburn prison could not be |
cried down for the good of the order. !
So he watched, and one night he |
knew "Hunch" w2s to make his strike. |
No sooner had the traitor left his hid |
ing place and made for Long Island |
than Slinky Bill was at his heels, win.
ming his sobriquet anew by the silent
manner in which he kept pace and
logged his quarry.
First 'Hunch" entered a summer
house, occupied by few domestics,
and after rambling over the structure
At his leisure, reappeared, carrying
something ia small canvas bag that
gave forth a mellow
,link. Then another house was en-
tered and the same fruitful exit was
observed by the lone watcher.
Fer de love of-Say, beau, but
youse certainly maxim real clean I'D
lis time" muttered Slinky Bill under
lis breath, forced to admire the work
nanlike way in which "Hunch" was
covering the circuit
At last even "Hunch" grew weary
# well doing and paused undecided
whether to take in the big house with
he gable roof, or to go home. After
linking it over under a shade tree
or some minutes he evidently COM
with himself by stealing
way to a less pretentious section of
he town and hating back of a neat
rame house.
why, say" gasped Slinky, dis is
est cigarette an beer money. He
ant be down SO low as ter tap dat
tumble joint
But "Hunch" evfdaAtly possessed