The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-04-30
A Good Use Of a Flask.
lOriginai.l

Many years ago. when Twas young
man, l had occasion to move my Office
belongings and hired a negro called
Bill for the purpose. After the NOV
ing missed new sixty dollar over
coat. I was sure Bill had taken it and
had him arrested, but since there was
no evidence against him he was dis
charged.
My new Office was On the second
floor, apart from other Offices. One
afternoon when l was sitting there
alone at work on my books Bill open
ed the door {and came in. He had not
been paid for his services and asked
for the money. gave 1t to him and
said:
"Bill. perhaps you know who stole
my overcoat. Try to find it and bring
1t to me. If you do, TIL pay you well
for your trouble. II not I'll send the
man who stole it to state prison yet"
'T'll try" he said as he pocketed the
money paid him and went away.
had advertised my loss, and the
next day q woman and a kttle girl
came into my office with the missing
coat The woman said that a negro
had sold it to her for So and that she
would know him If she should see him
again. I had Bill rearrested. She
identified him, and he was tried and
sent to state prison for two years.
After it was all over l learned that
Bill was very bad man. He had been
slave, and his former master had
said that he was the only, negro he
had owned that he was afraid Of.
That Bill had ever been a criminal be-
fore stealing my coat did not learn.
Upon getting this information I re-
membered with some feeling his visit
| to me when I was alone in my Office.
ann small man; he was a large and
| powerful one. Indeed, l had been
completely at his mercy. 1t occurred
to me that after he had served his
term he might make me another visit
| for the purpose of taking his revenge
| for an enforced residence in prison.
/ was sufficiently Impressed with
this to note the time of expiration OF
Bills term, so that when he was re
leased might be prepared for him
but / didn't count on time reduced for
good behavior. One evening just before
I was ready to shut up my Office and
| 60 home the door opened and In
walked Bill He assumed the same
cool, impudent manner as before.
| sat looking at him from my desk.
! "You don't remember me, do you
boss?'' he said
Yes; I remember you very we'll
You're the man who stole my over
| coat"
"And the man you sent to state
prison"
eyes. remember that too"
He was looking about him, glancinl
out Of the window, taking in the stu
] alton. knew he had come to kill mt
and was only considering the question
Of my surroundings with a view to do
ing the job without It's being known
who was the murderer. Hearing stel
In the hall without, he delayed. All this
/ could read in his eyes as plainly as i
it had been written in capitals on TIT
desk before me. The step was lost IL
the distance. and Bills manner indi
Gated that he considered an obstacle re
moved. Still, he must have fully appre
ciated the many possible dangers o
being tracked, IL not caught in the act
He kept his eyes and ears open for any
thing without. There was coal stove II
the center Of the Office, near where b
stood, and heavy iron poker. l saw
him take in the poker, and knew b.
his expression that he had chosen
for weapon. 1t would make no noise
also inferred by this that he wa
probably unarmed. He doubtless ha'
no money with which to buy weapon
A door slammed on the floor above
and there was step on the stairs
Some one was coming down. Bill
eye changed in a twinkling.
"rm gwine to try n do better, boss,
he said.
$50 I would advise you"
Couldn't you help me leetle"
Here was ray Of hope. Not fror
the passing person. dared not ris
calling. In the right hand drawer Q
my desk remembered having place
brown glass flask shaped like a re
volver and commonly called a poke
pistol. Bill had given me an excuse t
open the drawer.
~ might give you few dollars