The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-09-12

article to take chances with Spanish bullets
or any other sort.
When Perry and Jocko ran acrost him
he was in the middle of a bunch that was
buyin him stuff fast as he could put it away,
and listenin' to him between drinks. Fust
thing they knew they was drored over and
introduced to him by Bill Haines, the pro-
prietor, who was somethin Of patriot hisself,
besides KNOWN that the interest of the push
in Private Hackett was good boost for his
trade. They joined the crowd, which was
real sociable, and stood there harkin' to Hack
EFT tellin' tales Of bloody battles he'd been
in, and buyin' when their turn come round
Fact of the matter was that each of them
was watchin' for chance to sneak away UNI
known to the other, and pay visit to Mrs
'Melia Moggs, the wilder that kept a cigar
store near the docks, where most Of the boys
bought their tobaccer.
Moggs had bin captain on the lake for
thirty year, and when he quit sailin' he mar
RED a young woman and went into business
ashore. He croaked year later, and her
mother came to live with her and help run the
joint. Lots of the lads would have been glad
to give her another chance to change her
name, but PEBBLES and Bowles seemed to have
got the inside track OF all the others. PEBBLES
was chief engineer and Bowles fust mate of
the John A. DIX, the finest passenger and
freight steamer runnin' out of Chicago. They
was great pals, and together most of the time,
and after they got taggin' after the widow,
they was together more than ever. You see,
neither ud trust the other out of his sight for
long, fearin' that he'd steal march on him.
So they hunted in couples, and most of their
time ashore was spent in the back parlor of
Moggs' store.
They stood mebbe an hour sippin' beer
and tryin' to separate, but it warn't no 90.
Whenever Perry moved back a bit, SO as TO
get nearer the door, Jocko sided round to
him, and Perry had to pretend he was only
tryin' towork twinge of rheumatism out of
his leg. Jocko offered to go to drug
store and get him some liniment that he
said nd cure rheumatics with one rub, but
Perry wouldn't hear of his takin' SO much
trouble.
All this time Hackett was talkin' and talk
in. He had the gift Of the CAB all right, and
bimeby Perry and his mate, havin' drank
more than they meant to, got quite chummy
with him. After while the rest of the crowd
faded away, but they two stuck, and by mid
night they was shakin' hands and swearin'
friendship with the gallant defender of the
country. Perry said he was a soldier and
gentleman, and that he loved him better than
brother, and nearly got to scrappin' with his
pal COS Jocko allowed that he didn't love him
bit better than he did. Then Perry said
he'd bring him up and introduce him to Mrs.
Moggs, his intended wife
"Ho!" ses Jocko "Your intended wife.
Why, she wouldn't have you, not-not if you
was disguised by bein' given bath"
Perry said the fust mate didn't sail the
lakes as could insult him and get away with
out havin' his face broke He began pullin'
off his coat when Hackett grabbed him and
told him to keep ii on.
"There amt no use fghtin' over whose girl
she is" ses he. Seem that you both stake
claims to her, wot's the matter with the two
of you bringin' me to see her?"