Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-12-27


Il. 81
man down on his luck Z.
5s5s Fuzzy was 4 soldier Of fortune. The
road. the fhaystack. the park bench. the
kitchen door. the bitter round Of elee
mosynary beds with shower bath at.
tachment, the petty pickings and ig.
nobly garnered largesse OF great cities
these formed the chapters Of his bis
tory. q : REX -:.:. "
Fuzzy walked toward the river, down
the street that bounded one side OF the
millionaire's house and grounds. He
saw leg OF Betsy. the lost rag doll.
protruding. like the clew to q lillipu.
tian murder mystery from It's untime-
y grave in corner Of the fence. He
dragged forth the maltreated infant.
tucked It under his arm and went on
his way. grooming road song OF his
brethren that no doll that has been
brought up to the sheltered life should
hear. Well for Betsy that she had no
ears. And we'll that she had no eyes
save unseeing circles Of black. for the
faces Of Fuzzy and the Scotch terrier
were those Of brothers, and the heart
Of no rag doll could Withstand twice to
become the prey Of such fearsome mon
sters.
Though you may not know 1t. Gro
CAMS saloon stands near the river and
near the foot Of the street down which
Fuzzy travelled. In Grogan's Christmas
cheer was already rampant
d Fuzzy entered with his doll. He fan
cfed that as a hummer at the feast Of
Saturn he might earn few drops from
the wassail cup.
He set Betsy on the bar and ad-
dressed her loudly and humorously.
seasoning his speech with exaggerated
compliments and endearments. as one
entertaining his lady friend. The loaf
ers and bibbers around caught the
farce Of it and roared. The bartender
gave Fuzzy a drink. Oh. many Of US
carry rag dolls. .s.. 81
"One for the lady?'' suggested Fuzzy
impudently. and tucked another contri-
button to art beneath his waistcoat.
He began to see possibilities In Betsy
His first night had been a success
Visions Of a vaudeville circuit about
town dawned upon him.
In group near the stove sat "Pig-
con" Mccarthy, Black Riley and Zone
Ear Mike. well and unfavorably
known in the tough shoestring district
that blackened the left bank of the
river. They passed a newspaper back
and forth among themselves. The item
that each solid and blunt forefnger
pointed out was an advertisement
headed Zone Hundred Dollars Re.
ward" To earn it one must return the
rag doll lost. strayed or stolen from
the millionaire's mansion. ...,....
Black Riley came from behind the
stove and approached Fuzzy in his one
sided, parabolic way
The Christmas hummer. flushed with
success, had tucked Betsy under his
arm and was about to depart to the
filing of mipromptu dates elsewhere
say wy S01u Olt1Ch 1AA1cy "
where did you cop out dat doll?
This doll?' asked Fuzzy, touching
Betsy with his f0refnger to be sure
that she was the one referred to.
"Why, this doll was presented to me
by the emperor of Beloochistan. have
700 others in my country home in New
port. This doll"- "a
Cheese the funny business" said
Riley. you swiped it or picked it up
at de house on de hill where-but
never mind dat. You want to take so
cents for de rags. and take it quick.
Me brothers kid at home might be
wantin' to play wild it. Hey-what?"
He produced the coin.
Fuzzy laughed gurgling, insolent,
alcoholic laugh in his face. .s +
Black Riley gagged Fuzzy quickly
with his BURBERRY eye as wrestler
does. His hand was itching to play the
Roman and wrest the rag Sabine from
the extemporaneous Merry Andrew who
was entertaining an angel unaware
But he refrained. Fuzzy was fat and
solid and big. Three inches Of well
nourished corp6reity. defended from
the winter winds by dingy linen. inter.
vened between his vest and trousers,
Countless small. circular wrinkles run
ming around his coat sleeves and
knees guaranteed the quality Of his
bone and muscle. His small blue eyes.
bathed in the moisture of altruism and
wooziness, looked upon you kindly, yet
without abashment He was whisker-
". whiskyly, feshily formidable. So
Black Riley temporized.
"Wot'll you take for it, den?'' he
asked.
Money" said Fuzzy with husky
f1rmness. cannot buy her, +.
He was intoxicated with the artists
first sweet cup Of attainment. To set
a faded blne. earth stained rag doll on
bar, to hold mimic converse with it
and to find his heart leapfng with the
sense Of plaudits earned and his throat
scorching with free libations poured in
his honor-could base coin buy him
from such achievements! You will per
ceive. that Fuzzy had the tempera ment.
Fuzzy walked out with the gait of
trained sea lion in search of other
cafes to conquer.
Though the dusk Of twilight was
hardly yet apparent. lights were be-
ginning to spangle the city like pop
corn bursting In deep skillet Christ
mao ovo 1yono f}or<1vs owroo%nl $50 : i