Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-27
Che Sturu Teller.
THE BANKRUPTING OF
SOCIETY BILL"
BY Alice Louise Lee.

Every Otner nOHlH uuTlil6 cOSiStS
Bits" career at Miners Camp he
'salted his wages" in the Cody bank.
To his gibing, spendthrift fellows he
explained jocosely:
Boys. l was born to die rich. and
! l amt goin' TO miss my callin.
IF you don't hurry up. your calm
will miss you, though" "Shanks' re-
torted one day in July, as Society
Bill headed his horse toward Nee
teetse for a weeks vacation.
when l get good and ready to in
vest my money it'll be in somethin'
that pays better than minin' claims
Then he rode his pony to the kitch-
en- window and looked in. Say ma,
I'm off," he said, land I'm not for
gettin' your errands, either"
Ma" Staples started. and then
beamed on him from the dark inte-
rior of the kitchen. She was en-
veloped in a gingham apron, mixing
lard and -four together in a huge yell
low bowl.
BLESS Moses, boy" she cried,
cheerily. What a turn you gave me,
poppin' your head in like that" She
wiped the -four from her hands and
went TO the window. Don't forget
to get yourself socks and two new
shirts and a tie and the gloves"
mo, ma, I'll sure remember" So
ha OF
And don't forget to be a good
boy" Mas head was thrust out of
the window
mo. ma, won't forget" he said
laughing. But he did.
1t was the enticing partnership Of
fered him by Ansell of Meeteetse
which made him forget, a partnership
which promised to multiply his saw
ings many times, and only when the
bargain was made and he was back
in Miners Camp did he begin to re-
alize what his action would mean to
Ma Staples.
Therefore he was not in a happy
mood, as he lay on the soft pine
strewn loam in front of the bunk
house.
Hey, Bill, got a grouch?" yelled
whispering WILL" rolling over in his
bunk and looking out Of the door.
"The Whisperer" was the last of the
night-shift to awaken.
Let that there society leader be-"
ordered Shanks, from the bunk OPP
posite. Once Society Bill had worn
a starched collar when he started for
Meeteetse-hence his nickname.
How can you expect him to mix up
with us, and him just back from
town."
HUH" proclaimed Whispering
Will, aiming one shoe at Bills head
and drawing on the other. Hes
thinkin' about the fortune Anselrs
goin' to make for him. Guess he will
make more saltin' down his spare
plunks into kegs than"
Society Bill raised himself on one
elbow and threw a quick Ssh" into
the bunk-house. IF you fellows can't
hold your tongues without help" he
DeBdn III d NOiCS, dIlu pduSSu'
Shanks stretched up and glanced
unteered. Bill don't want her to
know"
HUH" grunted the Whisperer.
He can't keep it from her always,
and it's goin' to hurt, too, when she
knows"
His stage whisper reached Society
Bill, who WINGED. But fellow must
make money where he can," he ar
gued with himself It's every chap
for himself in this world, and you
can't be lookin' out for other folks
eternally!"
Mas pleasant voice answered his
silent argument. She stood in the
trail leading from the boarding,
she called. BILLY, boy!"
He rose without reply. He had
avoided Ma since his return.
Billy" she called again. He was
one of her boys" on whom she kept
an especially motherly eye. You
never know one minute what he's
goin' to do the next" she said to the
superintendent, land I've an idea he
don't know himself. But he's one of
that sort you can't help likin' IL you
would, and you don't want to help
it, neither. There amt anythin' he
wouldn't do for friend!" A state
ment which gave Society Bills prom
inent characteristics and general
standing in camp. Bring down your
slicker," she finished. catching a
glimpse of his red flannel shirt. Il
saw a tear in it yesterday"
The miner worried a hole in the
loan with the toe of his shoe.
"Why-ee, ma" he hesitated, Il guess
you have enough to do without mend
in up my slicker." He felt sudden
guilty reluctance at allowing her to do
extras for him.
Bless Moses" cried ma, heartily.
Don't keep me here screamin' all
day, but hurry down with your slick
err"
With a clouded brow, Society Bill
entered the bunk-house and reached
for the slicker. AS he did so he glanc-
ed down at the rows of hunks. A pair
of trousers swung carelessly by the
SuspenderS farther on. There was a
large. neatly applied patch on the left
leg. Also he saw Whispering Wills
best vest containing a new pocket, and
across the aisle Shank's coat, with the
buttons sewed on firmly.
It's nothin' to do such little mites
of things i'm between times" ma would
say, briSkly, as she took stray stitches
for her boys.
With ma it had never been 'every
chap for himself i'm Miners Camp.
She'll wish she'd never seen me
when she finds OUT" muttered Bill.
stumbling down the trail with the
slicker over his arm. Then he added,
obstinately, But when a fellow can
git rich that way quicker than any
other. he can't afford to-well, be
soft. that's all"
Ma had learned only the day be-
fore that Miners Camp was to have
saloon. and well she knew what
that meant to her boys. She had
heard also that some one in camp was
furnishing the stock against Ansells
time. 1t all came out at the break
fast table. She had stood in the kitch-
en- door. her arms akimbo, and over
her big. kind face swept a hurt ex-
preston which sent Society Bits
eyes TO his plate.
Il know that none of my boys are
doin' the backin'," she said, finally,
with a quiet confidence which caused
him to choke over his coffee, and the
other members Of the outfit to look
conscious and uneasy. No one re-
cpnnHa1 and tho new S1lOOO-OWner