El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-08
By Wilson Wilson.

\ ing down On the hedge bank.
Yes" said the seedy individual. sit
ting with one shoe off Got any
'bacoa?"
What's the matter with your own p
He hesitated.
Nothing, 'cept as there's mighty lit
/ tie OF It." he said at length, and forth
with proceeded TO slice off few fakes
/ for 3 dirty clay pipe
! Been out long?' inquired the man
! with the fancy waistooat, after a long
bout as long as you-longer," said
J the other. passing his hand over his
stubby hair. What was yOurs1
! "Oh, 'cumulated charges. It's nice
| to be out in the fields again It's nice
part round here"
'.DHyou know it?'
I ought to. I was born down there
He indicated the plain below them.
Away in the middle distance glinted
I the red roofs Of a little market town,
with the square tower OF It's old church,
gray and solemn.
There's q nice little PUB on this side
in Ford street.-the jolly POtboy,"
mrVyed the man with one shoe off
Ny brother Jim KEEP it. said the
man with the fancy waistcoat.
Why don't you give him a friendly
call? He might do you proud
Hes dead"
Three months ago. I went through
the place the week afOre last and just
called in to have one for old times
hWhatd his missis say2''
Il only see her through the parlof
door. Couple of fine gals. too"
Why didn't you tell EN- who you
The man with the fancy waistcoat
rose to his feet and drew himself up
proudly.
I've got a bit O. self-respeck left"
he said "PT'aps II Jim 'ad been alive
/ might ha' told i'm I was little Saml,
Wot used to get Whacked Tor him at
public, though" he added, sinking to
The ground again
They sat for a long time in silence.
half doing in the sunshine BY and
I By, the man with the fancy waistcOat
Began to snore. The other put on his
shoe and made a careful examination
Of the contents Of his companions bun
die. Then he retied II in its spotted
handkerchief, and shuffled of down
the road
The little clock on the mantlepiece in
the parlOr Of the Jolly PotbOy struck
, six o'clock Shortly afterwards the
/ chime Of the old church clock came
floating in at the open window.
i 'ope they aren't long" said Mrs.
Z Barnaby tmpatiently. Them forks
aren't straight"
Miss Annie Barnaby strai ghtened the
forks, tossed her head and gave vent to
her feelings in a loud, explosive ''HmI'
/ For her sister Agnes, who was older
and not nearly so pretty, has a young
man, and was bringing him TO tea;
while Annie's heart was still waiting
to be conquered
Mrs. BaTnaby smoothed down her
dress, and took another look at the
table to make quite sure that every
/ thing was as 1t should be-
In a few minutes the door opened
and Agnes entered with an artificial
giggle followed by a rather sheepish
young man in a checked suit.
Mr.. Porter. -mother-Annie,n
said Agnes hurriedIy.
Wed better start, II you don't mind,
said Mrs. Barnaby. after the ceremony.
They sat down Soon, under the in
duence Of the timed salmon and the
tea, Nj Porter's reserve melted. Be
fore the meal was half over he had
perpetrated two jokes and a pun which
had passed unnoticed. and had given
them an excellent imitation of a tooth
less old man smoking a cigar You're
a cure" said Mrs Bsrnaby.
You 'ad TO work late for a Satur-
day." inquired the same lady after tea
Yes. we're busy" said Mr.. Porter
He was a clerk IN the drapery ware
house Of Messrs. Bigman Sons & Badg-
er, Ltd.
q s'pose you've got what you might
q 10.
Tentured Mrs. Baruaby. anxious for her
daughters future.
well. no-n-not exactly" said Mr..
Porter, III at ease. But I've got pros
poets
You can't spend them anywhere"
said Annie. maliciously
There was the sound Of the flap be-
Ing lifted IN the bar, the door was
pushed opens and a ragged creature
came into the parlor and grinned.
~ y
You'd better 'op It afore you get
thrown out You've had too much"
said Mrs. Barnaby, with her profession
al air.
Where's the boss-Jim-Jim Barna-
by" persisted the intruder.
In the churchyard this three motnhs.
Come on, none O. your nonsense" said
Mrs. Barnaby
"Wotl he amt dead? NeTerP'
Course he's dead I'm boss here
Now, my good man. out you gOl'
The good man sank on a chair and
hid his face in his huge dirty hands. A
tear trickled down.
Don't say he's dead. Poor little
Jimmy dead and CORN"
Why. what's up? You needn't take
on" said Jim's widow, in a Modified
tone.
"Jimmy's deadF' murmured the man.
with a catch in his husky voice. II
come thousands O. miles to see i'm once
more. An I'm too late"
Mrs. Barnaby's curiosity was aroused.
who the Juice are your" she de-
manded
The man looked up.
Tn Sam" he said
sam Wot?'
sam Barnaby You don't mean to
say as you've never heard O. Sam1. We
was boys together"
eI dessay," said Mrs Barnaby. NOW
you've come to mention it ave heard
i'm talk about a young scapegrace Of
brother, wot come to Their bad. So
you're I'm
'Tm sam1" said the long lost broth
er simply.
You can go an have a pint in the
bar. II you like, afore you go Il s'pose
you haven't got the money to pay for
one" observed the hostess, after mo-
ments silence
He turned to the girls