Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-11-30
The Rose
In the Ring
By GEORGE BARR M'CUTCHEON
Copyright 1910 Mead @
By GEORGE BARR M'CUTCHEOl
Copyright 1910 by Dodd. Mead @ Co.

est lawyer in ten states Wot he don't
know about the law nobody else does.
Experience is wonderful teacher. He
comes by is name rightly, he does
Artful Dick I've larfed myself sick
many Il time listening TO 'ow he lifted
things. Once he actually took a fell
ler's pocl-etboolz out of lis inside west
cut pocket. removed the bills, signed
little receipt for 'em and then returned
the leather to the gents westcut. Lat
er on he card the chap was going. to
use the money to pay off morgidSe
and that he 'ad sick wife. Wot did
Dick do but unit him up again and
put the money back, removing the re
ceipt and substituting a fifty dollar
bill he'd filched from wise guy in a
bank, all wrapped up in a little note
telling the chap to give it to is wife
with the compliments of Old Nick.
I've Iarfed myself to sleep wondering
wot the Teller thought when he found
the note"
I've never seen any one just like
him. He's a very odd person. said
David. II think 1 should like him in
spite of what he is"
Everybody likes him. He's so light
'earted he almost bursts with joy.
I've never knowed i'm to do mean
or dishonorable thing" said Joey with
perfect complacency-- And yet Joey
Noakes was the soul of integrity Da-
vid could not help laughing. Where
upon the clown FASTENED to add, Eek
cept to steaI:"-
I'm sorry he's that kind" deplored
David.
Hes about twenfy-one," said Joey,
a retrospective light in his eye "He
first joined us as a Straightforward man
in the side show. That cussed little
brother of is got job taking tickets.
Dick 'ad been in Jail n couple of times,
and he decided to turn over a new
leaf. He'd "a been all right if it 'ad
MT been for Ernie. Ernie didn't think
he was making enough money by be
ing honest, so he just naturally drove
i'm to picking again. That boy is
little devil. You see, the trouble with
poor Dick is that he's set 'imself up to
protect and provide for Ernie all is
life. 1t seems that he's responsible for
the deformity. When Ernie was five
years old Dick, who 'ad very disa-
greeable temper in them days, kicked
the little cuSs downstairs. The kid
was laid up for months, and he came
out of it all twisted up-just rs you
see i'm now Well. Dick never got
mad at anybody after that He very
properly swore he'd take care of Ernie
and try to make up for wot he'd done
to i'm. He said he'd beg or steal or
kill if he 'ad to to provide for i'm
He's never 'ad to beg or kill, I'm
thankful to say. So, you see. he amt
altogether to blame for is occupation
n 10 hp
fed with 'arf of decent mans wages
if Dick minded - go to honest work;
he must have art of all Dick can
steal. and he sets up orrible rumpus
if Dick don't make some good pulls
Ernie's excuse for is greediness is
this: He says he wants to ave plenty
70 fall back on if Dick 'appens to get
long term in the pc Who's going to
support i'm. says he, while Dicks do
ing time? Wot do you think of that
for brotherly love?"
It's unbelievable
He curses Dick in one breath and
sweeties i'm in the next" went on
Joey. ''Wheedles i'm. don't you see
Once Dick was in the jug for two
months. Ernie wanted to kill i'm afore
he got out he was that enraged at i'm
for being so inconsiderate as to get
caught. They say Ernie has several
thousand dollars in bank in New
York. every nickel of which Dick stole
for i'm. Dick spends is own share
freely or gives it away for charity or
-ahem,-lends it to needy persons as
'appenS TO know i'm
Poor fellow, What a life. What is
to become of him p cried David, genu-
inely concerned.
''Oh. he's got all that set down in is
book of fate. as he calls it He says
he's going to be 'anged some day. He's
just as sure of it as he's sure he's
alive
Just morbid notion
Ter would say In the family. so to
speak His father was -anged for muir.
der when Dick was eleven years old
1 dare say it's got on is mind, poor
lad
His father was hanged 2" cried Da-
vid in a lowered tone
He was" said Joey, refilling his pipe
match on his handy leg. And a good
job it was too He was a 'ouSebreaker.
and he 'ad very gentle. wife who
prayed for i'm every night and tried to
get i'm to give up the life on account
of the children One night he got
drunk and shot perfectly 'elpless old
man whose 'ouSe he was robbing
That's wot they swung i'm for / dare
say that's why Dick as never took to
s1,-Sr, r 4,I- 1se1.