The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-07-18

the sidewalk; and as the drinks began
to work, the little man became more
and more animated, the big man more
and more amiabIe in his assent and
silence.
Then they passed the crowd Of refu-
gees they stopped and listened. COM
menting on the various opinions by an
| exchange of knowing smiles. An old
! prospector, white-haired and tanned to
a tropic brown, finally turned upon a
presumptuous optimist and the little
man nodded approvingly as he heard
him express his views.
You can say what you please" the
prospector ended, but I'm going to
keep out of that country. I've knowed
them Mexicans for thirty years now
and I'm telling you they're Citing
treacherous. 1t don't do no good to
have your gun with you-theyIl shoot
you from behind a rock-and If they
can't git you that way, they'll knife
| you in your sleep.
I've noticed big change in them
paisanos since this war come on. Be
| fore Madero made his break they used
! to be scared OF Americans-thought if
| they killed one of US the rest wcluld
cross the border and eat 'em up. What
few times they did tackle a white man
he generally give a good account OF
himself, too, and I've travelled them
trails for years without hardly know
ing what it was to be afraid of any
body; but 1 tell you it's entirely diff
| ferent over there now
Sure! That's right" spoke up the
little man, with spirit You're talk
ing more sense than any man on the
street I guess I ought to know-Tve
been down there and through it all
and it's got so now that you can't trust
any of 'em. My pardner and 1 came
| clear from the Sierra Madres, riding
nights, and we come pretty near know
ing-hey, Bud?"
That's right" observed Bud, the
big man, with reminiscent grin, Il
begin to think them fellers would get
us, for while!"
Mining men?" inquired the old
prospector politely.
Working on a lease said the little
!. man briefly. Owner got scared out
and let US in on shares. But no more
for muh-this will hold me for quite
a while, can tell you'll"
Here, too" agreed the big man,
turning to go. Arizona is good enough
for income on, Phil!'
Where to-" The little man drew
back half resentfully, and then he
changed his mind. All right" he said
falling into step, "a gin fizz for mine!"
Not on an empty stomach" ad-
monished his pardner; you might get
lit up and tell somebody all you know.
EIoIy hO17f com cfIajnC To
Good! But where re you going?"
The big man was leading OF down a
side street, and ONCE more they came
: to halt.
"Jim's place-it's a lunch-counter,' .
he explained laconically. THE hotels
all right, and maybe that was break
fast we got, but get hungry waiting
that way Gimme a lunch-counter,
where I can wrop my legs around a
} stool and watch the cook turn 'em
} over. Come on been there before
An expression of plying tolerance
| came over the little mans face as he
listened to this rhapsody on the quick
lunch, but he drew away reluctantly.
Jaw, come on, Bud he pleaded.
) Have a little class! What's the use
of winning stake if you've got to eat
at dog-joint? And besides-say, that
was a peach of a girl that waited on
} us this morning! Did you notice her
, hair? She was a pippfn!"
) The big man waggled his hand re
signedly and started on his way.
"AH right, pardner," he observed;
eff that's the deal she's probably look
ing for you. I'll meet you in the room. I"
D Jaw, come on!" urged the other, but
his heart was not in it, and he turned
I gaiIy away up the main street.
Left to himself, the big man went on
= to his Iunch-counter, where he ordered
oysters, "a dozen in the milk" Then
. he ordered a beefsteak, to make VI
for several he had missed, and asked
l the cook to fry it rare. He was just
negotiating for can Of pears that haC
caught his eye when an old man came
in and took the stool beside him, pick
ing up the menu with trembling hand
y Give me a cup of Coffee" he said tt
, = the waiter, "and"-he gazed at the bill
of fare carefully-"and a roast-bee
sandwich. No, just the coffeeI" ht
corrected, and at that Bud gave him
8 look. He was a small man, shabbil!
= dressed and with scraggy whiskers
y and his nose was very red.
Here" called Bud, coming to an In
:. slant conclusion, give i'm his sand
= witch; I'll pay for it,"
"All right" anwered the waiter, VIII,
was no other than Sunny jim, the pro
: prietor, and, whisking up a sandwich
= from the sideboard, he set it befor,
:, the old man, who glanced at him II
. silence. For a fraction of a second b,
- regarded the sandwich alphabetically
" then, with the aid of his coffee, b
made away with it and slipped dow
OF his stool
m Say" observed the proprietor, a
e Bud was paying his bill. do you know
who that old-timer was?"
" What oId-timer?" inquired Bud
3. who had forgotten his brusk benefaG
q ton.
k why. that old teller that you treat
Of ed to the sandwich
lie "Oh-him! Some old drunk aroun
se town." hazarded Bud.
e We'll, he's that. too" concede
IN Sunny Jim with a smile But Iemm