Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-08-01

uorUus on The various opinions by an
exchange of knowing smiles An old
, uruaruotur Wuitc-laired and tanned 70
tropic brown. finally turned upon a
/ rrosuwltluus optmist and rhc little
man nodded approvngly as he heard
h.m express his views.
You can say what you please the
rospector ended but I'm going to
keep ont Of that country. I've knowed
them MoNicaus for thirty years now
and I'm telling you they're Citing
tryachorous II don't do no good to
have your gun with you-thcyll shoot
guu from behind a and if they
can't git You that way. theyn knife
YOU in your sleep.
I've noticed a big change in them
paisanos since this war come on. Be
fore Madcro made his break they used
to be scared of AmcriCaus-thought If
they killed one of Us the rest would
cross the border and eat EN- up. What
few times they did tackle a white man
he generally give a good account Of
himself. too. and I've travelled them
I
ing what il was to be afraid of any
body; but I tell YOU it's entirely diff
fCrcut 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. ! guess / ought to hnow-I've
been down there and through it all
and its got 50 now that you can't trust
any Of EN- My pardner and ! came
clear from the Sierra Madres, riding
nights and We come pretty near know
inE-hey. Rud?"
That's right" observed Bud. the
big man, with reminiscent grin. Il
begin to think them fellers would get
us. for a while"
Mining meu?" 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
while, | can tell you"
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 r. ind. All right" he said,
falling into step. "a gin fizz for minei"
Not on an empty stomach" ad-
monished his pardner; you might get
lit up and tell somebody all you know
81
Good! But where re you going?"
The big man was leading off down a
side street, and once more they came
to a halt.
"Jim's place-it's a lunch-counter,"
he explained laconically. The hotels
| all right. and maybe that was a break
fast we got. but | get hungry waiting
that way. Gimme a lunch-counter,
where | 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.
"Aw, come on, Bud" he pleaded
Have a little class! What's the use
of winning a stake II you've got to eat
at dog Joint? And besides-say, that
us this morning! Did you notice her
hair? She was a pippin!"
The big man waggled his hand re-
signedly and started on his way.
"All right. pardner." he observed;
IF that's the deal she's probably look
ing for you. I'll meet you in the room"
"Aw. come on" urged the other, but
his heart was not in it, and he turned
gaily away up the main street.
Left to himself. the big man went on
to his lunch-counter, where he ordered
oysters, "A dozen in the milk" Then
he ordered a beefsteak. to make up
for several he had missed. and asked
the cook to fry it rare. He was just
negotiating for a can of pears that had
| caught his eye when an old man came
in and took the stool beside him, pick
ing up the menu with trembling hand.
Give me a cup of coffee" he said to
the waiter, "and"-he gaZed at the bill
of fare carefully" a roast-beef
| sandwich. No, just the coffee!" he
| corrected, and at that Bud gave him a
look. He was a small man, shabbily
| dressed and with scraggy whiskers,
and his nose was very red.
Here" called Bud. coming to an in
slant conclusion. give i'm his sand
wich; I'll pay for IT,"
"All right" anwered the waiter. who
was no other than Sunny Jim. the pro-
prietor. and, whisking up sandwich
from, the sideboard. he set it before
the old man. who glanced at him in
silence. For fraction OF a second he
regarded the sandwich alphabetically;
then. with the aid of his coffee, he
made away with il and slipped down
of his stool.
Say" observed the proprietor, as
Bud was paying his bill, do you know
who that old-timer was?"
What old-timer?" inquired Bud.
who had forgotten his brusk benefac-
ton.
why, that old Teller that you treat
ed to the sandwich"
"Oh--him! Some old drunk around
town." hazarded Bud.
Well. he's that. too" conceded
Sunny jim, with a smile. Put Snme
tell you. Partner, if you had half the
rocks that old boys got you wouldn't
need to uunCh any more COWS That's