Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

though there's somp'n like ten or twelve
fellers that always give me the best there IS
in EN-, and who always git the best there is
in me, because they're able to take it. l
amt very sentimental. Some of the boys
say I'm devil for teasin', and one of my
best friends wiped up the grass with me
one day for perfectly innocent little
joke. But every one of the bunch can see
the real me, an the sound of the voice of
one of 'em-well it, like music to me, better
music than the finest fiddlist ever played"
"'Harun never made no answer. But very
quiet he stretched out hand over that
chairback | took it,
"Cress turned to the fire and flung fresh
fuel on it. That's been four year ago. he
added. Every six months he comes to see
me on the Q. T. Nobody but me and him
knows my comp'ny is a Copper King.
Il asked Cress whether his friend ever
brought him presents. He laughed.
@'The fust time he joined me he brung me
three hundred-dollar saddle, with the rest
of the outfit to match. l never let EN- git
out'n the express office. Friend, says |,
you've got somp'n to learn concernin' our
friendship. Send that there outfit to the
Kaiser. But when you want to make me
present braid me a whip yourself, if your
derned fingers amt too clumsy to do it
ale turned so red he scorched. "Cress,
says he, Syou come into my life just in time.
You see, -
"A voice outside the fre-ring's radiance
startled us, breaking off Cress's recital and
sending both of us to our feet at leap.
ats me who's just come In tlme!' it
averred grimly. 'Cress, you re under arrest!
at was the county Sheriff, and he had my
companion covered"
STOPPED a moment in my story. Across
from me the ticket agent sulked in his
little wooden pen, scowling YEARLY but justi-
fiablv out on the world The other two of
the trio of business men had ceased walking
up and down. They had frankly seated
themselves to listen to me. 1t amused me
to note again how much alike all three were.
Clean shaved, lean featured, small but ar
rogant eyes, hard mouthed, quick, nervous
hands that held eternal cigars, excellent
grooming, they might actually have been
triplets, though not one had ever set eyes
on the other until today. Were they as
much alike inside? | wondered. Number
go on, will you? Who had him arrested,
and for what?'
"A certain corporation. The details would
be useless. It's long story. Cress, in his
audacity, had bucked against power along
side which he was mere fly. The result
wasn't long waiting. did my best for him;
but where a corporation already owns a
Judge the counsel for the defense is slightly
at disadvantage. My client faced a SEN
tence of tcn-thousand-dollarf fine or two
years in Jail. The Judge might as well have
made it a million, l thought. Then | re-
membered Cress's story of his friend. l
drew him aside.
@'Here's where Harun-a l-Rashid comes
in said.
"'Here's where he don't come in said
Cress quietly
an his cell argued with him again. AT
least give me his name, Cress!'
Not me! You'd telephone him, and
he'd think had it done
4'But you're not treating him fair, Cress.
AYES, am. If l was to ask that ten
thousand of him, he'd pay my fine all right, all
right, and then he'd say to himself, "Thdt's
avhat the damned devH had me up his sleepe all
along for-just a reserpe in case of trouble.
That's all his friendship meant!' love that
man. He's mine. l amt going to lose him.
"You're a quixotic fool!' l barked.
"What kinder crossword is qui1ofic? If
it's too bad, I'll smash your mouth when I
get outer here
"A month later went back at Cress. He
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