The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-06-03

and more animated, the big mar more
| and more amiable 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 DC
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 t
have your gun with you-theyT shoot
you from behind a rock-and II they
can't git you that way, they'll knife
you in your sleep.
I've noticed a big change In them
paisanos since this war come on. Be
fore Madero made his break they used
to be scared of Americans-thought II
they killed n Of ue the rest would
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 1t was to be afraid OF any
body; but I 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-rve
been down there and through 1t all
and It's got 30 that you can't trust
any of 'em. My pardner and / came
clear from the Sierra Madres, riding
nights, and we come pretty near know,
ing-hey. Bud?",
rThat's right" observed Bud, the
big man, with a reminiscent grin, Il
begin to think them fellers would get
us, for q while!" .
Mining menT 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, l can tell you'll"
Here, too" agreed the big man,
turning to 60. Arizona is good enough
for income or, Phil"
Where TOT" The little man drew
back half resentfully, and then he
changed his mind. "All right" he said,
falling into step, "a gin fzz for mine!"
Not on an empty stomach" ad-
monished his pardner; you might get
lit up and tell somebody all you know.
How about something to eat?"
Good! But where re you going?"
The big man was leading of 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 I get hungry waiting
that way. Gimme q lunch-counter,
where I a wrop my legs around a
stool and watch the cook turn EN-
over. Come OIL 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 a stake II you've got to eat
at a dog-joint? And besides-say, that
was a peach Of a girl that waited on
gus 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"
Jaw, 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 mar went on
to his lunch-counter, where he ordered
oysters, "A dozen in the milk" Then
he ordered q b%eefsteak, to make up
for several he had missed, and asked
the cook to fry 1t 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 DILL
Of fare carefuliy-"and 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 IN in
slant conclusion, give i'm his sand
wich; I'll pay for it,"
Cali right" anwered the waiter, who
was nc other than Sunny Jim, the pro-
prietor, and, whisking up a sandwich
from the sideboard, he set 1t before
the Ole man, who glanced at him IN
silence. For a fraction of a second he
regarded the sandwich Alphabetically;
then, with the aid Of his coffee, he
made away with it and slipped down
off 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
II o. fbo cordrI-I