South Bend news-times., 1921-05-22

For some months OF a certain year
a grim bandit infested the Texas
border along the Rio Grande. Pc
cularialy striking 90 the optic nerve
was this notorious marauder. His
personality secured him the title Of
Black Eagle. the Terror OF the
Border" Many fearsome tales are
OF record concerning the doings OF
him and his followers. Suddenly, IN
the space OF a single minute. Black
Eagle vanished from earth. He was
never heard Of again. His own band
never even guessed the mystery OF
his disappearance. The border
ranches and settlements feared he
would come again 20 ride and raw
age the mesquite flats. He never
will 10 is 20 disclose the fate Of
Black Eagle that this narrative is
written.
The Initial movement Of the story
is furnished by the foot Of a bar
tender In St. Louis. His discerning
eye fell upon the form OF Chicken
RuFgIes as he pecked with avldi.y at
the free lunch. Chicken was a
"hobo." He had a long nose Ike
the bin Of fowl. an inordinate ap-
petite for poultry and habit Of
gratifying Il without expense. which
accounts for the name given him
by his fellow vagrants.
Physicians agree that the partak-
ing of LIQUID ar meal times Is not
a healthy practice. The hygiene OF
the saloon promulgates the opposite
Chicken had neglected to purchase
"A drink TO accompany his meal. The
bartender rounded the counter,
caught the injudicious diner by the
ear with a lemon squeezer, led him
10 the door and kicked him into the
street.
Thus the mind OF Chicken was
brought 20 realize the signs Of COM
ing winter The night was colo, the
stars shone with unkindly brilliancv,
people were hurrying along the
streets I'm two egoustic. jostlins
streams. Men had donned +l-eir
overcoats. and Chicken knew 20 an
exact percentage the increased diff
ficulty OF coaxing dimes from those
buttoned-in vest pockets. The time
had come for his annual exodus TO
the south.
A little boy, FIVE or six years old.
stood looking with covetous eyes in
a confectioner's window. In one
small hand he held an empty two
ounce Vial; in the other he grasped
tightly something fat and round,
with a shining milied edge. The
scene presented a field Of operations
commensurate TO Chickens talents
and daring After sweeping the
horizon to make sure that no Of
fetal tug was cruising near. he in
sidiousiy accosted his prey. The
boy. having been early taught by his
household TO regard altruisic ad-
vances with extreme suspicion. re-
ceived the overtures cOldly.
Then Chicken knew that he must
make one OF those desperate. nerve
shattering plunges into speculation
that fortune sometimes requires of
those who would win her favor.
Five cents was his capital, and this
he must risk against the chance OF
winning what lay within the close
grasp Of the Youngsters chubby
hand. 1t was a fearful lottery.
Chicken knew. but he must ac-
complsh his end by strategy, since
he had q wholesome terror of plum
dering infants by force Once, in a
park. driven by hunger. ne had COM
mitted an onslaught upon bottle
cf peptOnized infants food in the
possession Of an occupant of baby
carriage. The outraged infant had
so promptly opened its mouth and
pressed the button that communi-
Gated with the Welkin that help ar
rived. and Chicken did his so days
in a snug coop. Wherefore he was.
as he said. "leary Of kids
Beginning artfully to question the
boy concerning his choice OF sweets.
he gradually drew out the informa-
ton ne wanted. Mamma said he
was 70 ask the drug store man for
10 cents worth Of paregoric in the
bottle: ne was % keep his hand shut
tight over the dollar; he must not
stop % talk % any one IN the street;
he mus- ask the drug store man to
wrap up the change and put IL In
the pocket Of his trousers. Indeed,
they had pockets-two OF them.
And he liked chocolate creams best.
Chicken went into the store and
turned plungsr. He invested his en-
tire capital I'm q. A. y. ID. Y stocks,
simply to pave the way to the
greater risk following.
Two hours later an Iron Mountain
freight engine pulled out OF the rail-
road yards. Texas bound with a
string OF empties. Tn one of the
cattle cars. half buried i'm excelsior,
Chicken lay at ease. Beside him
I'm his nest was a quart bottle Of
very poor whisky and a paper bag
OF bread and cheese. Mr.. Buggles.
in his private car. was on his trip
south for the winter season.
For a week that car was trundled
southward shifted. laid over. and
manipulated after the manner Of
rolling stock. but Chicken stuck 20
IL. leaving il only at necessary times
10 satisfy his hunger and thirst. He
knew 10 must go down 90 the cattle
country. and san Anotonio. i'm the
Heart OF g.. was his goal. There the
air was saIubrIous and mild: the
people indulcent and long-sutfering.
The bartenders there would not kick
him. If ne should eat too long or
too often az one place they would
swear at him as 81 by rote and with
out heat. They swore go drawlingly,
and they rarely paused short of their
fun vocabulary. which was Copious
so that Chicken had often culpod a
good meal during the process of the
vituperative prohibition. The sea-
"a frrr- VS. vi n g fIrI1
the plazas were pleasant az night