Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1899 — IN SELF-DEFENSE. [ARTICLE]

IN SELF-DEFENSE.

He police judge it was difficult to say what Banner mas" he was or whence he came. It wa# evident, though, that he was sot entirely sober and bad been rery modi less so. In addition, he bad no doubt been rolling In the gutter and had scraped bis face over some pretty rough sidewalk, p In all. be was a dilapidated specimen; yet there „waq a something about' him that bore the distinctive mark of difference from the common herd of that “Aren't yon one of the famepa Rough Riders?” asked the Judge after he had talked to him very plainly, watching him narrowly the meanwhile. The prisoner held up his hand want' fngly. “Don’t give it away, Judge,” he said, looking around in alarm. “What do yon mean?’ responded the astonished judge. “Just what 1 say, Judge,” repeated the prisoner, bending orer so as to get as near as possible. “Don’t give it away. I thought 1 had concealed my identity from the public gaze.” And he looked down over himself, half in pride, half in shame. This was too mueh for the Judge, and, bringing the prisoner nearer, so he coniO tell his story confidentially, so to apeak, he told him to proceed. “Well, you see, it was this a-way. Judge,” said the prisoner with a Texas accent, “when 1 was mustered out and begin to see what the great American people thought of us fellers that fit Into the Spaniards at Santiago I seen that if 1 didn’t do something in selfdefense party soon I was goin’ to be run for office by the party that got me first, er that 1 was goin’ to hare the face kissed off me by a string of gala S mile long, and 1 concluded I’d jist git low-down, common drunk and stay that a-way till I could git to a safe place in Texas. I’ve escaped up to date; and if you’ll not say a word, Judge; but jist shore me along west, I reckon I’ll git hack home in fair enough shape, all things considered. What do you say. Judge; is it & go?’ It waa indeed, and the Judge instructed a police officer to keep an eye on the distinguished prisoner and see that be was put on the next train pointing Its cowcatcher toward the southwest corner of the great republic. —Washington Star.