OCR Text |
Show 230 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS. showing how it was far more possible to perpetrate them in those Arcadian and youthful days of Denver journalism, than it at present would be. Arkins, it would appear, had always had a penchant for writing. But for the fact that he, like many other men of genius, had failed to make himself proficient in the chirographic art, Mr. Arkins would undoubtedly long ere this time,, have made a reputation in some field of literature -whether in poetry, in romance, or in labored leaders on the editorial page, his colleagues had never been able to definitely decide in their own minds. But he could not write, and this is what got him into trouble. His characters looked so very much like hieroglyphics that no mortal, who had not made a special study of them, could decipher them. Now, that he has come to be manager of a Democratic newspaper, and wear a high hat, he may have reformed. We only speak of the Mr. Arkins of the olden time. Like most other people he did not fully appreciate his deficiencies, and frequently boasted of his penmanship ; he had never - been known to write even his name that he did not call attention to the Gothic character of its construction. There came a time, however, during this camping expedition, when his manner changed in this respect. It was a rather warm day toward the latter part of July that Arkins announced his determination to remain in the tent rather than go fishing. Dawson being inter: ested in a work of fiction, concluded also to remain, and both sat down in the tent, the former to write, the latter to read; Dawson quaking with fear lest Arkins would ask him to admire his handwriting, and Arkins, as it |