and with small, fat hands. "Used to work in St. Louis at the Democrat. Mr. Hawes hired me about six months ago."

He explained that Mr. Hawes and Ben returned to Lawrence to look after the newspaper there. Apparently, it was losing money to a new competing paper.

"Tough business, newspaperin'," Williamson said. "Gotta stay on top of it at all times."

We engaged in a few minutes of small talk about the newspaper business, and then I left the Union office and walked south of the Deadline to Bill Tilghman's Oasis saloon, where Charley and I had agreed to meet Bill. As I walked in, I saw Bill and Charley sitting at a table in the back. Bill looked the same, but I guess I didn't. I was filling out and had added some fifteen pounds, and maybe an inch to...

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