The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-03-18

One evening, before Wichita, Kan.
sas, had realized its hopes of secur-
ing permanent place upon the map
so long ago, in fact, as the spring Of
187I-a gentleman from New York
registered bis name at the Harris
House, and announced his intention
ofstopping fow days in order to see
the country, and perhaps to buy
some land in the neighborhood. Aft
er dinner be sought out the lanlord,
and made a special request that, as
he was an Eastern man in search OF
experiences, he might have a buffalo
stake served for his breakfast next
morning.
Buffalo stake?r
"Yes. Is it obtainable, isn't it?
You can get it here? I'd be willing
to pay for any extra trouble. you
know"
"Oh, no trouble. Fact is, I've
not been able to get anything else
for week or two past. | was just
going to apologize for having given
il to you at dinner"
The Eastern man looked as If he
thought himself sold, but still struck
to his request, because he wanted to
know how buffalo meat tasted when
be was not wrestling with it under
the false impression that it was
Texas COW. And then, finding the
lanlord sociable (for no more genial
host than Rouse ever made his house
pleasant for his guest at his own
loss, he asked If the town was quiet
and orderly
"Oh yes, perfectly so. You East
ern men fancy that we are overrun
with desperadoes out here, but you'll
fnd Wichita just as peaceful as a man
could wish.n
At this point the conversation was
brought to a close by the irruption
of party of noisy men, of whom
the lanlord explained to his guest,
as be went to attend to them, that
they were Some Of Curley Marshall's IS
boys"
"And who Is Curley MARSHALL"
asked the Eastern man Of q bystan-
der as he sat down in q vacant
chair.
"Curley is one of our celebrities, u
was the reply, "He is to Wichita
very much what Buffalo Bill is to
Abilene. Fine fellow be is too"
But ''the boys" approached, and
the bystander incidentally moved
away without finishing his eulogy,
while the newcomers surrounded
the sitter before he was fully aware
of the situation; and then he thought
be would not seem in hurry to ge'
away. When, however, two of them
began to practice broadsword parties
over his head with loaded revolver;
of the navy" pattern, be changed
his mind about the order of his go
ing, and slipped out from between
them just as "Long Dan" growing
tired of fun, cooked his revolver
and, leveling it at his friends head
said briefly, "Gis out Of this. That
the door"
The other tceokeHed q moment ant
looked at Dan doubtingly.
II mean it. Yon git, or III plug
you"
He did git"
There was laughter from the boy!
as Dan looked grimly triumpban
and invited them into the bsr-roon
on his shout" Gene on, stranger!'
said be to the Eastern man, seeing
that the latter did not start forward
Bus the Eastern man asked TO be
excused, pleading that be didn'
drink
"Don't drink =? You won't drial
with me- Do you mean TO insul
me 2"
mo, sir, nO-surely not. But
neuer drink"
Look here, stranger! i don
like to have O man say that he's to-
good to drink with me. I'm Lon
Dan Cowee;" andtbe speaker locke
dangerous.
Eastern man thought be had be-
ter drink.
! He Jagged last in the crowd. how
ever, and, satisfied that his absenc
would not be noted, stole out of tn
back door and hung round behin'
the kitchen until "the boys" shoul
have gone. Presently be thought b
heard them in the street, and locke
round the corner Of the house to SCI
There came bright fash, right i
his eyes, Q report and q handful
shot ratified against the fence nea
him, while with q yell the boys wer
on down the street, discharging the
pistols into the air.-From "Tow
PLANTING IN THE West. ."by ChGrlt
Ed,oard Smith in Lsppincott's Ma.
azine for March.