Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-10-10
ONLY AN ADVENTURE.
BY +. o. VAN CALDER.

III was In the lall or bZ that II nap
pened. the story / am about to relate,
and / have often laughed at the real
vein of humor that ran through the
whole affair.
At this time l was engaged to re-
port on the Reno New Chieftain.
Now, reporting on an Eastern paper
meant wearing kid gloves, white
linen, and polished boots, and serv-
ing up news In sensational style; the
more sensational the better, just so
we were not too regardless OF facts.
But here in Reno 1t was different. At
the time OF which 1 write a gloved
hand was looked upon with contempt,
while white shirts and polished boots
called forth open insult, and often
caused trouble attended with fights
and bloodshed, IL the wearing apparel
happened, as was often the case, to
be the property OF man inclined to
stick out for his supposed rights
supposed, because any one at all Ia
miliar with the laws OF custom will
see at a glance that man really
could have no right to intlude white
shirts into a community where red
flannel and buckskin was king. But
Of this latter i knew but very little,
so when made my debut one morn
ing in October, clad in Ieat-fitting
dress coat, white shirt, kid gloves,
and polished boots, and cane to
match, and started up the main
street Of the town toward a corner
where dog fight was being inaugur-
ated. ! was destined to reap a pal-
tial reward for my ignorance. 1 had
loved dog fight ever since my boy
hood days on the farm, when, with
old Bob, our family watch dog, had
roamed the neighborhood, the terror
Of stray dogs and cats, and CID women
who prophesied 1 would yet come to
some bad end, which prophecy be-
came verified when / turned reporter.
But had not seen fight for years,
and I now rushed into the crowd,
with my lips ready to form "s-s-s,"
and drew up near large man In red
shirt, who was holding an ugly-look-
ing, short cared bull pup by the col
lar. Said pup. not the one in red
shirt, was making frantic efforts TO
reach scd-eyed dog held by young
fellow, almost boy in years. Blood
was on the ground, and both dogs
were bleeding when came up.
"Pll bet yer ten ounces ter two
thet this perp Is the boss" said the
young fellow.
"Yer WILL" said the other, with a
leer. "Tll bet yer you are derned
lying skunk" and red shirt touched
the hilt OF a knife In his belt.
The young man jumped to his feet,
drew his own knife and was stepping
forward, amid cries OF Make ring
"Give 'em room," etc., from the crowd
which fiocked toward the side OF the
one whom 1 mentally recognized by
the title OF "red Shirt" when / cried
"Give him fair show, then"
Maybe you want TO take his part
dandy" said black looking individ.
ual in buckskip, crowding roughly
against me.
"I shan't ask your permission. al
any rate" I returned with equa
warmth, returning his jostle with g
thrust of my elbow about his fifth rib
at the same time drawing knife tC
meet his own movement
HI and furiesw screamed the
man. and the crowd drew back: "dC
you know to whom you are talking
you white livered chicken?"
Don't care to know" 1 replied
looking him over; "should judge
though, that you were related to hi!
Satantic Majesty from the languag,
you use."
| Where the row would have ended
cannot say, had not young lady pu
a stop to proceedings by rushing into
the very arms Of my antagonist ant
beseeching him not to fight.
"I'll see you again" he Kissed as h
passed me. "and give you a chance