Ellsworth American., 1878-11-14
Misfell q
The Bad Man of Bodie.

WaShoe Pete was generally considered
''huiier' by the critics of Bodie, and his
wild exaggerations were the subject OF
merriment cnly in that 'high old town"
He was allowed to swagger and boast TO
his hearts content; and, even when he
drew his "nobby whistler" and shot the
lights out of all the lamps In Ryan's sa-
loon. the action only evoked grin and
the doubtful compliment that Il was purity
fair shootin'. an nigh as stiddv narve as
Irish Tom showed when he popped away
AT tibet bad man from Deadwood "
One day last sumner Pete walked into
Strobrldye's saloon with the remark that
he had "heerd the Last Chance was eoln'
to be sold. and they've sent up an expert
to look into it
The expert. a pale, small man, dressed
In gray, was standing at the bar. aud
looked around as the tall would-be-rufiian
uttered these words.
"Thet's so. Pete said one of the men
present. AN thet's the expert" pointing
to the small man.
You're an expert, eh:'' shouted Pete,
eyeing the man menacingly: you're one
o them fellers as allows he knows payin'
mines. are yer Then, after a pause dur.
ing which he surveyed the stranger from
head TO foot, We'll, we're the wust | erer
saw. Experts is bad enough, but you're
the slinkest, meanest, wust coot to set yer
self up to report on mine | ever laid eyes
on"
Il don't want to quarrel with you, sir"
answered the expert.
"le'd better not. young feller' ye'd bet
ter not. I'm q whirlwind OF the desert in
fight and don't We forget it,"
I'm a man OF peace. | carry no weap-
ons. and of course | could not hope to
stand before even a zephyr OF the desert
let alone a wild, untamed whirlwind.'
These deprecatory words only ncensed
the bad man" still more. and. feeling that
he had soft thing" proposed in his own
mind 10 play it for ell il was worth" and
gain record" by whipping his man"
Look hyar. stranger, | don't want no
insinuations. Do | look like a zephyr
Say" Here Washoe Pete shook his list in
the experts face. What d'ye mean by
talkin' about zephyrs? I'm a tornado. |
tear when | turn loose. Zephyr, [Sneer-
ing. Why, I've a good mind to"
Please, mighty whirlwird. resistless
tornado, don't hit me. You wouldn't strike
a consumptive man, would you:'
Wouldn't = yelled the fighter, in
terrible voice. wouldn't | (! Id strike the
side of a mountain
But sick man. 70 pleaded the expert,
"a man dying of consumption, an orphan,
a stranger, and man of peace"
"Wbat're ye giving me? Do you know
who am:" fiercely demanded the whirl-
wind.
You're a gentleman known in Bodie as
Mr.. Washoe Peter-at least, Eye heard
you designated by that familiar appelation
during my sojourn here" answered the
expert. moving of.
'.What else am | r. shreked the rough.
striding toward the covering expert.
"A gentleman. l suppose. Honestly,
don't know your other name"
"Well, III tell you who | am and the
tall man stood over the shrinking strang-
er. as if abont TO topple upon him and an
nihilate him. I'm bad: I'm chief in this
yer camp. an | ken lick the man says
Amt. I'm ragin' lion o. the plains, an
every time | hit | kill. I've got an arm
like quartz stamp. an | crush when |
reach fur a man. weigh ton. an earth
quakes amt nowhar when DROP"
But I've only just been discharged from
a hospital" replied the expert.
IN send We back a.in.' and the stall
wart ''buffer" caught the little man by
the collar and hurled him upon the floor.
Its unkind to use poor, weak. suffer
ing invalid that way" expostulated the ex
pert. as he slowly arose from the floor.
please don't joke so roughly. Let's take
a drink and call it square. am very sor-
ry that have offended you
You think I'm jokin', do ye-ye take
me for josh. eh? I'll show We what am
afore git through withye. Ye don't play
me fur no tender-fOOt- I'm a native. an,
an I've stood this yer fooln' long enough"
Saving which, he dashed the stranger
against a table and drew a long knife.
As soon as the expert saw this he screwed
his face into the most piteOus shape. and
throwing mis- hands up. cried: 'Im I'M
armed; haven't got so much as a pen
knife on me- Please don't carve me kick
me to death if you must have my life, but.
for heavens sake, don't stick that terrible
thing into me-"
Now. as Washoe Pete had no intentions
of using the knife-and thereby risking the
tender mercies of Mono jury's verdict
he was well pleased with the opportunity
thus afforded hui OF displayin the deadly
wespon. and, afrer asserting mis- bloody in-
teDtion, returned it TO its sh. ath. He -four
ished the knife over the cringiDg expert
three or four times. and then lowered il
with the remark: "Why, dern yer cow
ardly soul. l wouldn't disgrace the weapon
| by shown it into ye. No. sir; but I'll plug
yes" aud he drew revolver.
.'I'm unarmed. Pun unarmed-don't you
hear me !" whined the expert.
go an heel yerself then." retorted the
.bad man."