The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-08-13
THE BULLY OF GILROY.
BY THE MAJOR


bully. A very sweeping statement, to be
sure, but every person who reads these
words can, after moments reflection,
put his finger on staggering, bluster-
ing bully, who is forever Dragging of his
strength and displaying his brutality,
by his disposition to impose on some per-
son weaker than himself.
In the more law abiding districts, these
fellows lean towards pugilism, and de-
light in dog fights. They are the terror
of the timid and the heroes of the de-
PRAYED, and usually snend their declin-
ing years as guests of the State, or die
with their boots on. ~. ...r E... r.'..s -..1..
AS the bully is invariably a coward, he
never blazes out in all his overbearing
brass till he feels secure in the knowledge
of pistol or knife concealed Oh his per
son, where there is law, or ostentatious-
ly displaying them where there is none.
Hence he isA prominent figure in from
tier villages, where the daring pioneer
has gone on, and law has not yet come,
with the security its presence gives. 4m..,
Gllroy IS thriving, beautifully located,
well-to-do place nov. Twenty years ago
its location was just as attractive, but in
every other respect it was not flourish
ing place for business, nor desirable
place for quiet, religious families to set
tie down. The worst Characters of the
coast-range made it their headquarters,
and the horse-thieves of Talare Valley
looked upon it as their base of supplies.
Yet even twenty years ago the advance
guard of industry and responsibility Sc
cured some of the best positions on the
park-like lands around Gilroy.
Prominent among these early settlers
were the families of Ernest Roberts and
Hector Mason. They had come from the
Eastern States together, and the heads of
the families had been friends and the
children playfellows all their lives. AS
they brought considerable means with
them, they we're enabled at once to stock
and open up their farms in way that
secured immediate comfort and promised
prosperity.
They were just the people to settle
new country, for, in addition to their
great probity and eminent responsibility,
their homes swarmed it'll healthy chill
dren, some of whom had not even learned
to hop, while others had learned to love.
JENNIE Roberts, nineteen, was the old
est of her father many children, and
young Frank Mason thought her, by ALL
odds, not only the prettiest and best of
her own family, but of all her sex, so far
as his experience extended. To be sure
he could not see well--not that he had
any defect Of vision, but Love PLAYS
strange pranks \" 18th the best Of eyes, and
Frank Mason was one of his victims. In
this case, however, Love could scarcely
have exaggerated the merits of its object.
There was many dark-browned senori-
tas near Gilroy, and at certain seasons
Digger Indian squaws, in the scantiest
of calico fig -Ieaves, came to the settle
ment to trade; but the attractions of
aborigine and native born paled in the
eyes Of Gilroy S army Of bachelors the
moment Jennie Roberts made her ap-
pearance. .,..I.
1t did not take long for the better-in-
clined to see for themselves that Jennie's
heart was another's, so they prudently
Withdrew from the contest, though they
could not cease to admire and respect
one who was as good and modest as she
was bright and beautiful. gl....-s....
At is time Gllroy had bully. To be
sure it had dozen fellows with similar
ruffianly tendencies, but. Jack Culp was
pre-eminently the master in his way. He
was a stout, thick.set man of thirty-fve,
with long red hair, horid face, and al
ways appeared in an attire that might be
described as loose and loud. -.
Jack Culp was ostensibly horse
trader, and undisguisedly a gambler. He
put on the belt containing his knife and
pistol WITT as much punctuality as his
boots or wide brimmed SLOUGH hat. He
was fierce swearer, loud talker, and
as such men are invariably braggarts,
Jack Culp proved no exception to the
rulc.
There was general impression among
the people of G1lroy that he had killed
scores of men IN fights and duels; but-as
this belief had its origin in Jack Culps
there were not few rash
enough openly to assert that they thought
Jack Culp could lie without feeling any
subsequent pangs of consc .ence. 49,.
The protection and exclusiveness that
society throws around the home in the
older States are unknown in new settle
ment. Every body knows every body,
and there is free-and-easy way of get
ting acquainted that is often pleasant,
but as often the reverse, for there is not {,
frontier cut-throat who would not get
murderously indignant if any one intim-
ated he was not a gentleman and fit asso
ciate for the best ....s'9
Under these circumstances, it is not to
be wondered at that Jack Culp soon got
acquainted with the Roberts and Mason
families, nor that such man should,
from the first, attempt to render himself
attractive in the eyes Of Miss Jennie.
lie soon learned the relations that
Frank Mason sustained to the young la
dy; but what cared he for that2 He would
put Frank Mason out of the way, or scare
h m away. If he dared to cross his path.
He was frequent visitor at Mr.. Rob
erts' house, and at last became so repul-
slve to Jennie that she refused to see him
wien aware Of, his coming. He waylaid
and watched for her; he sent her ribbons
and jewelry, which she returned. And
ne went SO far as to send her letter, in
which, in bad English and worse SPELL
ing, he made her an offer of his heart