The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-02-05
THE EDITORS STRATEGY.
BY sEMPER EADEM.

lev White and his initiation into the ''soci-
ety. of Nugget City. He is dead now. and
would say, MAY his soul rest in peace"
if [ believed it possible that there could ever
be any rest for such restless spirit.
When Charley accepted the position OF
local editor OF the Nugget City Times, he
was strongly advised to have nothing 10 do
with it, as the risk was altogether ont of pro-
portion to the pay. Since the close of the
war the town had received an unpleasant
addition to its population, IN the persons OF
a large number of Texas roughs and despe-
radoes. These wild, lawless and uncontroli-
able men, co Meeting themselves with some
of the worst characters from the mountains
and the plains, who were always to be found
in Nugget City, had expressed and carried an
intention TO run the town" to suit them
selves, enforcing their ideas by free use OF
theslung shot, the bowie knife and the pistol.
Any Conscientious newspaper man who
endeavored TO show up the nlisdeeds of these
ruffians was sure to fall under their dis
pleasure, and 10 pay dearly Tor what they
considered an impeTtinence. One local edi
tor of the Times had been cowhided and
nearly beaten to death, another had lodged
8 hail of pistol bullets as he got out OF town,
a third had been induced to leave at the
point OF knife. The consequence was that
the position was frequently vacant, and that
it was not sought after by any who were
aware OF its responsibilities.
salary, and was entirely unacquainted with
fear, and he determined to go to Nugget City.
He mad seen life in some of its widest and
toughest aspects, as sailor before the mast
on voyage to Australia and the islands OF
Polynesia, as a hunter and adventurer on
the plains, and as a iour-printer all over the
West and Southwest. He was rather under
the usual size, but wiry and muscular, with
keen ewes steady nerves and cool head.
Charley's initiation began the second day
after his arrival at Nugget City. He was
standing in front Of hotel, looking at
caravan that was passing through the street
on the way to the West, when he was tapped
on the shoulder by q tall, big boned, rough
locking man, who asked him 10 step into
the saloon.
This man was Bill Eads, notorious, des-
perate blood-thirsty character, the leader OF
the roughs who had inaUgurated a reign OF
terror in Nugget City.
Charley complied with the request, and
Eads, stepping up to the counter, asked him
what he would take.
.'Much obliged to you, but don't drink"
Don't drink? Look a-here, stranger,
that's played. l ain easy to git mad, or
would think you wanted TO insult me. We
have way out here of telling folks that
they must either drink or fight"
II never drink under any circumstances
and don't fight if 1 can help it."
''Tofable cool about it, said Eads, as he
swallowed his ''pisen." 81 allow that you
must be the new chap that's come to tie
Times office
Charley admitted that he was the chap.
''Whst do you allow to do if you don't
drink or fght?'
II expect to attend to my business and do
my duty as well as | can"
'.All right, as long as you don't attend to
my business or the business of any of my
boys. If you put any of us in the paper, |
give you fair warning that you will have to
fight or run, or git everlastin'ly chawed
up"
inquired Charley, smiling until ne Shove
his white teeth.
THE pistol is our best holt
81 am a pretty fair pistol shot, though
don't fight. AS you and l are to be friends
suppose we have a little match with revoly-
ers, say at 20 PAGES, at $40 shot"
'srm your man. When and where shall
II be?'
The place was fixed upon, and Charley wa:
there promptly at the appointed time, &C
companied by Joe Geohagan, a compassion
from the Times, young man who was fond
of fun and utterly devoid of fear. Joe car
ried in his pocket two potatoes, small anC
exactly similar in size and shape, one o
which was whole, and the other was perfo
rated by bullet from Charley's pistol. He
also carried pin, to which was attached {
length of stout sewing silk.
EtuS was 8lfS2uy ON tuo Siouuu with
select ew of his friends, and Charley requested
him, ss being the ''oldest and best acquaint
ed to take the first shot. The whole po
tato was placed on stump, the distance wa
stepped off, and Joe sauatted near th'
stump to watch the effect OF the shots.
Its daTned foolishness to shoot at such {
mark as that said Eads How many shot
are we to havey'
1.-THE first shot that hits the mark wins tel
dollars" replied Charley.
Its Just waste OF powder and lead.
can't hit that tater at this distance, and don
believe any man can"
stWe can try
THAT'S SO, and here goes for a straigh
miss
The bully raised his pistol, aimed CAREFUL
AID fred
.Didu't faze it.'' exclaimed Joe, who IA
to the stump to examine the potato.
As he did SO he stuck his pin in the tatel
and again squatted on the grass, holding To
silk in his fingers.
Charley White stepped to the line and fire