Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-04-22
A TALE OF TWO TOWNS.
BY COLEMAN B. PATTIsON.

are SiStplIS lufOuSu pSTIOu Vi uul
ness caused by over trading, with &C
companying two per cent. mortgages
lAziness and lack of outlet for any pro
duct except decreasing bullion.
The period of enforced leisure is util,
lied by the various neighDorhoods &C
cording to popular taste, and ranges
from mental exertion in literary clubs
to horse-stealing. The majority of the
communities contain large per cen
tage OF New England people, which
leavens the lump to a state Of spOngy
morality. Yet an occasional ranch
about the size of Rhode Island-with
no earthly "titie-clear" contain an
old fashioned, Mexico California town
with adobe houses, plenty of grimy sa-
looms and narrow street, IN which
a gentleman of risky taste may still
clink his spurs, flourish his smoking
revolver, and call attention to his re-
semblance to the ocelOt of CajOu Pass,
with fur foot long and brushed the
wrong way.
That elevated fur is famed back by a
whistling bullet, knives flash, execra-
tons resOund and the country or town
gang disappear before the turmoil
ceases. There is a sequestration and o
burial. In the evening the matter is
talked over in the aguardiente den, with
u probable row over the details. Last
week only three were killed, but addi-
LiOnal excitement was furnished by the
descent of government officers upon a
prime factory of the queer OF such
is the town of Ell Bente.
Now the town of Cotton is not only
semi-tropical but semi-moral,
Here no REMOTE is heard and the few
saloons wear a subdued look. The citi-
zens point with pride to the steeple of a
Presbyterian church, which is paid for,
and consider the wearing of revolvers
bad form. 1t is the railroad station for
several larger towns in the interior and
the 'bofting' station for Arizona passen-
gers. The depot from 6 to a. M, and
from z to 8 p. m. C ,ntains the great ex-
element of the day, especially i'll the
evening, when the Yuma express
rushes into Cotton from Frisco, with
much escaping steam and screeching
brakes. Then the village becomes fe-
verish, rs the rival hotels whang their
gongs, the opposing four-horse stages
crack their whips and "bob" their flash
ing lomps, and many leathery voices
shout the names of the neighboring
towns and inns. In an experience of
several weeks / have never seen this
trouble result in more than five to ten
passengers to the entire train, but the
electric effect is satisfying.
The minor but more enduring place
of resort is the livery stable. From the
juvenile period to the senile, have
never disguised my affections for first
class, well-kept horse hotel. There is
nothing elevating about it, except the
noble boaTders, and there is nothing
depressing unless a co-partnership ex-
lists with an undertaken. The breed OF
original elCquence used in an anxious
sale hy true horseman is u sort of
cross between OSsian and Tennyson, and
his opinion on the topics of the day
10 always backed by strong and fearless
argument. Then there is a summer
charm about the clean and well sprin-
killed. front and huge doorway, near
which stand rheumatic but hospital
chairs In which | have learned to tilt
back at proper livery angle; to open
the small blade of my knife and gouge
the front of the wooden seats; to chew
straw in the corner of my mouth, and
10 shut one eye and gaze dreamily out
Of the other at chance questicner
One morning while engaged in this
soothing occupation in front OF the Col
ton stables, ] lifted my active eye and
negligently surveyed yellow horse and
Mexican rider, who was trying to sell
the outfit to Mr.. Jenkins, proprietor Of
the home-like stables. The owner Of q
neighboring grocery translated the re-
suit of five minute dialogue for me,
which developed that the horse was q
favorite of recently buried brother;
that the bereaved speaker could not
bear to see the mournful animal around,
and would sell him with saddle and
bride for $40-'truly a gift, senor."
He was informed that the wretched
state of trade had already caused nu-
merous horses to eat their heads off and
that the horse was not wanted at any
price. Now the doctor had recently
advised me to indulge in horseback
riding, and [ dropped my chair to a
perpendicular and scrubbed on the
margin of newspaper: "Offer him
$50 tor the whole rig for me-"
John Jenkine cnewed the paper re-
ilectively and in Los Ange los Spanish
thought she knew of a man who would
give SO" The apparently disguised
Mexican galloped eastward, and con
trary to the prediction of the discussing
party at the stables, did not return to
offer the horse for thirty and continue
the trade.
"That greasers' boss had blood in
him, and I'll bet he was lively quar-
ter nag" said John Jenkins, as stroll,
ed to the stable in the afternoon.
Looked gentle too" he added mu-
singly, as we settled down into our
seats for mingled discussion of
bride, the buried owner, and the
points" of the unusual horse; but
further comment was interrupted by
the arrival of two horsemen who rein
ed up hastily from furious pace and
addressed Mr.. Jenkins in good Ameri,
can: "Seen follow ride by here on q
clay-bank horse, fine saddle and real
silver on the bridle?" Mr.. ]. shifted the
straw in his mouth and laconically re.
piled: "Yes, where from?" ''Tha'
boss was stolen from Ell Bontep said
the stranger, rs he raised in his stirrups
to give additional emphasis to the recita
of this unheard of sacrilege, did you
buy him?" he added scornfully. Johr
Jenkins flushed up trif1e as he looked
around on his four companions ano
slowly responded: mo. Offered TWEEN
ty. He asked forty"
Offered twenty for the best shor