River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-04-22
4 TALE OF TWO TOWNS
BY CoLEM PATrIsON.


are sleeping through period Of dull
ness caused by over trading, with ac-
companying two per cent. mortgages,
lazness and lack of outlet for any pro-
duct except decreasing bullion.
The period of enforced leisure Is utl-
lied by the various neighoorhoods &C
cOrding 10 popular taste, and ranges
from mental exertion in literary clubs
to DEMONSTRATING. 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 will contain an
old-fashioned, Mexico California town
with adobe houses, plenty of grimy sa-
looms and a narrow street, IN which
a gentleman of risky taste may still
clink his spurs, flourish lis smoking
revolver, and call attention to his re-
semblance to the occlot Of Cajou Pass,
with fur foot long ana brushed the
wrong way.
That elevated fur il famed back by
whistling bullet, knives flash, execra-
tons resound and the country or town
gang disappear before the turmoil
ceases. There Is a sequestration and Il
burial. In the evening the matter is
talked over in the aguardiente den, with
aprobable row over the details. Last
week only three were killed, but addi-
tional excitement was furnished by the
descent of government officers upon q
prime factory of the queer OF such
is me town Of FL 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 subdGed look. The clti
Gems point with pride to the steeple of
Presbyterian church, which IS paid for,
and consider the wearing of revoivers
bad form. II is the railroad station for
several larger towns in the interior and
the 'boiting' station for Arizona passen-
gers. the depot from 6 to d. m, and
from to S p. m. C ntains the great ex-
element OF the day, especially Ill the
evening, when the Yuma express
rushes into Cotton from Frisco, with
much escaping stea NJ and ecreeching
brakes. Then the village becomes fe-
yerisn, as the rival hotels whang their
gongs, the opposing four-horse stages
crack their whips and dob" their flash
ing lomps, and many leathery voices
shout the names Of the neighboring
towns and inns. In an experience OF
several weeks l 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
If resort is the livery stable. From the
Juvenile period to the senile, l have
never disguised my affections for first
class, Well-kept horse hotel. There IS
nothing elevating about it, except the
noble boaIders, and there Is nothing
depressing unless a CO-0artnershlp ex-
lists with an undertaken. the breed OF
original elOquence used in an anxious
sale by true horseman is IL sort of
cross between Ossian and TennysOn, and
his opinion on the topics of the day
is always backed by strong and fearless
argument. Then there is summer
charm about the clean and we'll sprin-
kled front and huge doorway, near
which stand rheumatic but hospital
chairs in which l have learned to tilt
back at d 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
to shut one eye and gaze dreamily out
of the other at a chance questicner
One morning while engaged in this
soothing occupation in front OF the Col
ton stables, l lifted my active eye and
negHgently surveyed yellow horse and
Mexican rider, who was trying to sell
the outfit to Mr.. Jenkins, proprietor of
the hOme-,ike stables. The owner of q
neighboriDg grocery translated the re
suit OF five minute dialogue for me,
which deve loped that the horse was a
favorite of recently buried brother;
that the bereaved speaker could not
lear to see the mournful animal around,
and would sell him with saddle and
bride for $40-'truly a gift, senior. "
He was informed that the wretChed
state of trade had already caused nu-
merOus horses to eat their heads oil 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 q
perpendicular and scrubbed on the
margin of a newspaper: "Otfer him
$25 Tor the whole rig for me-"
John Jenkine cnewed the paper re-
hectively and in Los Ange los Spanish
thought che knew of 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 &c
offer the horse for thirty and continue
the trade.
THAT greasers' boss had blood il
A - -, ltyypfx~ ny
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 oul
seats for a 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 a furious pace and
addressed Mr.. Jenkins In good Amerl
can: "Seen follow ride by here on 9
clay-bank horse, fine saddle and rea
silver on the bridle?" Mr. J. shifted the
straw in his mouth and lac nically re
piled: "Yes, where FRONT" Tina
hoss was stolen from FL Bontel" sale
the stranger, rs he raised in his stirrups
to give additional emphasis to the recita
of this unheard of sacrilege, odd you
buy him?" he added scornfully. JohI
jenkins flushed up trifle as he looked
around on mis- four companions and
slowly responded: mo. offered TWEEN
ty. He asked forty"
"Odered twenty for the best shor
racer in Bonte," roared the outraged
owner with protoxide irony, "maybt
that boss ai'nt in your back CORE
now" he continued as he unconsciousl!
placed his hand on his holster. At Thu
iuucture remembered curious car
riage robe in the office which | ha(
long desired 10 examine critically. A
stepped into dark corner | heard
clicking sound, which seemed to ME a
loud as a make ready in reglmenta
dress parade, mingled with the cain
voice Of John jenkins: when gen J
man of Cotton says to gen1'men of L
BOnte, hain't got your boss, wat NOR,
do gen'fmen of FL Bonte WANT
crodched down to avoid the common
fate Of the innocent spectator, anC
found l was examining the fur of the
sleeping watch dog, Snaps, who was re
puted to let go his hold only By red-ho
iron. Planting myself under a side
saddle heard the 'Bontese.' who haC
heretofore kept silent, say, in quicl