The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-02-15
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A Desperate Duo.
How Pair Of Cowboys were Unmasked
by an Aged Stock Raiser
Denver Nexs.l

Denver News,l
The first thing that tenderfoot does when
he comes to Denver is to wonder where the
mountains are and then to look about for the
standard desperate of Eastern literature. The
mountains are, Of course, dimly discernible in
the distance, although the tenderfoot-is not al
ways exactly certain whether they are the eter-
nal hills or only an unsubstantial bank of cloud.
A similar hallucinstion is apt to be expert
enced with regard to the Desperate. The hir-
suite youth. with a cartwheel hat, who islooked
upon as embodying all of the characteristics of
a dime novel or literary weekly here, generally
turns to be no more man-slayer than the
clouds are composed Of granite.
The threatening presence of police station
has encouraged the bold, bad men who kill for
fun to emigrate, and the wide-hatted, long
haired, sanguinary-looking fellows who hang
around the Denver street corners are for the
most part hollow limitations of the bloodthirsty
heroes of fiction. Most of them, however, are
quite willing to be mistaken for Buffalo
Bills" and use no little braggadocio OF harm
less kind, Rith view of giving themselves
reputation for homicidal tendencies This de-
sire to appear terrible is well understood among
themselves, and when one of them wishes to
say something particularly flattering of an
other he generally INDUCES in language which
would by many be looked upon as extremely
libelous.
Two of these worthless recently entered a
railway car in which News man was seated
They were picturesquey attired in sombreros,
rubber boots and pearl-colored suits of military
cut. They glowered around the car moment
and then seated themselves and commenced
xuhienarad conversation ThOUOhfq of train
robbers flashed through the minds OF the ten
der feet in the train and servative-look-
ing old gentleman was noticed to surTeptitious-
ly slip his gold watch and pocketbook under
the cushion. Suddenly one OF the wild
Bills stood up and there was general move
ment among the tenderfeet to throw up their
hands and to allow the supposed desperadoes TO
get through with their work of acquiring their
booty as expeditiously as possible. But gem
eral feeling of relief was experienced when it
was found that the bloodthirsty looking fellow
merely wanted to borrow a chew Of navy"
from an acquaintance in the opposite end OF
the car.
He had scarcely left his seat, however, when
his companion turned to his nearest fellow
passenger, and remarked
"That's the hardest man in Colorado"
'Has he killed anybody"
'Killed anybody? You betcher life. Morn
why that's Dead Shot Bill. Never has to
waste second cartridge: Always takes 'em
an inch above the right eye"
SIS he robber?" hesItatingly inquired the
passenger whom Dead Shot Bills companion
had taken into his confidence.
NAV! He amt nothin' Of that sort. He
kills for sport. Wouldn't steal nothin'."
might inquire If he has shot any one quite
recently?"
'Waai, no; not since week ago Friday that
/ can recollect on"
This was carefully noted down by stout,
fat gentleman, who appeared to be all ears and
looked as though he might be an English tour
ist.
"Well, don't the authorities make any at
tempt TOTO restrict his amusement"
Authorities? Guess not why he's Sheriff
himself of this county, and since he shot the
last Judge for timing him for contempt of court
when he shot lawyer that had the impudeDce
to say that fellow the sheriff had taken in
for stealing a horse wasn't the right man, there
hasn't been anybody felt like taking his
place."
Then he rose and joined his bleody-named
sIso--ou snow these men?" asked the News
man of a quiet looking stockman, who had got
on at the same station
''Know them? Well, yes, I've known them
for few weeks since they came from the
East, and hired them to look after flock OF
sheep, and I've had to let them go because
they were afraid to leave the ranch on account
of the Indians-in their minds"