The semi-weekly miner., 1883-08-04
OLD REESE, THE TEXAN.
| One Of the Famous Bad Mon Who
Loved Little Children.

Laredo (Tex) Letter in Phila. Times, July 2.
I met "Old Reese'' here for thu
first time in 1874 and renewed the &C
quaintance yesterday. He is the
typical Texas bad man, and his rec
. ord rs slayer of his fellow men ex.
tends over a period OF twenty-five
years. The first time 1 met him ]
was in a casino here. A Mexican
ball was in full blast, all the games
were running End business at the bar
was fourishing. Suddenly a hush
fell upon the room, the dance
stopped, the gamblers ceased playing
end the freshly ordered drinks re.
maiDed untouched. l looked around
to learn the cause of this unusual
quiet and saw "Old Reese" standing
in the doorway. I had never met
him before, but I at once recognized
him from the description given ME
by his admirers. He did not look
the desperado. HIS eyes were blue
and large He had a dimpled chin,
and his mouth, although firm and
; resolute, was guarded by full, red
lips, and the under one dropped,
which is, according to physiOgno-
|
in woman and efteminacy in a
man. Contrary to the usual fashion
on the frontier, his hair was cut close
and it absolutely curled. He was
dressed ve'y quietly in sober black,
and aside from the rakish sombrero
which shrouded his face might have
passed for an indOlent divinity stu
dent with more soul for things carnal
than spiritual. He stood in the door
way for minute and then advanced
into the center of the room. His
blue eyes roamed around the apart
ment and finally rested on long
haired fellow sitting at one of the
monte tables. They burned now
with new fire and a cruel line
closed about his mouth. The long
haired fellow shifted about uueom-
fortably, bat did Lot offer to draw
one OF the numerous six-shooters
which bristled in his belt. Finally
"Old Reese" spoke, enunciating his
words slowly and with great dis
tinctness.
"Sam Sturgis," he said, and the
long haired fellow started, if I
thought you were half the man you
claim to be would kill you where
you sit" He paused moment and
then continued; when kill man
I want him to be good one. You
are dirty thief and contemplate
coward to sit there and take it,"
| There was nothing of the bully in
this declaration, or rather there was
no bravado in his way of making it.
One could see that he meant what he
said, and the long haired fellow
seemed to be so convinced, for he
never raised his eyes, and his hands
hung listless by his side. He rested
uncomfortably under the steady
blaze of ''OId Reese's" eyes, how
ever, and finally raised his head.
Old Reese pointed to the door.
"Git!" he said. ''And if you don't
want me to forget myself and kill
coward never get in my way"
The long-haired fellow rose to his
feet and skunk away. His masters
eyes followed bim to the door, and
when it closed behind him he walk
ed to the bar and invited everybody
up to drink. AL responded, Tor it
was we'll known that Old Reese con-
sidered it mortal insult to refuse
his hospitality and would be pretty
apt to shoot the man who was reck-
less enough to refuse his invitation.
1 noticed that ne drank only water
himself, and the friend who intro
duced us afterward told me that Old
Reese was strictly temperate.
"He has nc small vices" said this |
admirer. HE neither drinks, chews,
smokes nor curses, but if you think |
he amt old on the shoot, just try
him once"
had long conversation with him |
that night, and the more l saw OF |
him the better [ liked him. He had |
a charming manner, was a good con-
versationalist, had read some, OBJ
served more, and never "talked !!
shop" that is, he spoke about him.
self and his many daring deeds with
a great deal Of diffidence and mod
esty. His friend gave me the history
of his trouble with the long-haired !
fellow.
"Sturgis is gambler" he said,
land when be first came here every |
body was afraid of him. snd he soon
run the settlement. Old Reese was
away then. He came back here
about two months ago. The day he
returned he was passing along the
street, when he met little boy cry
ing. Old Reese is very fond of chill
dren and they all like him. He
picked the little fellow up, dried his
tears, anG inquired the cause of his
trouble. Between his sobs the boy
told his story. He was the only son
of poor widow woman who lives
down by the river and does washing
for the gamblers. Early in the spring
Sam Stnrgls had employed him to
attend to his horse, promising to pay
him 81 week for his services. Glad
to be able to help mis- mother, the lit
tie fellow took charge of the gamb-
ler's caballO and groomed and fed
him for sixteen weeks. Then Sturgis
sold the animal and his services were
ne longer required. He had just been
in to ask Sturgis for his pay, and the
gambler had not only not paid him,
but had pitched him out of the ca
sino.
"'He kicked you, did he?, said
Reese, and then those blue eyes of his
snapped,
''Yes SIR faltered the boy.
"'And he wont pay you your
money!
"'No SIR whimpered the boy;
and mother needs it,
"'I think he'll pay yon,' answered
Reese You run right home now,
and I'll be down to see you presently
and bring the money
"Sturgis was pretty flush then and
wss running big game. Old Reese
went down to see him. Well, sir, it's
only about week ago that he recov-
cred from that interview and was
able to be about.
"Old Reese walked into the saloon,
called for pen and paper and made
out the following bill:
LAREDO, (Tex) August 4, 1874.
To the Widow Whites Kid, DR..
To herding pony sixteen weeks at 81
per week. Observation-Disclosures. $50 90
To kicking said Kid when he asked for
MS money oO.U
To cost of collection. On.................... 5000
Received payment sl32OO
He walked up to the table where
Sturgis was dealing monte and laid
1 H. l. Iof l.: