The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-03-07

10y Sol. tot91e came into the saloon,
looking as solemn as though he had lost
ms wife or hot toddy. The colonel
parted his coat tails deliberately before
the stove, and asked whether there had
been fight there. He was informed of
the fracas that had just occurred. and
the mysterious actions of the fellow who
had insisted upon keeping other peoples
noses clean were soon made clear by the
colonel.
Last Mondayn said the colonel "a
seedy little customer claiming to belong
on the klamath reservation applied to
me for Il situation as hostler All that
he wanted was his board, mind YOU. and
he has been with me three days, and is
$50 ahead OF me. The first day one of
the horses was taken lame, and he said
he wanted some Xxx horse liniment to
rub on the animals limb. At the time
| was standing in the stable door, and
be was washing the buggy in the alley.
| told him there was q bottle of the lini-
nlent above the granary door. He said
there wasn't a drop OF liniment in the
stable. [ glanced around and saw the
bottle that had placed above the door
just the day before he commenced work
1t was half full | told him So Then
he commenced to get angry and said he
guessed be knew what was around the
stable and what was net, and he'd bet
$50 there wasn't any horse medicine III
the stable. Thinks | to myself, III take
the conceit out Of the smart Aleck, and
[ put $50 in sight and he covered it. |
got down the bottle. 1t was empty. The
id fool had painted the lower half of
it black. He said he always painted
stable bottles that way, as he pocketed
the coin. He had used all the liniment
that morning.
~ esterday afternoon | went out to
the stable and found the hostler looking
intently at two pigeons on the roof. |
asked him whether those pigeons had
any particular fascination for him. He
said they hadn't only he was wondering
which would fly first. We gazed at
them about minute, when he said he'd
bet $50 that the one on the north end Of
| knowing that it was no horse medicine
bet. as i stood as good a chance Of win
ming as he did. The stakes were no
sooner laid on the fence post than his
pigeon few / left Immediately for the
| house, madder than a wet hen, and just
500 out Of pocket on the philanthropic
hostler who worked for his board. | got
to studying the matter over and | went
back to the stable. The philanthropist
was not to be seen about the premises. |
climed up in the hay NOV. One look at
q hole in the roof and a string dangling
from the rafters with few pigeon feath-
ers on it, satisfied me that [ had taken
another dose OF horse medicine.
This evening, when [ went to the
barn, / found the new hostler looking
very gloomy He looked as though his
conscience was troubling him, and |
thought maybe he would tighten his
burden of remorse by giving me back
the money he had sWindled me out OF.
SAYS I, 'Lack, what's the matter?' 1
feel as though something dreadful was
going to happen to me, and when feel
that way | am never disappointed. 4
calamity is hanging over me, and it will
be sure to strike before morning. [ felt
real sorry for the fellow, and | tried to
cheer him UP. It's no use, Colonel. Ill
bet $50 that I get knocked down three
/ times before morning, and perhaps
something worse. Put up your coin,
saws I. and as he deposited two tWenties
and ten in the hands Of Bill Sykes,
who happened to be passing by, he be
oan to hook more cheerful. | com-
menced to think the fellow had a mania
for betting, and hardly knew what he
was about. ] IkneW that he was very
peaceable fellow, having seen nm Iake
any manner Of insults from the round
, ers wheh he first struck the town. Well
guess you fellows know the rest.
lust met Sykes few minutes ago, anc
he said that he had turned over tat
stakes to Zack on the strength OF dis
|, jointed neck, black eye, and q two
: inch cut on his forehead. Tomorrow
ZaclS will get his papers. I'm down OF
J, cheap labor, anyhow. Come up, boys
: and take small libation with me.
Too Mean to Live.