Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-09-10
"PoKER BILL" /"


How Ne Woke Up tue Wrong MAN
A correspondent of the Tribune wr,Iing
from Flagstaff, Arizona, says " ioker
Bill's" place OF business is 10 one oI .pe %
dozen rude log huts burrowed into the
hillside and shaded by the pines. Thence
"Poker Bill " emerged the other morning
wearing n grim and truculent aspect, ana
started rapidly down the so called street.
Tho lounaers who sat all day beneath the
deer's head nailed to the front Of the chief
store reused themselves from their patient
waiting for somebody to set mp the
pixep," and originated the proposition
that "somethin's up"
For once they unwittingly told the
truth. "Poker Bilp' took his way down
the track to the depot--a term applied to a
freight car fitted up as Office. Presently he
returned to his cabin and when he reap
peared his six shooter vas belted to his
side. The loungers became visibly ami
mated. When Poker Bill was seen
to be bound for the depot again, an air OF
cheerful expectancy psrvaded the group.
Il was felt proper that either the Justlce
OF the peace or the storekeeper, VINO were
sitting on barrels near the par, shouii
invite the crowd to "irrigate" in view Of
the stirring times which had so suddenly
come upon them.
Meantime "Poker Bill" had been
stopped and questioned by friend, who
careiessly drawled in parting That
thar station agents a bad man" But
Poker Bill 4" would not be deferred
His beady eyes glittered wickedly aud his
hand softly caressed the handle Of his 10
volver. When he disappeared into the
depot he looked the dime novel picture OF
q bloodthirsty and invincible desperado
Among the loupgers it was whispered that
dispute had arisen between " Bill " and
the station agent regarding the payment
of charges on an express bundle. A few
bets were quietly made on the question
whether the station agent would be killed
or MANNED The justice of the peace, al.
though fully alive to the interest OF the
occasion, recolleoted business elsewhere,
for he had no desire to enter into rela
tion unpleasantly antagonistic to " Poker
Bill"
Suddenly all thu patient walters leaped
to their feet, although there had been no
sound of shots. Such sight as they be
held had never been seen since Antelope
Spring was known to the white man. Odt
from the door OF the station agents car,
piunging headlong to the ground, came
"Poker Bill" propelled by q terrible kick.
He was without his "six shooter his
waistcoat had been torn off, and his r,-
naming clothing bad collected most Of
the dust from the car floor. He gathered
himself up, lodged under the car, aud ran
up towards the town, shielding his head
with his arms and evidently expecting to
be followed by a bullet. There is no need
Of explanations. "What did yer do with
yer gun, Bill ~ asked one of the 40 longer
respectful crowd as he passed. - left
it," snarled "Bill," and the point
was not pressed, as "Bill was
known TO possess other weapons. He
equipped the justice aud two others with
shot guns and rifles. Thus heavily loaded
the force moved upon the car and demand
ed the return OF "Bilps" gun and waist
coat. Having obtained the articles, ac |
cumpanied by much satirical language |
from the agent "Bilr' retired TO his
cabin. From its door throughout the day
issued mighty stream of highly favored
and picturesquely embellished profanity.
" Poker Bills" sun had set, aud his enc
mics had seen his fall Nevertheless the |
great saw mill in the opening across the |
track buZzed on as usual. The cool wind |
swept down from the mountains through
the pines, but Poker Bill' cursed him
self with exceeding bitterness because he
had failed to add fifteenth grave to the
little "Boot Hill Cemetery" near The
coral, whero eleven out OF the fourteen
dead came to their deaths By violence.