The Osceola times., 1883-11-03
BUD HENDBY's FATE.
A Drummer's Introduction 10 thu
Life of Arkadeiphia.


Te1ss siitings.
Two men were seated side by side IL
train on an Arkansaw railroad, talkin,
about one thing and another. One q,
them was a drummer; the second ono
seemed TO be Texas stockman.
"where will we get supper ?" ask ed the
drummer.
"At Arkadelphia, reckon"
"Pretty dull place, isn't it,"
THAT all depends upon circumstances
When Bud Hendby is in town it is usu.
ally lively town; but if he is sick or
away, it is the dullest place in the United
States. There is more dullness in il in
one-half hour when Bud is away than
there is in two graveyards in six weeks.n
swell, l hope Bud will be in town
when we get there"
"If you knew him don't think Won
would talk that way. He has killed nine
men already"
ooh, he is a desperate, is he ?'
"Not altogether. He is man with
grievance but the principal cause OF his
trouble is that he is short-sighted. I
really don't think he would have killed
half as many as he did if it had not been
for his defective eyesight."
81 don't understand what his bad eve.
sight has TO do with his murderous ten.
dencies."
"Ill have to tell you the whole story
expect that am really the cause of the
poor fellows troubles. He does not want
to kill any human being but one, and
am the man."
"You?"
"Yes, your humble servant. Bud and
| we're rivals for the hand Of Miss Birdie
Swipes, the belle of Arkadelphia. Bud
had the inside track OF me, and saw
that had to resort to strategy. Every.
thing is fair in love or war you know.
There was an amateur theatrical perfor-
nance, in which Bud was to play Ham,
let. He expected to make profound
impression on Miss Birdie in particular
A young man, friend of mine, was to
represent Hamlet's father. The young
man was poor, but he was ambitious to
study for the ministry he didn't have
the money. had money; but what was
money to me as long as Miss Birdie
smiled on Bud Hendby? | took the
ghost of Hamlets father aside. told
him if he, without saying anything, were
| to fail to go on the stage in the ghost
scene l would give him a check for a
hundred dollars. He WAS to 90 into his
dressing-room, which opened on the
] stage, but was to subsequently disappear
through a side window. He was puz-
zled, Lut when he saw the check he ac.
cepted the offer. After Har let's father
had left the dressing room | smnggled
large Kentucky jack into it. The mel
ancholy Dane was already on the stage.
and, in most tragic manner, was going
on about his father. Being short-sighted.
he did not perceive the singular appear
ance Of the ghost of his alleged parent
"'Thou art my fathers ghost, said Bud,
in deep thrilling voice.
"Just at that moment ! pushed the
donkey on the stage, and proddcd him
in the rear. He trotted on to the stage,
and, after casting an aleclionate look on
Hamlet, he broke out with a prolonged
bray. This was mo.e than the audience
could stand. They rOarcd and cheered
by turns. Miss Birdie nearly went into
mysteries. The more fuss the audience
made the more that donkey, with up
lifted tail and ears, looked at Hamlet and
brayed. | thought the people would
never stop laughing. As for Hamlet, he
became melancholy Dane sure enough.
He never said a word but when he saw
the object of his alteration stufiing
handkerchief into her mouth he she'd
tears. Well, it leaked out that was the
guilty party. Before 8 o'clock the next
morning Bud had shot an alderman and
crippled doctor who looked like me.
As Buds family was very influential, Of
course, he was let out on bail. He does
nothing but go about hunting for me, and
the mistakes he has made in taking 9TH
er people for me has filed many grave.
As for Miss Birdie, she was seized with
uncomfortable laughter whenever she
saw him, and inquired about his fathers
health. | went to Texas, started ranch,
and, having amassed money, am coming
back TO Arkadelphia. l expect to have
fight with Bpd Of course, but as | am
not short-sighted, and have learned to
shoot in Texas. | think I'll get away
with him and marry Miss Birdie, who
has admired me ever since played that
trick on Bud.'
"Arkadclphia ~ shouted the conductor.
The man from Texas adjusted his
| pistol, and was ABOUT To leave his seat,
when the attention of everybody on the
car was attracted TO a tumult near the
depot. An enthusiastic mob was hang
ing man.
"By heavens they arc hanging Bud"
said the man from Texas.
And so they were. Bud, hearing that
his enemy was expected that day, had
been on the qui viye. He had also been
on a drunk, and had shot and killed the
most popular man in the town, bar
keeper, who sold on credit, because he
thought the barkeeper was the other
man, which was very short-sighted
thing for him 10 do, and the enraged
populace decided to stand no more of his
nonsense.
Since the above was written, in glanc-
ing over late copy of the Arkadelphia
Mirror, we read the marriage notice oi
the enemy of poor Bud and Miss Birdie