Omaha daily bee., 1883-07-13
OLD REESE.
One of the Famous Bad Men of Texas Who
Loved Little Children.

Laredo, TEX, Correspondent Philadelphia Times,
] met sold Reese" here for the first
time in 1874 and renewed the acquaint-
ance yesterday. He is the typical Texas
bad man, and his record as a slayer OF
his fellow men extends over u period OF
twenty-five years. The first time | met
him / was in n casino here. A Mexican
ball was in full blast, all the games were
running, and business at the bar wa
lourishing. Suddenly a hush fell upon
the room, the dance stopped, the gam,
blers ceased playing, and the freshly,
ordered drinks remained untouched.
looked around to learn the cause of this
unusual quiet and saw "Old Reese
standing in the doorway. | had never
met him before, but | at once recognized
him from descriptions given me by his
admirers. He did not look the des-
perado. 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 physiognomists, a sure indication of
weakness in n oma and ~etleminacy in
n man. Contrary to the usual fashion of
the frontier, his hair was cut close, and
it absolutely curled. He was dressed
very quietly in sober black, and aside
from the rakish sombrero which shrouded
his face might have passed for an indo
lent divinity student with more soul for
things carnal thai spiritual. He stood in
the doorway for II minute and then adj
vanced into the middle of the room. His
blue ewes roamcd around the apartment,
and finally rested on a long marco fellow
sitting at one of the mof6r ro 'aoieS a 1drmnseJJ
burned o witt his mouth "'fho long
line Jafellow shifted abo"c uncomforta-
bly,, but did no offer to draw one OF the
numerous ix.shoOters, which brlstled IN
his belt. Finally ''Old Reese" spoke,
enunciating his words slowly and with
great distlnotness
"Sam sturgis," he said, and the long
haired fellow started, 'if ] thought you
were half the man you claim to be
would kill you where you sit" He paused
n moment and then continued: "When
/ kill n man ! want him to be a good one.
You are a dirty thief and contemplate
coward to sit there and take it,"
There was nothing of the bully i'll this
declaration, or rather there was no brav-
ado in his way of making it. One could
see that he meant what he said, and the
long haired fellow seemed to be so CON
WINGED, for he never raised his eyes, and
his hands hung ~listless by his side. He
rested uncomfortably under the steady
blaze of sold Reese's" eyes, however and
finally raised his head. Old Reese point
ed to the door.
Cit" he said. ''And if you don't
want me to forget myself and kill Il coward
never get in my way"
The long-haired fellow rose TO his feet
and skunk away. His masters eye follow
ed him TO the door, and when it closed
behind him he went to the bar and inyi-
ted everybody up to drink. All respond
ed, for it was well known that Old Reese
| considered it a mortal insult to refuse his
hospitality, and would be pretty apt to
shoot the man who was reckless enough
to decline his invitation. ] noticed that
he drank only water himself, and the
friend who introduced us afterward, told
me that Old Reese was strictly temper.
ate.
''He has no small vices" said this adj,
mirer. "Hc neither drinks, chews, smokes
nor curses; but if you think he amt old
HI on the shoot, just try him once"
| had a long conversation withhim that
night, and the more ] saw Of him the
better ] liked him. He had a charming
ing manner, was a good conyersationalist
had read some, observed more, and never
talked shop" that ia, he spoke abou.
himself and his many daring deeds Will