The Osceola times., 1883-10-20
BUD HENDBY'S FATE,
A Drummer's Introduction ID tiis
Life of Arkadelphia.

Two men were seated side by side in
train on an Arkansaw railroad, talking
about one thing and another. One OF
them was a drummer; the. second one
seemed to be Texas stockman.
where will we get supper ?" asked 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 it in
one-half hour when Bud is away than
there is in two graveyards in six weeks"
"Well, / hope Bud will be in town
when we get there
"If you knew him ! don't think you
would talk that way. He has killed nine
men already"
ooh, he is desperate, is he ?"
"Not altogether. He is man with
grievance but the principal cause of his
trouble is that he is short-sighted. |
really don't think he would have killed
half as many as he did if it had not been
for his defective eyesight."
"I don't understand what his bad eye
sight has to do with his murderous ten.
dencies."
"I1l have to tell you the whole story
l expect that am really the cause of the
poor fellow g troubles. He does not want
to kill any human being but one, and
am the man."
| "You?'
"Yes, your humble servant. Bud and
| were 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 Hamlet's father aside. / told
him if he, without saying anything, were
to fail to go on the stage in the ghost
scene / would give him check for a
hundred dollars He was to go into his
dressing-room, which opened on the
stage, but was to subsequently disappear
through side window. He was puz-
zled, but when he saw the check he &C.
cepted the offer. After Han 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 a most tragic manner, was going
on about his father. Being short-sighteJ,
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. prodded him
} in the rear. He trotted on to the stage,
and, after casting an aiiecionate look on
, Hamlet, he broke out with prolonged
bray. This was more than the audience
could stand. They roared 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, be
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 shed
tears. Well, it leaked out that was the
guilty party. Before 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 90 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. | expect to have
fight with Bvd, 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"
"Arkadelphiaw 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 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 vivc. He had also been
on 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 to 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 Of
the enemy of poor Bud and Miss Birdie