The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1883-07-05
Successful Bluff.

As Dusenbery walked into Callahan's
Retreat, the habitucs saw at a glance
that something was about to happen;
for in about half minute there entered
four of the most ferocious-looking ruff
fans who had ever been seen in Fort
Worth. They came with clanking spurs
and fierce boards, two revolvers to each
man and a large bowie knife for lagni-
| appi. and they sat down to table and
called for whisky all around. A tremor
ran through the assembly. Fort Worth's
best citizens were for moment stag
gered. But Dusenbery never quailed.
On the contrary he almost snorted with
JOY as he saw his opportunity to make a
reputation for courage. These men
were strangers, he was backed by y
large number of Fort Worth sharpshoot-
! ers; yea, he would pick fuss with
them. and henceforth be known as a
terror. He had not long to wait. The
strangers emptied their glasses, called
for more, and then, glancing malignant
ly around, they launched forth in furi-
Gus abuse of Texas and Texans, their
language being garnished with that pro-
fusion and ornamentatiOn of profanity
peculiar to the guileless cattle drover.-
As they ceased, Dusenbery, having tax
en- in the situation at glance, arose
and advanced toward the strangers
The Fort Worth men put up their pis-
tolls and sank back in breathless amaze
ment as Dusenbery marched up to the
table at which the strangers sat. His
flashing eyes, his heaving breast, his
tive feet of towering form reduced the
spectators to speechlessness. Even
the strangers paused and seem impress
ed.
"Gentlemen," said Dusenbery, diving
into his trousers and bringing up an
ancient silver watch, ''you have wound
ed the finest feelings of my nature in
your remarks about Texas, and you
must retract them or-but never mind.
I give you five minutes to retract it.
Five minutes to secure your safe return
to home and friends. Five minutes to
avoid grave upon the lonesome plain.
Five minutesm
An awful silence fell upon the crowd.
The blood curdled in the vein of every
Fort Worthian present. What! had
they been treating this fire-eating Terror
with scarcely Yelled contempt? Had
they been absolutely courting death for
years? But just then one of the strangers
recovered his power Of speech and
said:
"Why, stranger, ifyou feel that way
about it, of course we'll cutit short
We didn't mean it for you or any Of
your friends, but was just talking on
loose like"
And with that they all four got up
and skunk out, their six-shooters flop
ping feebly against their hips, and their
very spurs looking dropped and weedy
as they went. With the closing of the
door, Dusenbery's eye reeled in its sock
| et The excitement which had thus far
held him up gave way, and he collaps-
ed, flappy little heap upon the floor.
| The assembled citizens crowded round
him, eager to offer attention to the hero
of the hour, and at last he was rehabili-
| tated sufficiently to admit Of his being
sent home in charge of a special and
confidential friend.
"Why, DOGGY, my boy, you took us
all by surprise. We never thought you
were fighter"
Didn't you?''
'No. Why, don't you know those
| are four OF the worst men IN the cattle
business? And we expected every min
ute to see them 60 to shooting. Were
| you armed?'
swell. had pistol for show, but ]
don't believe it was loaded, and could
mt have fired it, anyhow"
"Great heavens, man, suppose they
had refused to retract, what on earth
would you have done?''
Dusenbery stopped, looked all around
to see if any one were passing, pulled
his friends ear close down to his lips,
and whispered:
.rd have extended the time. ."-Neu
| Orlonus Tiu3eS