Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-02-06
A GROWING TOWN.
THE MARCH OF CIVILIZATION IN
THE WEST.
WICKED JNs SURPRISE PARTY IN BUNKO.
burlington Hawkeye.l

cipal of public schools.
He had all he could do to carry arount
his load of dignity. Had he added ont
drink of whiskey to his burden he would
have been crushed to earth.
One afternoon it became the painful
duty Of the man Of many honors to pro.
coed to the shanty occupied by Wicked
Jim of Arkansas. and to remark to tina,
individual:
James, it is the sentiment Of this
ere en,erprising town that you git up
and git"
Kin you back them remarks ?" calm
ly inquired the Wicked jim, as he turn
ed over in bed.
81 reckon" whispered the Judge, as
he brought two Colts" TO bear on the
lemon-shAped head not ten feet away.
Wicked Jim surveyed the situation
without q wink, and after the lapse OF
seventy seconds he placidly remarked:
"rll GIT"
"When ,"
"Soon as | can pack"
That'll dew. James," observed the
Judge, and he eased down the hammers
of his revolvers and went away to select
site for college.
Wicked Jim betrayed no particular
emotion as he went about his work pack
ing up, and at the end Of an hour, when
be rode his mule out upon the Campus
Martius, with all his traps made fast to
the saddle, no one could have suspected
the VesuviGs raging in his heart. A
crowd had gathered to see him off.
Gentlemen" said the Wicked Jim,
as he bowed himself to the right and left,
II spit upon your town Of Bunko. | lean
build better one Of sand and greasel
1t amt fit town fur an aristocrat like
me, and I've allus knowed il, ~
At this point three or four individuals
on the outskirts Of the crowd began
shooting, but the Wicked Jim took no
notice of the fact as he continued:
The lion can't partner with the jack
al The eagle can't mate with the buzz
zard Sinks, sluggers, ours and rep.
tiles, go!'
Here the shooting increased one-half,
and, one Of the bullets passed through
the Wicked's hat as he raised i, and con.
tinued.
but l will return, and when do
look out for oceans Of gore In less
than year III dump your town into the
river and hold the site fur private grave
yard! Whoop! Yip-yi. whoop!"
The Wicked held two shooters on the
crowd as he galloped of, and the result
was two men killed and three wounded.
A hundred bullets whizzed around the
fugitive, but he turned the bend with
out having received scratch.
Twelve months had passed away. 1t
was evening when FIVE horsemen rode
slowly into Banko. Wicked James rode
at the head Of the procession. He had
come to fulfill his promise, and there was
blood in his eye.
"How's this ere queried the Wicked
Jim, as the band reached the brow of the
hill and looked upon the town.
Gas lamps were now burning in every
direction.
The procession moved down to the
spot where the Red Eye saloon had stood
q year before, and again the Wicked Jim
uttered growl of surprise.
The saloon had disappeared, and in
its place stood a solid brick building
bearing the sign; Manufacturers Bank"
The procession moved down to the
next corner over freshly laid pavement.
In place of "The Can Can Dive" was
fine opera house, and across the street
was a great hotel.
Like men who walk on the steep roof
of house the procession moved down to
the public square. This was the spot
from which the Wicked Jim had taken
his departure year ago. No! 1t can't
be! Here are blocks Of stores, q street
ear line, market house, another hotel,
railroad ticket Office, a police station.
and public museum!
The Wicked Jim rubbed his eyes like
man who has slept too long. and he
looked this way and that in dumb amaze
ment. By and by he said
boys, let's gin one old fashioned yell,
and break this mirage"
They yelled in chorus.
The echo had not yet died away when
men wearing uniforms and silver stars