Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-11-22
DOUBTING DIXON.

Il don { reckon" observed Emiorant
Blallely, Il don treckon told you any
thing about Doubling Dixon yesterday
when he was talking Of Denver in '53?"
Emigrant Blakely and | were seated
one pleasant summer evening, after a
comfortable supper, in front of the Pax
on House, Omaha Mr.. Blakely had
been labeled ''Emigrant'' because OF
his intimate relations with the land de-
partment Of the Union Pacific railway,
and his interchangeable eXertions in pro-
yiding eastern colonies with new homes
on railroad land in the fresh and Adde'S
cent west.
No, | believe not, /" replied. ''You
told some very interesting anecdotes of
early days on the frontier, but | don't
think you referred to Doubling Dixon. >
No, | b'leiye not Wall, Doubling
Dixon come on from Massachusetts in
1852, | think, an all he had in the world
was about one hundred an fifty dollars
in cash an fOur-ycar-Old kid. He
thought everything of that boy, an Dix
on couldn't very well 90 back on him,
neither, fur the lad was perfect image
of himself-a regular epitome of Doubt
liz 11INJils OlIlI 1lC W Ill luUCn llhclltI.
Dixon was a silent, taciturn sort of
bean-eating Yankee; didn't have much
to say when folks was around, an con-
trived to keep hisself to hisself in the
best kind of shape. He got the name
of Doubling Dixon because he never
seemed to believe in nothing nor nobody
and when anything little out of the
ordinary rut was told to him, he always
kinder threw cold water upon the ac-
count an talked an acted as if he
didn't take no kind of stock in it. OF
course such monkey business as this
rather conveyed the idea to people who
was telling him anything that Dixon
considered them cool, calm and unre-
generate liars.
Dixon staked a claim fifteen miles
out from Denver, put up a shanty, and
lived there alone with his kid. He
didn t come into town oftener than once
a week after some small stores, an
mighty small stores they was, too, [
tell yer. The boys used to wonder what
him and the kid lived on. He generally
come in Saturday nights, an after hang
ing arOun the saloons, stores an post
office q while, he'd pile on to his mule
an pike for his claim. There was anOth-
e. little popularity about Dixon, he
never would drink anything at the bar,
an he didn't ever carry home anything
in a JUG. In consequence of this little
eccentricity, Doubling Dixon was I'M
popular with the boys, an Dixon, his
SELF didn't appear to have any great
an oyerpOwering affection for them. [
said that he was unpopular, an didn't
seem to have many friends. There was
one exception. That was a vicious look
inc York State teller, q gambler, and
the boys all said a skin gambler at that.
He an Dixon We're seen together occa-
sionally, conYersing in low tones, and
everybody wondered why Pistol Grip,
rs this York State chap was called, an
Doubling Dixon should be so thick
when Dixon didn't gamble nor drink
either. One day this Doubling Dixon
struck it rich in his claim, and he sold
out for one hundred and forty thousand
dollars, an he an the kid left the old
shanty an come into town an went to
boardin' at the hotel One Saturday
afternoon Doubling Dixon sat watchin'
a game of billiards in the Senate saloon
an Monte Bill come in, an he says:
''.Dixon, there's lady outside in a
kerridge as wants ter see yer
4 don't know no ladies in Denver,
said Doubling Dixon, trife uneasy,
an | don't believe as any ladies wants
to see me.
Mebbe you think I'm a liar said
Monte Bill, carefully rubbing the nickel.
plate on his revolver with his thumb.
No, won't say you're liar, Bill,
said Dixon meek as 2 lamb sbut T
don't hardly reckon any lady wants to
see me. Who is she?'
4 don't know who she is said
Monte Bill, but she's a lady, an saws
she's got some news from your wife
Doubling Dixon started suddenly
from his chair, an then sat back again
an his face was blue, Just as though he
mad been swimming in ice water for
an hour or so.
u don't believe she has got any
news from my wife, said Dixon.
Wen, come along out an see,'
said Monte Bill Hit amt nouse of
your slttln. here incoming an implying
as II everybody else but you was liar.
come along out an see for Yourself
''When Doubling Dixon got up out
of the chair, he weaved back and forth
minute, as if he was going to fall.
but he braced up, an' went out to the
carriage with Bill. There was a lady
there sure enough. an right hand
some one at that, dressed up to kill, an
diamonds all over her where they'd do
the most good.
Wis this Mr.. Dixon?' said the lady,
fh a most fascinating smile.