The Osceola times., 1884-01-05
BUD HEsDBY's FATE
A prummer,s Introduction 10 t"'
Life of Arkadeiphia'

Tvo men were seated SIDE by slue ih
train on an Arkansaw railroad, taking
about one thing and another one oi
them WAS drummer; the second one
seemed to be Texas stockman'
"Where will we get supper p asked 'he
drummer.
"At Arkadelphia, reckon
@pretty dull place, isn't it p
"That all depends upon circumstances
When Bud Hendby is in town 1t Is usu-
ally lively town; but if he IS SICK .,
away it is the dullest place in the Uni'eu
States. There is more dullness IN II III
one-balf hour when Bud is away than
there is in two graveyards i'll SIX weeks
"Wen, I hope Bud will be in town
when we get there
"If you knew him | don't 'hink you
would talk that way. He has killed nine
men already"
"Oh, he is desperate, is he "
"Not altogether. He is man win
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 fit had not been
for his defective eyesight."
az don't understand what his bad eye
sight has to do with his murderous ten
denotes"
.Tu have to tell you the whole story
| expect that am really the cause oi the
moor fellows troubles. He does not want
to kill any human being but one, and l
am the man."
"YouP"
"Yes, your humble servant. Bud and
I 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 a 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 Hamlets father aside. ! told
| him if he, without saying anything, were
to fail to go on the stage in the ghost
scene would give him a check for a
hundred dollars. He was to 20 into his
| dressing-room, which opened on the
stage. bur was to subsequently disappear
through side window. He was pUz-
| zled. but when he saw the check he ac-
oepted the offer. After Har let's father
/ had left the dressng-room ! smnggled u
| large Kentucky Jack into il. The mel
ancholy Dane was already on the stage,
| and, in most tragic manner, was going
| on about his father. Being short-sig
/ he did not perceive the singular appear
ance of the ghost of his alleged parent"
"'Thou art my iather's ghost said Bud,
in deep thrilling voice.
"Just at that moment ! pushed the
donkey on the stage, and prodled him
in the rear He trotted on % the stage,
/ q.
| Hamlet, he broke ont with a prolonged
bray. This was more than the audience
could stand. Thep reared and cheered
by turns. Miss Birdie nearly went into
mysteries. The more fuss the audience
made the more that donkey, with up
| lifted tai and ears looked at Hamlet and
brayed | thought the people would
never stop laughing. As for II amlet, he
became a melancholy Dane sure enough.
He never said word but when he SAW
the object Of his alteration stutiing a
handkerchief into her mouth he she'd
tears. Well, II leaked out that | was the
guilty party, Before 8 o'clock the next
morning Bud had shot an alderman and
crippled a doctor who looked like me.
As Buds family was very influential, of
course, he was let ont 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 filled 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
a fight with Bud Of course, but ~ | 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"
"Arkadelphia ~ shouted the conductor
The man from Texas adjusted his
pistol and was ABOUT to leave his scat,
when the attention Of everybody on the
car was attracted to a tumult near the
depot An enthusiastic mob was hang
ing man.
'By heavens they are hanging Bud 7"
said the man from Texas
And so they were. Bud, hearing that
his enemy was expected that day, had
been on the qui yiye. lie 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 a very short-sighted
thing for him to de, 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
Swipes