The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-15
DAN LEVAN.
A Florida Type-Half Desperate and nan
Courteous, Hospitable Gentleman

DAN LEVAN.
A Florida Type-Half Desperate and Hail
Courteous, uospitable Gentleman.
philadelphia Times.J
. Tbere.v said the Major touching me
with his impressive forefinger, you
wanted to see type OF the Florida des-
perado; there Is one now, getting OIL MS
mule If the bar.room." i turned quickly
In nv chair, and this is what saw: n
medium-sIzed man OF about fortV-
five. figure compact and well pro-
nortioned, well-shaped head, coy-
cred with coarse. black hair. nm
kempt and bristing, surmOunted by an
immense wool hat, black and dirty, that
had seen the storms and suns OF many
wears: faded white band traced of the
brim. which tapped at nearly every move
ment: the ewes were small, deep-sct, black
as let. vicious, cruel, and slightly frown.
inc: mouth wide, but well-shaped, filled
with strong, double teeth; the face bronzed
and Notwithstanding; the voice soft ana
rs sweetly modulated as woman's.
The clothing was that usual with the
cracker: coarse. snuff-coOred. and rough
brOganS covered the rather small feet.
..Tbat is Dan Levan," continued the
Major: "ugy rs a fiend when excited by
liquor; kind, sOciable, and friendly when
sober. and dead game all the time. lie has
been beaten with clubs, stabbed aid cut
with knives, shot and left for dead, and
here he is strong and hearty as ever, prodi-
pal with his money to the last degree, and
always tights square and open. There
is nothing OF the assassin in Dams nature,
but he is bad man to fool with, and much
wiser than he makes out to be.
u remember once when we went over
into fernando county after cattle some OF
them south Florida COWBOYS jumped on
him one night in shanty rum-mill. They
saw he was stranger, and so bantered
him for a game OF cards. they didn't
have to coax much," said the Major,
warming up. "fOr Dan plays very cold
hand at poker. and can always be per-
suaded to Join in little game, unless he Is
too drunk to see the cards. 30 they SAT
down to the little rough pine table and the
game began. There were three OF the
COWBOYS and only one OF Dan, 50 they
thought they had soft thing OF 1t. Wen,
| i'm a little while Dan saw that they were all
playing against him and cheating beside,
| but he didn't let on one bit, and didn't get
excited either-bleSS you, he never does
| that-but he took out his plug OF tobacco,
pulled out his clasp knifc-and 4 big one
| It is. too-cut oil big chew. and calmly
put il in his mouth. They were all watch
Ing him, but, gentlemen, he fooled them
all. When he put his knife back in his
pocket, why he didn't put it back, that's
all. He laid it, open just as it was, in his
lap, and the game went on.
~ forget what the hands were exactly,
but the stakes were heavy, and there was
right smart Of money on the table-some-
thing like 1920 / think. -Four aces won
the pot, but when the cowboy reached out
for it he couldn't get his hand off the Ia
BILE, for, you see, Dan had pinned it fast to
the table with his knife. The sneaking
thief gave yell Of pain, and his comrades
jumped up from the table. but Dan had
them covered with self-cocklng shooter
with six eyes to it, and they knew enough
to keep quiet and not attempt to draw.
Dan made them hold up their hands
while he relieved them OF the weapons !;
then he shot out the light in the bar-roOm,
mounted his mule-the same one you see
thcre-and rode Off 1t all happened in less
time than it takes me to tell it, but one OF
the cowboys said aiterward that he never
thought man could look as ferocious AS
Dan did that night. He said his black hair
stood up like spikes, his eyes booked like
two points OF fire, and his voice meant a
funeral at very short notice"
81 know Dan we'll" said the Judge, Ia
king up the conversation, land if you
ever chance to be in his part Of the cOun-
try and are looking for place to stop at
over night, 90 to his house."
well" SAID |, latter listening to the
Majors story. don't know rs Mr.. Levan
is the particular sort Of landlord | should
admire"
"There's where you are wrong, my
boy" continued the Judge. Dan Leyan
is as hospitable as an Arab, and will treat
YOU like Il prince-Iar better tan many Of
your heightened friends would. | have
been a guest Of his and know what | am
talking about. He will give you the very
best he has-plenty OF bread and meat and
flee sweet pOtatOes-and all this with Il
royal hearty welcome. He will bring out 4
little brown jug with cOrncob stopper,
ard turn his back to you while you are
drinking, so that you will be simply on
your honor regarding quantity. When
night comes you will get the only bed
there is in the house, and Dan and his
family viii sleep on the floor. In the
morning you will find n Florida bath-tub
"a natural sink) ready for you, with gourd
Of soap and clean towel. Then you sit
down to hot breakfast, and after that, il
you are little puzzled as to the proper
road to take, Dan will get on his mule and
ride all day with you, ii necessary, 10 put
you IN the right direction. And remenl-
Der that all this is without any charge
whatever, for Dan would consider It 4 per-
sonal Insult il YOU would offer him any
compensation. He is always glad to have
you for guest il you can appreciate his