The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-02-16
MONTANA JAKE.

punched steers on the SteppeS of Texas, sent bullets bcarin, hIs trade mark through the war paint of Arizona Apaches and hunted for diamonds and moss agales in the gloomy gulches of Montana buttes. Hls hair, straight as the sc ,lp lock,of Comanche brave, hung over his massive shoulders like dark cloud, and his face, though no, extremely fascinating, was far from being unpre- possessing and his gentle disposition had made him a general fayori.e with the boys.
 He wss always flush his luck al the iAro table kept his purse in ! plcthoric condition and his friends received the bench; of his wealth, for Jake was gener- ous 10 fault, and his money flowed as freely as water.
 There was a young dentist in the town who was constructed ai Ger the plan of 4 dude, and he conceived the idea of play iHa !, Joke on ike. He proposed 10 ini- tate him into the sooiety of The United Ten, ar organization 10 consist of ten members, who were ,o De bound by oa,hs Of the most sacred character to stand by each other Tn case of financial enbarrass- ment or other trouble. Oi course the so ciety was hoax; the Idea was 10 get
 ake to pay s5o initiation. and while he vas bllndiolded and bound preparatory ,o being Jed into the mysteries of the order. to submit him to tests of very rigid nature. The dentist talked the matter up and found crowd that fell m with his scheme and II was concluded that the dentists office should oe used as the lodge rooms, and on the night of the initiation they should ali get up there and wrapping themselves in sheets. stand round the room and groan and utter hid- eous shreks, while ten or d dozen of the others would conduct the initiation. lake was interviewed and fell in with the idea quite readily ana promptly planked down hls $50 Tn advance. The night selected for his acceptance arrived, the boys were all Tn place, and al 10 clock the victim stood in the ante room oi the dentists apartments blindtolded and bound reaay for the saerinee. The hour had arrived and the dentist and h!s assistant, grasped
 ake each by an arm; the door swung open and he was ushered into the dimly lighted apartment. As lake crossed the threshold his toe struck bar of railroad iron, and he fell forward with a heavy ,hud to the floor.
 Who comes there! :" asked a sepul- chral voice.
 "One whs wishes to become one of us, and take upon himself the obligations of your holy order," replied the dentist.
 " Let the candidate be seated on the throne of justice" commanded the first voice in a gravey ard accent.
 ake by this tune had regained his per pendicularity aad he was led to a chair on the seat of which several carpet ,acks had been placed with the inquisitive end upwards on being asked 10 be seated he dropped conn .ently down on the taoks only io rise with yell and a suddenness that caused the animated sheets 10 shlf, uneasi'y in ,he,t positions. When ake had become quie, the man with the se- puichral voice said "'Tis we'll h.. has been tried; he has been weighed in the balance oi ustice and has not been found wanting. his conscience Is tender le; the brother be placed on the anvil ot pre- caution. that hls temper may be ,ried' ake Was led to the centre of the apart ment, and the dentist and his asslstan, took their position on either side of him each took d bag, shaped like large bo- logna sausage n his hands the bags lad $ been stuffed with sawdus,, and blow !. from one oi them. while not dangerous f would lay person out in shor, order All was ready and the sepulohrai voice said . Do you hereby as:ee to stand by Us :''
 ! do ; before iics could finish the answer the stuffed 5as It on the back o
 h.S neck and shoulders and he va:
 knocked down under washs,and III ,ns
 corner.
 He was dragged out and rough; inc , position again.
 " Do you promise ,c control your tenn. D pc, d, ali times
 1 do; ,ha, tune the bag hi, hin
 with the force oi a landslide and wher he stopped he was lammed in between q book case and coal stove tha, seemed bent on making 1t as unpleasant, for hin as possible, by raising biisters on hi. legs.
 i Not a murmur had escaped the lips O , ake, and when he was led out the mar with the hollow voice said "Deal broth , CT. you have withstood the ,es; with q | tortltude that bespeaks your worthlnes: os becoming one of us. You are now ,e
 be put to the last and most rigid test. Il : YOU pear this as you have borne he l others the highest honors ot the socie,,
 shall be conferred upon you. Brother
 Conductor. lead the candidate to the
 Chair ot Distraction"
 Slowly lake was led up ;e the dentists
 char and settled himselt s.th l suspicious
 air that indicated .ha, the impression le,l by the tacks had no, been eradicated !. from his mind. In compliance with the request otthe dentist he leaned back and : opened his mouth. Csrasping pair oi inceps, the tooth pHllcr buckled 10 one ' I lakies back teeth, and commenced ;o .. .. !. ank while his assistant held the victim $ cad down. This was too much for the
 COW boy: his nerves went all to pieces as
 he felt the grip of the forceps. and he
 commenced to struggle. In his efforts to { get free he somehow loosened the rope. { on his hands and got them free. To tea, h the bandage from his eyes was the work n of but minute when he Szw .he t,!