The Osceola times., 1884-07-26
BLOODY BILL, THE TERROR.
His Meeting with a Quiet Stranger In "A
Texas Barroom.
Houston Post

Houston Post
"Whoop-la, whoopw thundered a
hairy, herculean, beavily-armed terror
of terrible fellows, as he kicked open
the rickety door Of the Frontier Saloon
and glanced threateningly upon the
quiet crowd within. With quiet swag-
ger and many horrible oaths he alvan-
ced to the bar and said:
'lIow's biz ter-day, Toddyman?'
Dull, Bill, dull. Can't yer help me
out?"
"Of co'se | can-an' will" answered
the Terror.
Turning he called out TO the loales
scattered about the room:
Come up, hyer, come up, yer ID
coyotes an treat yo'se'fs, an me, too, at
yo' own expense. That's right" he con-
tnued, as the ten or twelve persons ad-
dressed sprung nimbly from their keg
perches and smiingly expressed their
willingness to accept any invitation,
however worded, the said terror might
extend.
Hump 'er long, -, an in hurry"
he growled, savagely, as he noted one
solitary exception to the unanimity of
the acceptances, 'or by the crook of NV
elbow I'll hurt yer hurt yer bad"
The single exception, however. quiet
ly retained his seat, and neither by gcst-
ure nor speech did he show the slight.
est consciousness of the presence and
the language of the most famous and in
famous, desperate and dreaded devil
that had ever frightened Western
Sheriff into temporary civilty
Great was our Terror's amazement and
greater his wrath when he became con-
vinced that it was actually the intention
of the rash stranger to ignore him and
his mandatory invitation. With huge,
self-acting revolver in hand, he started
toward him. AS ne approached nearer
the silent unknown uncoled his long
legs, and extended himself gradually up
ward, and upward, and upward, until
at last he presented TO our astonished
vision the towering form of the tallest
and thinnest mortal we had ever seen.
NUtH Nlthlll tllftt vi lDuT lttl tltt
Terror paused and said; IL give yer tn
understan' I'm Bloody Bill, the terror of
Sherrufs an the pattern saint Of under
takers Dyer hear me?"
"Oh, yes Pm not deaf" was the reply,
in cool, steady voice.
AN Pm the favorite of hell an the
rival Of de'th an docktors," continued
the desperate.
II l., a. l..
Pm jumping jumbo-am the very
fe'thcr that broke the camel's back-Im
Texas steer stampeded-lm a Curnel
straight from Arkinsaw-an' - yer
look out fur Pm goin' ter shoot % Sim-
ulianeously with the elevation Of the
revolver, the strangers foot flew forward
and upward, the ball meant for his heart
went crashing harmlessly through the
roof and then with a rapidity of move
ment that gave TO his russet brogan the
appearance of chunk of lightning in
mighty hurry he kicked Bloody Bill un-
der tie chin, b. hind the ear, In the
stomach, in the back, on the chin, With
first one foot and then the other, and so
eileciually, too, that the astonisheG and
thoroughly shocked maneater found it
impossible TO use single one of the half
dozen weapons attached to his belt. But
the terror was really brave, and he strug
cled pluckily to upheld and pre- erve
the sanguinary reputation so deai and
profitable to him, unit his slim and
supple antagonist finally terminated the
tight by doublc-foo,e kick that stretch
ed Bloody Bill prone and breathless up
on the floor.
When restored to T. u BUSINESS he ap-
preached the unknon II I'd said:
Fur de las'-but, iust what shall |
call yer? Gencr'l-Dook President"
plain mister" said the other.
What! Yer a plain misterw ex-
claimed the terror, incredluously.
"Jnsso."
IAN right, all right, sense you say so
by thunder! yer deserve promoshun
Now, mister, for sum years Pye thot /
was whole menag'ry in nlysell-lyon,
eleph'nt, wulf, an all that-but I'll be
darned et hit don't look ter-day like II
been runnin' two.bit side show all or
along. Ef argreeyble, sir, I'd like to Farm
who an what yer air"
a." replied the stranger, in deep
grave voice, "am the Great Amerikin
Mule"
God he thanked" gasped the tremb-
ling Terror, 'tha. you didn't have on
yer iron shoes"