Huntsville gazette., 1885-10-17

| to run the town. Old Mat Tyler was
chief of one faction. and lawyer
named Flip Hanks was leader Of the
other faction. I would be wise.
would say nothing in favor of either
party but would devote my intellectual
energies to building up the town.
One day. when the Spear had been
running several weeks, old Mat came
into the weather-boarded shed which
was called my Office and. after greet
ing me cordially, he said:
'By the way. Brizentine-Bristol, l
mean-how air you getting along?"
every WE'LL"
'Glad to hear it, but it don't peer to
me like you've got the hang Nv things
yit"
'.How-what do you mean?"
"Wall, you don't peer to understand
the needs Nv the town."
.'The interest of the town is my in
terest, and of course l am making it
my study"
You must larn mighty slow, then. =
"Why so?''
because you amt never said word
yit agin that feller Flip Hanks. Thar
amt a bigger scoundrel in the country
an you oughter say so.
"Oh, 1 can not afford to do anything
| like that
IVY KANT your
because it would make him mad
and wouldn't do me any good"
"Uv course it would make him mad,
an that's 'zackly whut you've got to do
eff you ever make anything outen this
paper Lemme tell you whut you do
now: Jes' come out an say that Hanks
is thief. Do it an blame me eft |
don't help you along"
Il can't do that. Mr.. Tyler, but I'll
tell you what will do: will publish
any communication that you may
| write"
"But I'd halter put my name to it,
wouldn't I?"
| Yes"
"No, that wouldn't be business. Us
| folks here air easy set, an somebody
mout think that was prejudiced, an
wouldn't have 'em think thater way
fur putty, but you ken say whut you
please an folks won't pay any 'tention
! to you."
This was a high compliment. but 1
could not comply with old Mats re-
quest. | explained why such course
would be disastrous. but he heard me
with impatience. When l had finished,
he said:
That's pretty good talk, but it
| don't show no sand. an sand is what
mans got to have in this here settle
ment; an the quicker you show it the
| better. Wall, I'll leave you to think
over whut I've said, an l hope you'll
soon come to your senses. Wall, good
day."
Old Mat had not been gone more
than ten minutes when Flip Hanks en-
| tered the office. Hanks had never
favorably impressed me, and the fact
that he had killed a. newspaper man in
Texas made me uneasy when was so
unfortunate as to be thrown into his
society.
"Well, how are you stirring?"
Hanks asked, as he seated himself on
box.
II can't complain. How are you
getting alongP'
-middling. How do you like
our town."
Very well.'
"Glad to hear it, We are rather an
easy set of people. and we like to see
every man enjoy himself. How are
you doing with your paper? Maxim
any money!"
No; my patronage is rather slim" :"
ut always will be unless you adopt
different course
Il am doing my BEST
! "Yes, it seems that you are doing the
best you can against yourself You
have been here long enough to see how
the land lays, and why you don't pitch
into that old fool Matt Tyler and give
him particular fits is something l don't
understand. You've certainly got
sense enough to see that he is trying to
run this town. He is as ignorant as a
pig, and, more than all, he is thief
Oh, know what l am talking about
Say, put this in your paper and charge
| it to me-"
He gave me apiece of paper on which
he had written the following:
Taking brains into consideration,
IHeTe IL HOG DlRger ScOunurel IN LnlS
country than old Mat Tyler. Why any
community that pretends to be respect
able tolerates him is a mystery to us.
The Hon. Mr.. Hanks. who is we'll
known to all our citizens, is the man
that is building up our country, and
ought to be encouraged by our peo-
pie"
"Mr. Hanks, / can't print this
"Why so, sir? You don't pretend to
insinuate that it is not true, do you?"
He gave me look that made me feel
nervous. mo" 1 replied, II do not
dispute your word, but"
''But what? Spit it out"
"Well. I'll give your my reason: /
don't care to stir up STRIFE
That's fine way for journalist to
talk. You haven't got the nerve of a
| fish. Now l want that thing printed
and it's going in your paper. I offer
to pay for it and always demand what
I pay for"
'.Mr. Hanks, l came here with the ex-
l